Question

2. Naturalism was a literary movement of the late 19th century that was an extension of Realism. What was the main focus of the Naturalistic writer?

Answer 1

Naturalistic writers believed that the laws behind the forces that govern human lives might be studied and understood through their objective study of human beings. Naturalistic writers thus used a version of the scientific method to write their novels; they studied human beings governed by their instincts and passions as well as the ways in which the characters' lives were governed by forces of heredity and environment. Although they used the techniques of accumulating detail pioneered by the realists, the naturalists thus had a specific object in mind when they chose the segment of reality that they wished to convey.

Answer 2

Though they are not both in comparable scope and influence, both Realism and Naturalism are response to Romanticism that can be traced to the French people, which thought of themselves as "rationalist."

Realism's main focus is to present the world as really is - the truth or facts. It is rarely emotional nor sentimental; it is a plain account of whatever the action is describing. They can be facts about our day-to-day lives (a high-level of verisimilitude, borrowing the term from one of my English professors), thus stressing to the readers that "ah this is like the world I live in."

The day-to-day or everyday lives relate to common people, instead of extraordinary individuals in fantastic situations. The authors' works are very much influenced where they grew up or lived so it is easy to spot specific dialects or speech patterns.

Another realism motif and theme is the celebration and focus of the individual's internal action - the stuff that is going on in character's head - may it be about a moral struggle or a desire for some favorable outcome before the end of the story.

Realism is delicate on plots. The development of the story or account pivots around conflicts that exists in the real world, and of course we the readers want to see resolved. There needs at least one protagonist, which in the stories are not necessarily "heroes," and one antagonist, the person that prevent the protagonist to attain his/her desires.

Answer 3

For Naturalism, the individuals are not the main focus. Thematic schemes revolve around the outside influences or forces burdening the individuals. It tends to be very political, and oftentimes involves extraordinary circumstances.

Answer 4

Sorry that I focused too much on realism and very little on naturalism. It is sometimes easier to make a connection easier when done this way, in my own opinion.