Examples of Realism in Literature

Examples of Realism in Literature
Realism is a literary technique and movement that revolutionized literature.

Literary realism creates the appearance of life as it is actually experienced, with
characters that speak everyday language and are representative of everyday life
as a reader would understand it. Here are some examples of realism in literature
and how they enhance the value of a literary work:
Example 1 : East of Eden (John Steinbeck)

There’s more beauty in truth, even if it is dreadful beauty.
Steinbeck encapsulates the scope of literary realism with this quote from his
novel. The objective of most realist writers is to open the eyes and minds of
readers to find comfort in the truth, without exaggeration, over-dramatization, or
romanticism. Steinbeck’s novel traces generations of a family that faces realistic
issues such as jealousy, betrayal, disappointment, and other struggles. However,
rather than overdramatizing these circumstances or romanticizing the characters,
Steinbeck portrays them as objectively and truthfully as possible for fiction. This
allows readers to identify and relate to the novel as a form of literary realism.
Example 2: A Doll’s House (Henrik Ibsen)

Nora: And then I found other ways of making money. Last winter I was lucky
enough to get a lot of copying to do. I locked myself in and sat writing every
evening till late in the night. Ah, I was tired so often, dead tired. But still it was
wonderful fun, sitting and working like that, earning money. It was almost like
being a man.
In his play, Ibsen presents a harsh criticism of Victorian marital expectations

and the traditional roles that men and women play in society. In this work, Ibsen
portrays the main character, Nora, as a woman who is treated like a child by her
husband and other characters. As a result, the play exposes Nora’s restricted role
as a woman with respect to choosing an individual path, earning income, and
making important household decisions.
Ibsen’s drama is a realistic exposition of societal problems that come about due
to the drastic imbalance of power between women and men. The characters are
relatable in the way they speak, feel, and behave. In addition, their decisions and
actions are realistic and complex. This realism is significant in terms of the way
the reader/audience understands the underlying themes of the play.
Example 3: The Story of an Hour (Kate Chopin)

She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands
folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed
and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of
years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread
her arms out to them in welcome.
Initially, it appears that Chopin’s work of short fiction is a form of Romanticism

with idealized characters and overdramatic depictions of events. As the main
character Louise receives news that her husband has died, she isolates herself in
a room with what the reader believes is the intention to overcome the shock and
mourn her very recent loss. In a Romantic literary work, Louise’s reaction and
behaviour would have been described through poetic language and dramatic
depictions.
Instead, Chopin creates a realistic and relatable, though surprising, reaction
within Louise at hearing of her husband’s death. She is sad that he is gone and
knows she will miss his love. However, Louise looks to the future and
understands suddenly that she is free of the entrapments of marriage and her role
as a wife. Chopin reveals a complexity in Louise’s character that is realistic. In
addition, as a form of realism, the story confirms many of the societal issues
present at the time–particularly for women in terms of personal, economic, and
social freedom. For readers, this realistic portrayal of Louise’s complex
character and conflicting feelings is an assertion that, as a woman, she is an
individual and not exclusively enmeshed in her role as a wife.
The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
The Jungle (Upton Sinclair)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain)
The Red Badge of Courage (Stephen Crane)
Daisy Miller (Henry James)
The Call of the Wild (Jack London)
Famous Authors’ Perspectives Regarding Literary Realism
It is beneficial, for understanding literary realism, to get a sense of how well-

known writers feel about this technique and movement. Here are some famous
authors’ perspectives regarding literary realism.
Realism is a very sophisticated form of literature, a very grown-up one. And

that may be its weakness. But fantasy seems to be eternal and omnipresent and
always attractive to kids. (Ursula K. Le Guin)
I don’t want realism. I want magic! (Tennessee Williams)
Realism, n. The art of depicting nature as it is seen by toads. The charm

suffusing a landscape painted by a mole, or a story written by a measuring-
worm. (Ambrose Bierce)
Would it not be better to have it understood that realism, in so far as the word
means reality to life, is always bad art — although it may possibly be very good
journalism? (Sherwood Anderson)
Nothing is more real than nothing. (Samuel Beckett)
Realism can break a writer’s heart. (Salman Rushdie)
It’s all lies. Some of them are just prettier than others, that’s all. People see
what they think is there. (Terry Pratchett)
It seems to us that the readers who want fiction to be like life are considerably
outnumbered by those who would like life to be like fiction. (Sara Caudwell)
When I work, I’m just translating the world around me in what seems to be
straightforward terms. For my readers, this is sometimes a vision that’s not
familiar. But I’m not trying to manipulate reality. This is just what I see and
hear. (Don DeLillo)

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Examples of Realism in Literature

Realism is a literary technique and movement that revolutionized literature.

Example 1 : East of Eden (John Steinbeck)

Example 2: A Doll’s House (Henrik Ibsen)

In his play, Ibsen presents a harsh criticism of Victorian marital expectations

Example 3: The Story of an Hour (Kate Chopin)

Initially, it appears that Chopin’s work of short fiction is a form of Romanticism

It is beneficial, for understanding literary realism, to get a sense of how well-

Realism is a very sophisticated form of literature, a very grown-up one. And

I don’t want realism. I want magic! (Tennessee Williams)

Realism, n. The art of depicting nature as it is seen by toads. The charm

Nothing is more real than nothing. (Samuel Beckett)

Realism can break a writer’s heart. (Salman Rushdie)

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