Romantic Novel, Realism, and Naturalism in Literature

The Romantic Novel

The novel is the genre of the new ruling class, the bourgeoisie, and the middle class. There are different types of romance novels:

• A novel insight (failed to): A hero makes a gesture to act as a serial, introspective 'I'.
• Novela: Becomes popular and goes to Spain from France, has a romantic plot, and is sometimes tearful. It represented the great Sundays.
• Novela: Also sets fashion, is aimed at a middle-class audience. Predicts what would later become historical reality.
• Novela: The authors of this period are set in the Middle Ages; documented past events not to fail in their historical narrative.

Customs Article

The customs article can be considered the most original contribution to Spanish prose. It responds to a fixed schedule:

1. Title: The proposed scheme.
2. Theme.
3. Article development.

The procedure most often used to criticize was to use imaginary people.

The interest in prose is not only literary but also political. In the composition of the articles of customs, the following are always present:

• The description of types of environment and objects.
• The narrative shapes the argument.
• Living and current dialogues.

The test has a didactic and realistic structure.

Satire is also used as a didactic or moralizing tool.

Realism

Realism was born in France (1848). It goes against the way of representing the reality of the Romantics; that is, the Romantics gave hints to address certain issues (society, politics), and the Royalists were trying to describe everything as descriptively as possible. Its features are:

• They show interest in accurately and objectively reflecting the characters and the environment.
• The characters seem taken from the time, described thoroughly, and reveal their psychological complexity.
• The scenarios were recognizable by the reader; that is, social life is reflected in great detail.
• Language to suit the character with a natural and direct style; colloquial use of language is very expressive. Colloquial usage reflects the worship of the vulgar, and the purest expressions are used: crutches and interjections.
• The omniscient narrator knows everything and can paint the characters as they want.
• Some novels have a moral intention; that is, they are trying to change society.

Naturalism

Naturalism emerged in the late nineteenth century; the foundations were laid by Emile Zola. It provoked great controversy because of the similarities and differences to Realism. Its principles are:

• Application of the experimental method in the observation of reality.
• Importance of heredity and environment that determine the behavior of characters.
• Presence of unpleasant or sordid aspects of reality.
• Interest in marginal characters, who are the best example of biological heredity and environment.