The Beginning of Poetry, Painting, and the Short Story in America Romanticism 1780-1865 The Beginning of Poetry, Painting, and the Short Story in America

From Gatsby “It was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is likely I shall never find again. No– Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it was what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams…”

Change As The Age of Reason (Revolutionary Period) drew to a close, so did the pressing issues from the Revolutionary Era: America was separate from England A new government was in place America's international relations were stable Frontier promised opportunity for economic growth and freedom Immigration brought new cultures and perspectives

Change Americans began to realize that there is more to life than logic, and so we see the first flowering of American art and literature: Emotion over logic Imagination over reason Spontaneity over control Individualism over conformity

Common Themes Individuality Imagination Common man as hero Characters and setting are separate from society Universe is mysterious, irrational, incomprehensible Nature can punish or reward Supernatural foreshadowing (dreams, visions)

Dark Romanticism (gothic) Sub-Genres Dark Romanticism (gothic) Transcendentalism

Sub-Genres Dark Romanticism Transcendentalism The darkness within man Major writers included: Irving, Poe, Hawthorne Literature emphasized: The darkness within man Physical and mental isolation of main character Tortured Search for beauty in an ugly world Supernatural elements (ghosts, haunted houses, crypts, graveyards) Transcendentalism Major writers included: Whitman, Emerson, Thoreau Literature emphasized: Natural goodness of man Individuality Spiritual forces in nature and within man Civil disobedience Carpe diem

Poetry Analysis With your partner, analyze the following poem by Walt Whitman using the SOAPStone method: Speaker (the voice or character) Occasion (think setting, environment or surrounding circumstances) Audience (who is this intended for? Someone in particular?) Purpose (what does the poet hope to achieve? What is their message?) Subject (paraphrase) Tone (attitude of speaker)

“O Me, O Life” Walt Whitman

O Me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish; Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the struggle ever renew’d; Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me; Of the empty and useless years of the rest—with the rest me intertwined; The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer. That you are here—that life exists, and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.