Realist Literary movement
During the years of 1865-1915 the realist literary movement was occurring. This was a time when the art of the details of actual life was introduced. These ideas opposed the imagined or fanciful and stressed the actual. Writers like Mark Twain, tried to write truthfully and objectively about ordinary characters or situations. Mark Twains use of epigrams throughout his work helps express his point about humanity. Twain once wrote, "When I was a young boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have an old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years"(Twain, "Epigrams"678). In other words, Twain is explaining how as a young boy he believed that his father was an ignorant old fool that did not know any better, but as he grew older he was mature enough to comprehend his father. In reality, Twain was the ignorant boy unable to understand that he was the arrogant person because he lacked the ability to accept his wrongs. This quote adds to Twains beliefs that people are to pompous to admit their wrongs because their pride stands in their way. Another epigram that exemplifies Twains ideas is when he wrote, "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man"(Twain "Epigrams"678). Twain compares a man and a animal and explains that when a dog is provided with what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy its needs it will remain loyal and grateful. However, Twain believes that man is an inappreciative, selfish being. There by, making them worse than animals. Twain also uses the experiences of his life to further express his position of being a realism writer. Twain says in his autobiography, "On the fourth night temptation came and I was not strong enough to resist. When I had gazed at the disk I had pretended to be sleepy and began to nod"(Twain, "From the Autobiography of Mark Twain"660).