Unit Two The American Literature of Early Romanticism

A few more words about American literature in the colonial and revolutionary period: Most of the literature in this period was written out of utilitarian pragmatic purposes, either religious or political. Most of the literature in this period was written out of utilitarian pragmatic purposes, either religious or political. “America must be as independent in literature as she is in politics, as famous for the arts as for arms.” (Noah Webster, 1783) “America must be as independent in literature as she is in politics, as famous for the arts as for arms.” (Noah Webster, 1783) How about the imaginative literature? Most writings were patterned on those of the 18 th -century Englishmen. How about the imaginative literature? Most writings were patterned on those of the 18 th -century Englishmen. The intellectual independence would be achieved at the beginning of the 19 th century with the Transcendentalist writers such as Emerson and Thoreau. The intellectual independence would be achieved at the beginning of the 19 th century with the Transcendentalist writers such as Emerson and Thoreau.

American Romanticism: Some scholars take the year 1820 as the beginning of this period: The Sketch Book in the book form in 1820 by Washington Irving; The Spy in 1821 by James Fenimore Cooper. Some scholars take the year 1820 as the beginning of this period: The Sketch Book in the book form in 1820 by Washington Irving; The Spy in 1821 by James Fenimore Cooper. The end in 1865 with the ending of the Civil War. The end in 1865 with the ending of the Civil War.

American Romanticism: Belletristic literature—literature as art—finally emerged in the 19 th century. Early romantics: Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, and William Cullen Bryant etc. High Romanticism: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville etc. Late Romanticism: Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson etc.

Features of Romanticism The romantic spirit was rebellious in spirit as a reaction against the prevailing neoclassical spirit and rationalism during the Age of Reason. The romantic spirit was rebellious in spirit as a reaction against the prevailing neoclassical spirit and rationalism during the Age of Reason. Formality, order, and authority vs. freedom, individualism, and imagination Formality, order, and authority vs. freedom, individualism, and imagination Material reality vs. innate or intuitive perception (intuitionalism and psychology) Material reality vs. innate or intuitive perception (intuitionalism and psychology) Nature Nature The primitive literature The primitive literature “The American Renaissance” “The American Renaissance”

Washington Irving ( ) John Quidor's painting The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane, inspired by Washington Irving’s work Helped establish the American national literature; a storyteller, a biographer, and a historian

The first great prose stylist of American romanticism, the first great American belletrist, author of the first American short stories and familiar essays, the first great American man of letters to write for pleasure rather than utility, and the first American author to achieve international distinction, all these titles belong to Washington Irving, not only epitomizing the great success of Irving as a writer but also revealing his significant position in the history of American literature. The first great prose stylist of American romanticism, the first great American belletrist, author of the first American short stories and familiar essays, the first great American man of letters to write for pleasure rather than utility, and the first American author to achieve international distinction, all these titles belong to Washington Irving, not only epitomizing the great success of Irving as a writer but also revealing his significant position in the history of American literature.

A History of New York, from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickbocker (1809): A History of New York, from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickbocker (1809): A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus (1828) A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus (1828) The fictional "Diedrich Knickerbocker" from the frontispiece of A History of New-York, a wash drawing by Felix O. C. Darley

The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. ( ): 34 sketches, designated the beginning of American romanticism. (1933, in Chinese) (1933, in Chinese)

“Does nobody here know Rip Van Winkle?” “Does nobody here know Rip Van Winkle?” “I’m not myself—I’m somebody else—that’s me yonder—no—that’s somebody else got into my shoes— I was myself last night, but I fell asleep on the mountain, and they’ve changed my gun, and every thing’s changed, and I’m changed, and I can’t tell my name, or who I am!” “I’m not myself—I’m somebody else—that’s me yonder—no—that’s somebody else got into my shoes— I was myself last night, but I fell asleep on the mountain, and they’ve changed my gun, and every thing’s changed, and I’m changed, and I can’t tell my name, or who I am!” “Does nobody know poor Rip Van Winkle?” “Does nobody know poor Rip Van Winkle?” “Rip Van Winkle”

Study Questions Even though he is a failure as a farmer, Rip Van Winkle is a success as a human being. What are the most praiseworthy qualities that he possessed? Even though he is a failure as a farmer, Rip Van Winkle is a success as a human being. What are the most praiseworthy qualities that he possessed? If you fell asleep today and awakened 20 years from now, what questions would you ask the first person you saw? If you fell asleep today and awakened 20 years from now, what questions would you ask the first person you saw? When Rip returns to his village, he learns that Dame Van Winkle has died and that his fellow Americans liberated themselves from English rule in a revolutionary war. What do the war and the death of Rip's wife have in common in terms of how Rip will live the rest of his life? When Rip returns to his village, he learns that Dame Van Winkle has died and that his fellow Americans liberated themselves from English rule in a revolutionary war. What do the war and the death of Rip's wife have in common in terms of how Rip will live the rest of his life? What is Washington Irving’s attitude towards the past and the present? What is Washington Irving’s attitude towards the past and the present?

James Fenimore Cooper (( ) The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 (1826)

The first American writer who is more American than British; The first American writer who is more American than British; The first successful American novelist/romance writer; The first successful American novelist/romance writer; Altogether 32 novels: a. historical novels; b. sea novels; c. frontier novels; d. political novels. Altogether 32 novels: a. historical novels; b. sea novels; c. frontier novels; d. political novels. The Leather-stocking series: The Pioneers (1823); The Last of the Mohicans (1826); The Prairie (1827); The Pathfinder (1840); The Deerslayer (1841). The Leather-stocking series: The Pioneers (1823); The Last of the Mohicans (1826); The Prairie (1827); The Pathfinder (1840); The Deerslayer (1841). Natty Bumppo Natty Bumppo

Thank you!