Neo-Realism In Ann Beattie’s Short Stories

As a famous writer in America literary world, Ann Beattie’s works have aroused great concern and extensive comments abroad, but in our country there is still little concern and exploration about her and her works. Most of researches are focused on her minimalist style, while this article tries to interpret this famous writer’s short stories from a new perspective—neo-realism. The article first introduces the background and writing features of neo-realism. In the literary stage, people have switched their attention back to the realistic mode of writing since1970s when postmodernism is gradually waning. This literary trend has been called neo-realism. Based on the traditional principle of realistic writings, neo-realist writers apply in their works modernism and postmodernism, forming their own features.Then it analyzes how the postmodernist principle, as a major writing features applied by neo-realist writers, is used in Beattie’s stories, with no plot, no certain ending and peopled with anti-heroes. The stories reveal people’s mental state and emotional crisis in the chaotic society. Furthermore, the neo-realists like Beattie also resort to some of modernist narratives, like stream of consciousness, symbolism and metaphors. The writer tries to dig out people’s inner secret and panic through analysis of those writing skills.Finally, this paper discusses about the neo-realistic stories and themes that Beattie has written about. In the post-war American society, people are struggling in the emotional crisis, finding no way out. Ann Beattie’s neo-realistic stories vividly reflect the true state and plight of American society, worthwhile to be well read and explored by more people.