What is Literary Naturalism? Definition and Examples in American Literature

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🌱 Literary Naturalism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• ✍️ It's an offshoot of realism, but emphasizes the deterministic influence of environment and heredity on human character.
• 🌍 Naturalistic novels often depict characters struggling against forces beyond their control.
• 🔬 Scientific objectivity and detachment are key characteristics.
• 🎲 Fate is often portrayed as random and indifferent.
• 🎭 Common themes include poverty, violence, and the futility of human will.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is a defining characteristic of Literary Naturalism?
   1. A. Emphasis on free will and individual agency.
   2. B. Belief in the inherent goodness of humanity.
   3. C. Deterministic influence of environment and heredity.
   4. D. Focus on idealized portrayals of nature.


2. Literary Naturalism is considered an offshoot of which literary movement?
   1. A. Romanticism
   2. B. Transcendentalism
   3. C. Realism
   4. D. Modernism


3. What is a common theme explored in Naturalistic novels?
   1. A. The triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
   2. B. The beauty and harmony of nature.
   3. C. Poverty, violence, and the futility of human will.
   4. D. The importance of social reform.


4. Which of the following best describes the portrayal of fate in Naturalistic literature?
   1. A. As a benevolent force guiding human destiny.
   2. B. As a direct consequence of individual choices.
   3. C. As random and indifferent.
   4. D. As a source of moral justice.


5. What is the role of scientific objectivity in Literary Naturalism?
   1. A. It is rejected in favor of subjective experience.
   2. B. It is a key characteristic, emphasizing detachment.
   3. C. It is used to promote religious beliefs.
   4. D. It is secondary to emotional expression.


6. Which of these authors is most closely associated with American Literary Naturalism?
   1. A. Nathaniel Hawthorne
   2. B. Ralph Waldo Emerson
   3. C. Stephen Crane
   4. D. Henry David Thoreau


7. In Naturalistic literature, characters often ________ against forces beyond their control.
   1. A. Succeed
   2. B. Thrive
   3. C. Struggle
   4. D. Manipulate