American Naturalism

• Who revealed the theory of natural selection and when?

  Charles Darwin in 1859.
• What is the basic idea behind Darwin's theory of natural selection?

  It explains how an organism's environment strongly affects its ability to thrive, with logic and scientific evidence supporting this.
• What literary movement grew out of Darwin's scientific ideas and realism?

  Naturalism.
• Which writers are associated with the Naturalist movement?

  Eugene O'Neill and Jack London.
• How did Naturalist writers differ from Romantics in their portrayal of nature?

  Romantics viewed nature as a benevolent, positive force, while Naturalists saw it as indifferent to human suffering.
• What key concept of Naturalism distinguishes it from Romanticism?

  Naturalism suggests that nature, heredity, and chance control human fate, unlike Romanticism which emphasizes the nurturing aspect of nature.
• How did Naturalism view humans in relation to nature?

  Humans are seen as animals responding to natural and environmental forces, often without understanding why.
• How did Realist literature differ from Romanticism?


  Realist literature aimed to provide an accurate depiction of life, without the idealization found in Romanticism.
• What is one key difference between Realism and Naturalism?

  Naturalism is often more brutal and pessimistic, sometimes using natural creatures to represent negative aspects of life.
• How did Naturalist writers portray death and suffering?

  They were not afraid to represent even the worst parts of life, including death, in their often grisly authenticity.