EARLY AMERICAN LITERATURE MAGAZINE Early American Literature Magazine exam | Page 25

This trend comes away from the fantasy and imagination that prevailed during the first
half of the 19th century in order to explain and analyze social reality. It also assumes
instead the language and style of the previous period.
The novel prevails in this period as the most outstanding and adequate literary
manifestation to observe, reflect and explain social reality.
Literary realism emerges in France but soon develops in other countries. But, what were
its characteristics and its main representatives? What were the reasons for this current? In
Characteristics
Like all trends, literary realism has a series of characteristics. That is, a set of peculiarities
in content and form that distinguish it from others. Thus, the characteristics of realism,
relative to technique and form of creation, can be summarized in the following points:
 Social and political criticism:
 The realistic authors write with the purpose of denouncing the conflicts of
everyday life, that is why in their novels they always postulate critically to society
and politics. The final purpose of the work is to contribute, in one way or another,
to transformation and social change.
 The bourgeoisie as the protagonist:
 Generally the characters of literary realism belong to this social class. The
characters can be individuals or entire social groups, which serve to denounce and
try to repair the problems of everyday life.
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