ROMANTICISM 1800-1860s
Learning Targets At the end of this unit, I can: Determine two or more themes central to a text Determine the meaning of words and phrases used in text, including figurative and connotative meaning Determine how word choice affect a text’s tone, theme, symbolism, and motif
Lit Terms to know in this unit Tone Motif The attitude (emotion) of the author or narrator An event or image that is repeatedly used to reinforce the theme of a work, and draw the reader's attention to a particular idea
Literature terms to know in this unit Symbol Symbolism A thing that represents or stands for something else Use of symbols to help develop the theme
Theme The central idea(s) or purpose(s) of a text, seen through motif, symbolism, tone, and plot
CHARACTERISTICS Characteristics of the Romantic Era Distrust of “civilization” Nostalgia for the past Concern with the individual freedom Interest in the supernatural Profound love for natural landscape
More Characteristics of Romanticism Anti-Industrialism Spontaneous overflow of emotion recollected in tranquility
History Rationalism vs. Romanticism Reaction to rationalism and the Age of Reason Imagination able to discover truths that reason cannot reach
Sub-genre of Romanticism: transcendentalism Defining Transcendentalism In order to understand the universe, one must go beyond (or transcend) everyday human experience using intuition and imagination
Ralph Waldo Emerson Emerson and Nature In his essay Nature Emerson explains how every idea has its source in nature, and that the attentive person can "see" those ideas in nature
Anti-transcendentalism Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, and Herman Melville Unlike Emerson and transcendentalism, their view of the world lacked optimism. They saw a dark side to human existence and recorded this aspect of human nature in their works. Similarities to transcendentalism: valued intuition over reason, spiritual facts lie behind physical appearances
Poe Master of suspense/horror Used his stories to show readers the truth that lies in the dark depths of the human mind Poe is a Gothic writer Gothic novels feature mysterious settings, elements of the bizarre and supernatural Poe wrote the first detective story Inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes
Gothic literature Includes highly charged emotional states Supernatural events: ghosts, doors that open themselves, unexplained sounds, etc. Damsels in distress are frequent Atmosphere of mystery and suspense Omens, foreshadowing, and dreams usually present
Works Cited Arpin, Gary. “American Romanticism.” Elements of Literature, 5th Course. Austin: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston, 2000. 138-150. Brulatour, Meg. “Transcendental Ideas: Definitions.” Virginia Commonwealth University. Web. 12 October 2011. “Transcendentalism, Anti-Transcendentalism and the Dark Romantics.” Arcadia School System. Powerpoint. 12 Ocotober 2011. teachers.ausd.net/classlink/getfile.ausd?fileid=65679