Key Principles and Authors of Literary Realism

Realism from Author Miguel de Cervantes

Main Realistic Writers

• José María de Pereda
• Benito Pérez Galdós
• Juan Valera
• Well-known novelists
• Balzac and Flaubert
• Fernán Caballero

Special Features of Realism and Customs

Novel Features

• Observation of characters by the author before writing
• The prevalence of long descriptions
• A shortage of narrative
• Colloquial registers reflecting the environment described
• An attempt at objective descriptions
• A natural and simple style

Exaltation of Science

The man of the time will trust the almost unlimited power of science as a response to the great questions of life.

Literary Realism

Literary Realism marked a break with Romanticism, both ideologically and formally. Writers ceased to focus on themselves and focused their attention on society, objectively observing and describing social problems, utilizing the novel as their primary medium. They preferred a simpler, sober, and precise style, which emphasized colloquial speech reproduction, particularly in dialogue; they adopted language levels appropriate to the characters, representing all social strata.

Literary Devices of Realism

The literary devices of Realism are characterized by the detailed and thorough use of descriptions, lists, and concrete nouns. Authors used long paragraphs and abundant complex subordination. There is a mimetic reproduction of popular speech without idealization, using an "invisible" language to express characters, events, and situations objectively without calling attention to the writer.

Core Characteristics

• Attempts to show a true and exact reproduction of reality in literary works.
• Opposes Romanticism by rejecting the sentimental and the transcendental, aspiring to reflect individual and social reality within historical events.
• Makes careful use of description to show accurate profiles of themes, characters, situations, and places; the everyday and the exotic are the focus, exposing political, social, and human issues.
• The language used in the works includes various registers and levels, reflecting and adapting to the different characters who are complex, evolve, and interact to influence others.
• Works show a relationship between people and their social and economic environment; characters serve as evidence of an age, social class, or craft.
• Discusses, reproduces, and denounces the evils afflicting society.
• Conveys ideas in the most true and objective way possible.