Realism and Naturalism (1870-1910)

Which literary device do Realist authors often use to add authenticity to regional dialogue?

Dialect

Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” primarily explores the theme of:

Illusion vs. reality in the face of death

Which of the following best describes Edith Wharton’s literary style?

Realist depictions of social class and constraint

Which of the following writers is most closely associated with Naturalist fiction that focuses on poverty and urban struggle?

Stephen Crane

Which of the following most accurately characterizes American Realist literature?

Depictions of everyday life and social conditions

Which author is known for blending realism with feminist critique, especially in The Awakening?

Kate Chopin

Which of the following best describes Paul Laurence Dunbar’s contribution to literature?

He uses dialect to honor and dignify the African American experience

How does Naturalism differ from Realism?

Naturalism emphasizes determinism and forces beyond human control

Why do Realist authors often focus on urban settings?

To depict working-class struggles in a changing society

W.E.B. Du Bois’s The Souls of Black Folk introduces which concept in literary studies?

Double consciousness

In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the protagonist’s descent into madness symbolizes:

The suppression of women in a patriarchal society

How does Chopin’s The Awakening subvert traditional literary portrayals of women’s roles?

By depicting woman rejecting domestic norms and seeking autonomy

Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poems written in formal English often focus on:

Love and the struggle for dignity in African American life

Which of the following themes appears frequently in the work of Charles W. Chesnutt?

Racial passing and post-Reconstruction revivals

How does Henry James explore the psychological depth of his characters?

By focusing on internal consciousness and moral ambiguity