๐ Topic Summary
Naturalism in literature is a movement that portrays human beings as products of their environment and heredity, often depicting a deterministic and pessimistic view of life. Naturalistic short stories emphasize the impact of social conditions, economic forces, and biological factors on characters' lives, often showing them struggling against these forces with little or no control over their fate. Identifying naturalistic elements involves looking for themes of determinism, survival, social Darwinism, and the depiction of characters as victims of their circumstances.
๐ง Part A: Vocabulary
Match the following terms with their definitions:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Determinism |
A. The belief that environment and heredity chiefly shape or determine the human character. |
| 2. Naturalism |
B. The doctrine that all events are ultimately determined by causes external to the will. |
| 3. Social Darwinism |
C. A literary movement characterized by a pessimistic and deterministic view of the world. |
| 4. Heredity |
D. The process by which genetic information is passed from parents to their offspring. |
| 5. Environment |
E. The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates. |
๐ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph with the correct words:
Naturalistic stories often portray characters as victims of their __________, struggling against forces beyond their __________. The themes of __________ and __________ are central to this literary movement, highlighting the impact of external factors on human lives. These stories often present a __________ view of human existence.
๐ค Part C: Critical Thinking
In what ways can understanding naturalism enhance your interpretation of a short story?