Realism in Literature

• Rejection of contrived and/or romantic plots

• Accurately reflect random, inconclusive nature of life

• Complex individuality of real people, not the simplified or stereotyped characters of fantasy

• “full and authentic report of human experience” (Ian Watt, 1957)

• Everyday events

• Characters from all ranks of life

• Distinctive, particularized setting (Antler, Texas, Vietnam War Era, not somewhere in Kansas as in Wizard of Oz; Flint, MI, during the Depression, not a house in England when soccer is popular as in Skellig)

• Concern for social justice and adequate/equal representation of under-represented populations

Historical Fiction: Attributes

• History revealed through eyes of (young) protagonist to make it more understandable

• Historical period comes to life:

  • Physical environment

  • Patterns of daily living

  • Spirit of the times

• History is accurately represented

  • Unpleasant elements are included in factual manner

  • Factual details are used sparingly and only when needed

First post

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