Lesson 1/Activity 1: Why Realism? Why Now?

“True Realism consists in revealing the surprising things which habit keeps covered and prevents us from seeing” - Jean Cocteau^[1]

^[2]

This William Bell Scott painting titled “Iron and Coal”, was finalized in 1855. The realist artists in America strove to capture the true vitality of America by seeing the beauty of daily American life.

Benchmark:                

11.4.3 - Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).

Learning Target:         

I can locate information around a specified concept and summarize its basic elements/tenets.

I can explain how Americans shifted from Transcendentalism to Realism in their thinking and being.

Essential Question:        

How did the author’s choices impact the value of the messages in the text?

You Will Need:        One or Two Days

Access to the internet

                        A plan for taking notes

Activity:        Please follow the six (6) steps in order.

STEP 1:

Access the internet and conduct a search about the basic foundations of Realism Time Period in America (1850-1930). Search for and find the following elements:

• At least 5 people who played a big part in the Realism movement.
• At least 3 goals or beliefs to which Realists adhered.
• At least 10 Realist texts (Novels, novellas, poems, essays)
• How and where Realism came to be in America
• How it is different from the time period that preceded it (Transcendentalism)

STEP 2:

Organize your findings

STEP 3:

Create a Web/Graphic Organizer that has Realism in the center, then branches out to showcase your various findings.

STEP 4:

Share your two (2) most interesting findings in a classwide discussion.

STEP 5:

Submit your Assignment.