Edgar Allan Poe Romantic Period: The Dark side of Individualism

I. Brief History of Change Age of Reason dominated most of 18 th century – Struggle with notion of “reason” in place of emotion

II. Birth of Romanticism Germany—rebel artist (related to Transcendentalism – “Sturm and Drang” (storm and stress) Emphasis on emotional expression: – Literature – Music – Painting – Sculpting Focus on common individuals: – Daily lives – Emotions – Experiences

III. Growth Authors of the period referred to as “Kickerbockers” – James Fenimore Cooper – Willian Cullen Bryant – Washington Irving Three Brooding Authors – Poe – Hawthorne – Melville Transcendentalist Group – Emerson – Thoreau

Transcendentalist vs Gothic Romantics “The truth lies beyond reason and experience” A discovery of one’s own truth Movement of intellectuals Developed in Boston, though stems from Germany Focused on knowledge above and beyond emotion, reason, and experience Target—Puritans Disliked American work ethic— fast-paced, commercial attitude (pop culture) Nature became focus—spiritual plain Focused on emotions—what humanity is capable of committing at its worst sin Deeply aware of the human’s evil abilities Complex philosophy with a dark setting Emphasis on emotion, nature, and the individual “Gothic writers were peering into the darkness at the supernatural” Poe’s focus—the mind and its subconscious dysfunctions

VI: Close of Gothic Writing Civil War—the true horrors Rekindled in the 20 th century – The horror film