Naturalism (literature) facts for kids

Naturalism was a special kind of writing that became popular in the late 1800s. It grew out of another style called realism. Realism tried to show life exactly as it was, without making things seem better or worse. Naturalism took this idea even further. It looked at how science, like our surroundings and what we inherit from our parents, affects people's lives.

Émile Zola was a very important writer in the Naturalism movement.

What is Naturalism?

Naturalism in literature means showing life in a very honest way. It often focused on people who faced tough challenges. These characters were usually from everyday life, not rich or famous. Writers wanted to show how their environment and family background shaped their choices. They believed that people's lives were often controlled by forces they couldn't change.

How is it Different from Realism?

Realism aimed to show things as they truly were. It was like taking a photograph of daily life. Naturalism went deeper than that. It added ideas from science, like biology and sociology. Naturalist writers explored how a person's surroundings, their family history, and even their social class affected them. They often showed the difficult parts of life, like poverty or social problems.

Key Themes in Naturalism

Naturalism often explored themes that were considered serious or even shocking at the time. These included:

• The power of environment: How the places people live and the conditions around them shape their lives.
• Heredity: The idea that traits and even destinies are passed down through families.
• Social issues: Writers often highlighted problems in society, like poverty, injustice, or tough working conditions.
• Human struggle: Characters often faced big challenges and sometimes struggled to overcome them.

Important Writers of Naturalism

One of the most famous writers of Naturalism was Émile Zola from France. He wrote many novels that showed how people's lives were affected by their jobs, families, and cities. He studied real-life situations to make his stories very accurate.

Other important writers who used Naturalism included:

• Gustave Flaubert
• Alphonse Daudet
• Stephen Crane (in America)
• Frank Norris (in America)

These writers helped to create a new way of telling stories. They wanted readers to see the world as it truly was, even the difficult parts.

Images for kids

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  An excerpt from the naturalistic book "Le sou du mutilé" by Cyriel Buysse.

See also

In Spanish: Naturalismo (literatura) para niños