Le naturalisme en littérature

Study Notes

Naturalism is a literary movement emerging from Realism in the 19th century.
Originating with Zola and the Goncourt brothers in 1877.
Rooted in scientific ideas like positivism, Darwinism, and the determinism of Taine.
Positivism is a philosophy viewing human progress as driven by science, not divine intervention.
Naturalists viewed humans as subject to environmental and hereditary factors.
Influenced by scientific figures like Darwin and Claude Bernard (experimentation).
Emphasizes the detailed, accurate portrayal of reality, including all social classes.
Aims to understand human nature through observation and scientific method.
Authors like Zola, Goncourt, Maupassant, and Huysmans were prominent members.

Themes: Focuses on real life, including social problems, poverty, and hardship. Detailed portrayal of daily life, regardless of social status. Exploration of human psychology, physiology, and heredity.
Method: Utilizes a scientific approach in writing. Authors conduct research, collect data, and observe characters like experiments in real life.
Representation: Aims for accurate representation of reality with the aim to understand society. Goes beyond simple observation to provide analysis of society's workings.
Literary Purpose: Not simply a representation of reality. Seeks to use this representation to understand humanity and society and bring about societal change.
Awareness of limitations: Authors acknowledge the subjective nature of the writing experience and that the presentation of the real world is influenced by the personality of the writer.