Three “Types” of Romanticism

Dark (or Gothic) Romanticism

What’s the difference? The three “Dark Romantics” were Poe, Hawthorne, and Herman Melville Both value intuition over reason, see symbols in events, and believe that spirituality is located primarily in nature.

DARK Romantics: Believed nature was NOT necessarily good or harmless, and that it could sometimes actually be evil. Were fascinated by the psychological effects of sin, guilt, and even madness. Thought that “duality,” or the good and evil sides, coexist in each of us.

Think of it this way: For the Romantics, the “supernatural occurrence” might be a fantastic dream Wrote “supernatural” tales like “Paul Bunyon” or even fantasy

But… For the DARK or GOTHIC Romantics, the dream is instead a NIGHTMARE! Wrote GHOST STORIES and MONSTER tales

Transcendentalism living close to nature, dignity in manual labor. Thought that within human nature, there was something intuitive that transcended (existed above and beyond the limits of) the human experience.

Facts About Transcendentalism Originated from German idealism and philosophy Based also upon writings of Thomas Carlyle Centered in New England Famous Transcendentalists: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Bronson Alcott

Theological Ideas of Transcendentalism Idea that God “transcends being” Emerson’s oversoul

Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson 5/25/1803- 4/27/1882 Father died when he was young Scholarship to Harvard Became a schoolmaster

Emerson cont. Returned to Harvard for divinity degree; became Unitarian minister Resigned over philosophical quandary about administering communion Supported self giving lectures; when he couldn’t make it, Frederick Douglass filled in Friends with Hawthorne, Thoreau Married twice, but also attracted to men Later in life Walt Whitman?

Emerson - 3 Founded Transcendentalism with the anonymous publication of “Nature” in 1846 Owned the pond that Thoreau lived on (Walden) Thoreau left Walden to stay at Emerson’s house while he was off on lecture circuit dementia in later life

Ralph Waldo Emerson Self-Reliance “To be great is to be misunderstood”

Emerson’s Transparent Eyeball

Henry David Thoreau July 1817 – May 1862 Harvard educated Died of bronchitis Emerson, though they had argued, gave his eulogy Emerson = ideas, Thoreau = action

Thoreau “Civil Disobedience” inspired Ghandi, ML King “Passive Resistance” Spent night in jail because he refused to pay his poll taxes Walden: “I went into the woods because I wished to live deliberately”