Question: what are the distinguishing characteristics of realism?
Answer: Detail. Detail is that special something, that je ne sais quoi that sets Realism apart from other literary schools. ... 
Transparent Language. One big innovation of Realist literature was the use of simple, transparent language. ... 
Omniscient Narrator. ... 
Verisimilitude. ... 
The Novel. ... 
The Quotidian. ... 
Character. ... 
Social Critique.