What is Naturalism in Literature? Definition and Examples from American Literature

📚 What is Naturalism in Literature?

Naturalism is a literary movement that emphasizes the depiction of reality as influenced by environmental and hereditary factors. It portrays characters as products of their surroundings, often focusing on the darker aspects of life. Naturalistic works frequently explore themes of determinism, survival, and the impact of social conditions on individuals.

Quick Study Guide

• 🌍 Definition: Naturalism is a literary movement that seeks to depict life as it is, often emphasizing the influence of environment and heredity on human character.
• 🌱 Origins: It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a reaction against Romanticism and Transcendentalism.
• ✍️ Key Characteristics: Determinism, detachment, pessimism, survival, and the impact of social environment.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Common Themes: The struggle for survival, the impact of social forces, the futility of human will, and the indifference of nature.
• 📜 Key Authors: Prominent Naturalistic authors include Stephen Crane, Jack London, and Frank Norris.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following best describes Naturalism in literature?

   1. A. Idealized portrayals of nature and human life.
   2. B. Emphasis on the supernatural and the mystical.
   3. C. Realistic depiction of life as influenced by environment and heredity.
   4. D. Romanticized views of the past.

2. What is a key characteristic of Naturalistic literature?

   1. A. Optimism and faith in human potential.
   2. B. Determinism and the influence of environment.
   3. C. Celebration of individual freedom.
   4. D. Emphasis on spiritual transcendence.

3. Which author is most closely associated with American Naturalism?

   1. A. Nathaniel Hawthorne.
   2. B. Ralph Waldo Emerson.
   3. C. Stephen Crane.
   4. D. Henry David Thoreau.

4. In Naturalistic literature, characters are often portrayed as:

   1. A. Masters of their own destiny.
   2. B. Products of their environment and heredity.
   3. C. Guided by moral principles.
   4. D. Protected by divine intervention.

5. Which theme is commonly explored in Naturalistic works?

   1. A. The triumph of good over evil.
   2. B. The beauty and harmony of nature.
   3. C. The struggle for survival and the impact of social forces.
   4. D. The power of love and redemption.

6. What is a typical setting in Naturalistic novels?

   1. A. Utopian societies.
   2. B. Remote, untouched wilderness.
   3. C. Impoverished urban environments or harsh natural landscapes.
   4. D. Fantastical, magical realms.

7. Which of the following is a characteristic of the narrator in Naturalistic literature?

   1. A. Highly subjective and emotionally involved.
   2. B. Detached and objective.
   3. C. Morally judgmental.
   4. D. Omniscient and interventionist.