Which themes distinguish literature written in the realist era from earlier literature?
a. everyday life and common subjects
b. tragedy and extreme circumstances
c. unusual and terrifying themes
d. adventurous and fantastical episodes

The best answer is A. Realism means real life. This includes writing about common people and everyday circumstances. Tragedy and extreme circumstances, unusual and terrifying themes, and adventurous and fantastical episodes can occur in unrealistic stories, like fairy tales or science fiction. Hope this helps!