Which element of a plot is designed to leave readers in suspense, using a moment of high tension that ends a section of the story?
a.exposition
b.inciting incident
c. cliffhanger
d. climax

American Realism differs from Romanticism in its emphasis on showing life exactly as it is, rather than sentimentalize or idealize it. While Romanticism emphasized the mysterious and imagination, American Realism authors sought to depict the real-life settings, speech patterns, and life choices of people. The Civil War influenced the shift to American Realism as authors sought to show the realities of the war and its aftermath. American Realist writers were also inspired by a shift towards scientific and rationalist ideas in society that were taking place.