American Romanticism Rose-colored glasses

Neoclassicism vs. Romanticism Community/Society Community/Society Reason/Logic Reason/Logic Classical Knowledge Classical Knowledge Rationality Rationality Conservative Conservative Political pamphlets, essays, satire, moral fables Political pamphlets, essays, satire, moral fables Individual freedom Individual freedom Human imagination Human imagination Nature Nature Emotion Emotion Optimistic Optimistic Fiction (poetry and prose) with supernatural elements Fiction (poetry and prose) with supernatural elements

Definition American Romanticism can best be described as a journey away from the corruption of civilization and the limits of rational thought and toward the integrity of nature and the freedom of the imagination. - Elements of Literature

Origins & Influential Conditions 18 th century Germany 18 th century Germany Reaction against Rationalism Reaction against Rationalism Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution Urban life was filled with crime, violence, corruption, filth, poverty, disease, overcrowding and squalor Urban life was filled with crime, violence, corruption, filth, poverty, disease, overcrowding and squalor Problems of war and slavery Problems of war and slavery American frontier promised opportunity for expansion, growth, freedom, etc. American frontier promised opportunity for expansion, growth, freedom, etc. Immigration brought new cultures and perspectives Immigration brought new cultures and perspectives Growth of industry in the north further polarized the north and agrarian south Growth of industry in the north further polarized the north and agrarian south Search for new spiritual roots Search for new spiritual roots

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

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 locales, the supernatural realm & the inner world of imagination Finds beauty and truth in exotic locales, the supernatural realm & the inner world of imagination Sees poetry as the highest expression of the imagination Sees poetry as the highest expression of the imagination Finds inspiration in myth, legend & folk culture Finds inspiration in myth, legend & folk culture Characteristics

Literary Themes Highly imaginative and subjective Highly imaginative and subjective Emotional intensity Emotional intensity Common man as hero Common man as hero Nature as refuge, source of knowledge and/or spirituality Nature as refuge, source of knowledge and/or spirituality Universe is mysterious, irrational and incomprehensible Universe is mysterious, irrational and incomprehensible Characters and setting set apart from society Characters and setting set apart from society Supernatural foreshadowing (dreams, visions) Supernatural foreshadowing (dreams, visions) Good receive justice; nature can punish & reward Good receive justice; nature can punish & reward Themes of self-improvement, honor, integrity & romantic love Themes of self-improvement, honor, integrity & romantic love Writers spoke obliquely & ambiguously (not directly) Writers spoke obliquely & ambiguously (not directly)

Popular Writers William Cullen Bryant William Cullen Bryant Washington Irving Washington Irving James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne Margaret Fuller Margaret Fuller Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Beecher Stowe Louisa May Alcott Louisa May Alcott

Washington Irving Father of the American Short Story Father of the American Short Story Born in New York City Born in New York City Sent to England to look after family business in 1815 Sent to England to look after family business in 1815 Decided the business had a “sordid, dusty, soul-killing way of life” Decided the business had a “sordid, dusty, soul-killing way of life” Began drafting short stories in 1817 in the style of German folk tales Began drafting short stories in 1817 in the style of German folk tales Used pen names until he was over 50 Used pen names until he was over 50

Washington Irving A History of New York, from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty – Diedrich KnickerbockerA History of New York, from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty – Diedrich Knickerbocker The Sketch Book – Geoffrey CrayonThe Sketch Book – Geoffrey Crayon Borrowed much from European influences, but established his own inflated voice Borrowed much from European influences, but established his own inflated voice Rip Van Winkle, The Devil and Tom Walker, The Legend of Sleepy HollowRip Van Winkle, The Devil and Tom Walker, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The End

BARGAIN

CONSEQUENCE

DEBT

GREED

DEVIL

MATERIALISM

VULTURE

SOUL

3 Minute Quickwrite Based on the words we just brainstormed, write for 3 minutes about what you think this story will be about.

Please Stop Writing Turn and talk: share what you wrote with a person sitting next to you.Turn and talk: share what you wrote with a person sitting next to you. Put your name on your 3 minute summary and your brainstorm pages.Put your name on your 3 minute summary and your brainstorm pages. Please staple them together.Please staple them together. Put them in the turn-in basket.Put them in the turn-in basket.