Naturalism is described as type of literature that attempts to apply scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to its study of human beings. In contrast to a Realist, a Naturalist writer has characters without free will. Ambrose Bierce's story "The Coup De Grâce" is a good example of American Naturalism.

Bierce uses naturalist environments throughout the whole story. The main environment in the story is the aftermath of the battle that just took place. The aftermath is described as "hard and continuous; that was attested by all the senses. The very taste of battle was in the air. All was now over..." Bierce depicts the aftermath of the battle like he was there fighting, like all naturalists writers he will explain the environment in photographic detail.

Bierce develops the naturalistic characters through the force of heredity. The main characters in the story are Captain Madwell and the...