chapter 5 and Henry James

1、Chapter 5Realism- Henry JamesI. Background (1865-1918) reaction “the lie” of romanticism and sentimentalism the battle between “idealists” and “realists” major issue after the Civil WarI. Background movement period concept Realism refers to the approach of realist fiction occurred at the latter part

2、 of the 19th century. In part, the rise of realism came as a protest against the falseness and the sentimentality which the realists thought they saw in romantic literature. The realists are determined to create a new kind of literature that was completely and totally realistic.II. Major Featurestru

3、thful treatment of material familiar aspects and everyday scenes, without abstract interest in nature, death, etc. characters from all social levels are examined in depth open ending focus on commonness of the lives of common people emphasize objectivity, objective rather than idealistic viewIII. Th

4、e Important Writers William Dean Howells Henry James Mark Twain Theodore DreiserIV. Henry James (1843-1916) His life: P95 His literary career: novelist, literary critic; His “International Theme” IV. Henry James His “International Theme” “International Theme” refers to the conflict of America and Eu

5、rope. Compared to Europe, America was still an innocent and new country. Europeans in Jamess novels are more cultured, more concerned with art than Jamess Americans. Americans were innocent, and more concerned about moral issues.IV. Henry James The Conflict in personality Americans in Europe Europea

6、ns: over-refined, degenerate and artificial by Americans Americans; vulgar by many Europeans Americans: fresh, enthusiastic, not cultured, but eager to learn, basically good - morality European: high cultivated and urban, sometimes boring, but always correct - manners IV. Henry James “Daisy Miller”: p97 His style: a. his narrative point view: avoid the authorial authority, with his minimal intervention b. language: not easy to understand large voca