Regionalism Definition

Regionalism is another branch of Realism, sometimes called local color writing. Like Realism, Regionalism is detailed and character-oriented. Regionalism is more sentimental and influenced by Romanticism writing as well (Campbell). As the name implies, Regionalism deals with various regions and areas of America. The literature still has the detail-heavy feel of Realism, and those details go toward describing the area in which the story takes place (Campbell). Regionalism first started showing up after the Civil War. Though Reconstruction had ended and the country was supposedly one again, deep sectionalism still remained. Americans were identifying with where they lived on a larger scale than any previous time in American history. Regionalism was a way to express pride in where you were from. The setting in Regionalism works is described in detail and often becomes a character in itself (Campbell). Regionalism settings are often very natural, often set in remote or hard to reach places. The characters in Regionalism often take a backseat to the character and feel of the region itself. So much so that they would sometimes become stereotypical, whether by speech or personality traits particular to the region (Campbell). Local dialect also plays a big part in Regionalism, as it is often used to establish where the characters are from. Mark Twain was a pioneer in this aspect of Regionalism. His characters often spoke in his regional dialect, giving them a real-life feel that was new to readers. No one would expect a little boy from a small town to speak in proper American English, especially if they were from the same region. Therefore, it makes more sense to have characters such as Tom Sawyer in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, speak in his local vernacular. Many Regionalism and local color stories have a nostalgic feel to them, a desire for the often-remembered, never-lived "golden age" that is always in the past. They also express an uneasy feeling toward change, unless of course, the change is that return to the golden age (Campbell).

Campbell, Donna M. "Regionalism and Local Color Fiction." Washington State University - Pullman, Washington. 20 Jan. 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2011. http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/lcolor.html.