No experience is a cause of success or failure. We do not suffer from the shock of our experiences, so-called trauma — but we make out of them just what suits our purposes.

— Alfred Adler

Unit Goals

After learning the unit, students are expected

·to learn the ideals of Realism and Naturalism,

·to relate the qualities of the Realist movement to the historical events occurring during that time period,

·to understand the theme of trauma and explore minor themes in the texts,

·to be acquainted with traumatic narratives in the Civil War literature,

·to learn some useful words and expressions from the unit, and

·to improve English language skills, communication skills and critical thinking.

Before You Read

1. Create a mind map on your own.

1) If a country is at war, these events may occur:

· Many men and women join the defence forces and go off to fight.

· There are combat deaths and casualties.

· There is a shortage of food — it has to be rationed.

· There is a shortage of petrol — it also is rationed.

· There are expectations that there will be air raids.

· Soldiers from an allied country arrive and spend time in the area before being sent to fight.

· There is a shortage of workers in war-related jobs — some of which are not very attractive jobs to workers.

· Due to a shortage of men, women are put into jobs they have never done before.

2) Draw a mind map like the one below, giving each box a heading.

Can you think of any other impacts war might have?

3) Select any two of these events, and describe what you think would happen in your community.

2. REALI** (1865-1915) is the presentation in art of the details of actual life. Realism was also a literary movement that stressed the actual as opposed to the imagined and fanciful. The writers of this school tried to write truthfully and objectively about ordinary characters in ordinary situations. Read the following list of works, and match them with their writers.

3. Form groups of three or four students. Try to find, on the Internet or in the library, information about Realism and Naturalism. Pay attention to how the bloody horrors of the Civil War led people to lose faith in the Transcendental and Romantic Movement, and how those doubts manifest themselves in Realistic literature. Give a presentation about the historical context of American Realism and its ideals.

Start to Read