American Literature and Arts Chapter 12 ~ Section 4 American Literature and Arts
An American culture develops Most were used to European styles in literature and art Mid-1800’s: American writers & artists were showing optimism and energy Washington Irving & James Fenimore Cooper Irving: New York Dutch history; “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, “Rip Van Winkle” Cooper: Frontierman going west (Natty Bumppo); “The Deerslayer”, “Last of the Mohicans” Early 1800’s: Romanticism value nature, emotions, imagination
An American culture develops Transcendentalism go beyond human reason, show link between human and nature Ralph Waldo Emerson: leader of transcendentalists; question material goods, and encourages individualism Henry David Thoreau: Followed Emerson’s ideas; Lived for two years in woods (Walden Pond); People should live simply, and judge right and wrong; believed in civil disobedience, which influenced Martin Lurther King Jr. decades later
Flowering of American Literature Herman Melville & Nathaniel Hawthorne: Fascinated by psychology and extreme emotions “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville: Sea Captain fights whale “Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Life of Puritans “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott: Four sisters, and imperfections Poets: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Walt Whitman
Art Landscapes, daily lives of Americans Art and music Art Landscapes, daily lives of Americans Hudson River School for artists is formed Work songs for sailors, railroad workers, barge workers Spirituals: Specialty songs for enslaved African Americans (Ch. 11)
INDIVIDUALISM: Unique importance of each individual Vocabulary TRANSCENDENTALISM: A movement that sought to explore the relationship between humans and nature through emotions rather than reason INDIVIDUALISM: Unique importance of each individual CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: The idea that people should peacefully disobey unjust laws if their consciences demand it