Scholars tie literary realism and naturalism together for many reasons. Both genres attempt to show the reader the world as it is experiences. Yet, their philosophies differ. In this post, we will analyze the two genres and look at their similarities, differences, and relevant authors as well.

Definition of Realism and Naturalism

Both literary realism and naturalism came from the Romantic movement. In fact, both genres are a response to the espoused virtues of that age. As such, they differ greatly from their predecessor, and though they have similarities, there are a few differences.

Literary Realism

In literary realism, authors attempt to convey the real world in as complete detail as possible. The text itself should be a mode to show readers contemporary life for those characters and that story. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, for example, shows the world of Kent and London in the mid-19th century. The Wikipedia page for Great Expectations even uses the wording of “extreme imagery,” which describes the world exactly.

Here is a descriptive passage from Chapter One of the novel:

“Ours was the marsh country, down by the river, within, as the river wound, twenty miles of the sea. My first most vivid and broad impression of the identity of things seems to me to have been gained on a memorable raw afternoon towards evening. At such a time I found out for certain that this bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard; and that Philip Pirrip, late of this parish, and also Georgiana wife of the above, were dead and buried; and that Alexander, Bartholomew, Abraham, Tobias, and Roger, infant children of the aforesaid, were also dead and buried; and that the dark flat wilderness beyond the churchyard, intersected with dikes and mounds and gates, with scattered cattle feeding on it, was the marshes; and that the low leaden line beyond was the river; and that the distant lair from which the wind was rushing was the sea; and that the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry, was Pip.”

Vividly descriptive and beautifully wrought, this passage conveys the notions of literary realism with its attention to detail.

Naturalism

In naturalism, meanwhile, the author wishes to convey a natural world as it is observed by humanity. In that, there is a “faithful, unselective representation of reality, a veritable ‘slice of life,’ presented without moral judgment.” With this in mind, naturalist authors attempted to show humanity as a victim of their own biological upbringing. Consequently, they have little control over their own “will or responsibility for their fates” (Britannica).

An example of naturalism is seen in Jack London’s famous short story “To Build a Fire.” In the story, a man treks to a nearby camp in the Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush. This proves to be a fatal decision as he freezes to death during his journey.

London writes: “And all the time the dog ran with him, at his heels. When he fell down a second time, it curled its tail over its forefeet and sat in front of him facing him curiously eager and intent. The warmth and security of the animal angered him, and he cursed it till it flattened down its ears appeasingly. This time the shivering came more quickly upon the man. He was losing in his battle with the frost. It was creeping into his body from all sides. The thought of it drove him on, but he ran no more than a hundred feet, when he staggered and pitched headlong. It was his last panic. When he had recovered his breath and control, he sat up and entertained in his mind the conception of meeting death with dignity.”

Here we have a man against nature in this story. It paints the picture of a harsh, natural landscape and his inevitable death at the hands of the cold. It decries fate and destiny and instead focuses on what humanity can control. In this case, the protagonist of the story makes a fatal error and sets out on a difficult path. His inexperience costs him his life.

Conclusion

Literary realism and naturalism offer a wealth of themes related to the real world around us. However, they both differ in how that interpretation plays out. Literary realism focuses on the details and the granular aspects of description, creating lived-in worlds filled with seemingly real people. Naturalism, meanwhile, takes that reality and ties it to the environment. Therefore, in both disciplines humanity is faced with the tangible, and their outcomes are determined by real situations.