THE ORIGIN OF REALISM AND DEFINING ITS FEATURES IN LITERATURE

Abstract

Realism emerged in the nineteenth century as a significant literary movement that sought to represent life truthfully and objectively, rejecting the exaggerated emotions and idealization characteristic of Romanticism. This paper examines the historical origins of realism, its philosophical and socio-political foundations, and its defining features in literary works. The study explores how realism developed in response to industrialization, scientific progress, and social transformations in Europe and America. It also analyzes the major characteristics of realism, including objectivity, everyday subject matter, complex characters, and social critique. Furthermore, the paper highlights the contributions of key realist writers such as Gustave Flaubert, Honoré de Balzac, Leo Tolstoy, and Mark Twain. Through a comprehensive examination of realism, this research demonstrates its lasting impact on modern literature and its role in shaping narrative techniques and thematic concerns..