Caspar David Friedrich – Wanderer above the Sea of Fog

Romanticism A new way of thinking, painting, writing, etc.

Nationalism American Revolution American Revolution Louisiana Purchase – 1803 – doubled the size of the country Louisiana Purchase – 1803 – doubled the size of the country War of 1812 gave Americans confidence War of 1812 gave Americans confidence 1849 – California Gold Rush 1849 – California Gold Rush transportation improved – canals & trains transportation improved – canals & trains

Basics of Romanticism Values feeling and intuition over reason Values feeling and intuition over reason Places faith in inner experience and the power of the imagination Places faith in inner experience and the power of the imagination Shuns the artificiality of civilization and seeks unspoiled nature Shuns the artificiality of civilization and seeks unspoiled nature Prefers youthful innocence to educated sophistication Prefers youthful innocence to educated sophistication Champions individual freedom and the worth of the individual Champions individual freedom and the worth of the individual

Romanticism, continued Contemplates nature ’ s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development Contemplates nature ’ s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development Looks backward to the wisdom of the past and distrusts progress Looks backward to the wisdom of the past and distrusts progress Finds beauty and truth in exotic locals, the supernatural realm, and the inner world of the imagination Finds beauty and truth in exotic locals, the supernatural realm, and the inner world of the imagination Finds inspiration in myth, legend, and old culture Finds inspiration in myth, legend, and old culture

Thomas Cole – The Voyage of Life: Youth

“Light” side of Romanticism nature teaches lessons, enhances understanding nature teaches lessons, enhances understanding close study of everyday objects close study of everyday objects look inside yourself for truth and answers look inside yourself for truth and answers

Francisco de Goya – The Third of May, 1808

“Dark” side of Romanticism fantastic and supernatural aspects of human experience fantastic and supernatural aspects of human experience “dark” side of human nature “dark” side of human nature Historic and/or exotic settings Historic and/or exotic settings

Romantic Authors “Light” side (mostly poets) William Cullen Bryant William Cullen Bryant Oliver Wendell Holmes Oliver Wendell Holmes John Greenleaf Whittier John Greenleaf Whittier Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow James Russel Lowell James Russel Lowell “Dark” side (all sorts) Washington Irving Washington Irving James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe Nathanial Hawthorne Nathanial Hawthorne Herman Melville Herman Melville

The Fireside Poets America’s First Literary Stars We watched the first red blaze appear, Heard the sharp crackle, caught the gleam On whitewashed wall and sagging beam, from Snow-bound, John Greenleaf Whittier

First group of American poets to rival British poets in popularity in either country. First group of American poets to rival British poets in popularity in either country. Preferred conventional forms over experimentation. Preferred conventional forms over experimentation. Often used American legends and scenes of American life as their subject matter. Often used American legends and scenes of American life as their subject matter. The Fireside Poets

Who were the Fireside Poets? Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Oliver Wendell Holmes Oliver Wendell Holmes John Greenleaf Whittier John Greenleaf Whittier James Russell Lowell James Russell Lowell William Cullen Bryant?* William Cullen Bryant?*

Lasting Impact Longfellow: the most popular American poet for decades. The first American poet to be immortalized in Westminster Abbey’s Poets’ Corner Longfellow: the most popular American poet for decades. The first American poet to be immortalized in Westminster Abbey’s Poets’ Corner Took on causes such as the abolition of slavery, which forth that issue Took on causes such as the abolition of slavery, which forth that issue Paved the way for later Romantic writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman. Paved the way for later Romantic writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman.