United States National Culture Literature, Art, Philosophy, and Architecture in the Age of Antebellum

Literature After War of 1812, national literature soared. The Knickerbocker group in NY was the first truly American literature Washington Irving: 1st internationally recognized US novelist, The Sketch Book, Rip Van Winkle James Fenimore Cooper: 1st US Novelist, Leatherstocking Tales (includes The Last of the Mohicans) William Cullen Bryant: Thanatopsis, 1st high quality poetry in US.

Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving: Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson must remember the Kaatskill" mountains. They are a dismembered branch of the great Appalachian family, and are Seen away to the west of the river, swelling up to a noble height, and lording it over the surrounding country. Every change of season, every change of weather, indeed, every hour of the day, produces some change in the magical hues and shapes of these mountains, and they are regarded by all the good wives, far and near, as perfect barometers. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their bold outlines on the clear evening sky; but, sometimes, when the rest of the landscape is cloudless, they will gather a hood of gray vapors about their summits, which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will glow and light up like a crown of glory.

Literature Transcendentalism: Truth not by observation alone but from an inner light. Stressed self-reliance, individualism, and non-conformity. Ralph Waldo Emerson: The American Scholar and Self Reliance Henry David Thoreau: Walden and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience Walt Whitman: “Poet Laureate of Democracy,” Leaves of Grass

I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong, The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work, The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck, The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands, The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown, The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

Non-Transcendentalists Writers Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Poet, wrote Evangeline John Greenleaf Whittier: Poet. Poems against injustice, intolerance, inhumanity. James Russell Lowell: Political Satirist, Biglow Papers Oliver Wendell Holmes: The Last Leaf.

Excerpt from Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow THIS is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight, Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic, Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms. Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest. This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts that beneath it Leaped like the roe, when he hears in the woodland the voice of the huntsman? Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of Acadian farmers -- Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands, Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven? Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers forever departed! Scattered like dust and leaves, when the mighty blasts of October Seize them, and whirl them aloft, and sprinkle them far o'er the ocean.

Women Writers Louisa May Alcott: Little Women Emily Dickinson: Poems, many with nature themes.

Will There Really Be a Morning? By Emily Dickinson Is there such a thing as "Day"? Could I see it from the mountains If I were as tall as they? Has it feet like Water lilies? Has it feathers like a Bird? Is it brought from famous countries Of which I have never heard? Oh some Scholar! Oh some Sailor! Oh some Wise Men from the skies! Please to tell a little Pilgrim Where the place called "Morning" lies!

Literary Individualist and Dissenters Edgar Allan Poe: Invented modern detective novel and psychological thriller The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart Nathaniel Hawthorne: Psychological effect of sin, The Scarlet Letter Herman Melville: Moby Dick, an allegory of good and evil.

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-                 Only this, and nothing more."

History Writers! George Bancroft: Father of American History William H. Prescott: published on conquest of Peru Francis Parkman: published on struggle between French and English in colonial North America. All from New England=growing anti-South bias

Art Traditionally European styles of art. 1820-1850 Greek revival Thomas Jefferson was most notable architect of his generation

Artists were seen as wasters of time, Puritans viewed it as sinful pride Notable artists: Gilbert Stuart Charles Wilson Peale John Trumbull John Audubon” scientist and painter. Painted lots of birds. Focused on human landscapes, Romanticism, and patriotic themes (lots of GW portraits).

John Trumbull’s GW

John Audubon Bird Painting

Music Puritans shunned non-religious music “darky” tunes were popular Stephen Foster wrote many popular songs including “Suwannee River” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLrp0AD3_78.