AMERICAN ROMANTICISM We will walk with our own feet we will work with our own hands we will speak our own minds -Ralph Waldo Emerson

POLITICAL AND SOCIAL MILESTONES The Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase The Gold Rush The Gold Rush Education and Reform Education and Reform

Period of rapid growth: Louisiana Purchase meant nationalism, and self-awareness. Period of rapid growth: Louisiana Purchase meant nationalism, and self-awareness. War of America is “for real.” War of America is “for real.” Mexican-American War ( ) – Texas comes in as a slave state Mexican-American War ( ) – Texas comes in as a slave state Rapid Growth in transportation—canals, roads, railroad Rapid Growth in transportation—canals, roads, railroad Industrial growth—telegraph, steel plow, reaper Industrial growth—telegraph, steel plow, reaper Conflicts arise from growth: women’s rights, abolitionism, child labor laws. Conflicts arise from growth: women’s rights, abolitionism, child labor laws.

RATIONALISM VS ROMANTICISM The rationalists believed the city to be a place to find success and self-realization. The rationalists believed the city to be a place to find success and self-realization. The romantics associated the countryside with independence, moral clarity, and healthful living.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AMERICAN 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 Champions individual freedom and the worth of the individual Contemplates nature’s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development

CHARACTERISTICS (CONTINUED) 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 Sees poetry as the highest expression of the imagination Sees poetry as the highest expression of the imagination Finds inspiration in myth, legend, and folk culture

THE ROMANTIC HERO The romantic hero was one of the most important products of the early American novel. The romantic hero was one of the most important products of the early American novel. The rational hero, like Ben Franklin, was worldly, educated, sophisticated, and bent on making a place for himself in civilization. The rational hero, like Ben Franklin, was worldly, educated, sophisticated, and bent on making a place for himself in civilization. The typical hero in American Romantic fiction was youthful, innocent, intuitive, and close to nature. The typical hero in American Romantic fiction was youthful, innocent, intuitive, and close to nature.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AMERICAN ROMANTIC HERO Young or possesses youthful qualities. Young or possesses youthful qualities. Innocent and pure of purpose. Innocent and pure of purpose. Has a sense of honor based not on society’s rules but on some higher principle. Has a sense of honor based not on society’s rules but on some higher principle. Has a knowledge of people and life based on deep, intuitive understanding, not on formal learning. Has a knowledge of people and life based on deep, intuitive understanding, not on formal learning. Loves nature and avoids town life. Loves nature and avoids town life. Quests for some higher truth in the natural world. Quests for some higher truth in the natural world.

RISING TO HIGHER TRUTHS through the exploration of the past and of exotic, even supernatural realms – the Gothic novel – old legends and folklore through the exploration of the past and of exotic, even supernatural realms – the Gothic novel – old legends and folklore through the contemplation of the natural world – lyric poetry – its underlying beauty and truth through the contemplation of the natural world – lyric poetry – its underlying beauty and truth

ROMANTIC TECHNIQUES Remoteness of setting in time and place. Remoteness of setting in time and place. Improbable plots. Improbable plots. Unlikely characterization. Unlikely characterization. Informal writing style. Informal writing style. Experiments in new forms. Experiments in new forms. Individualized form of writing. Individualized form of writing.

FAMOUS ROMANTIC AUTHORS - WASHINGTON IRVING ( ) Father of American Literature Father of American Literature First American writer to gain European respect. First American writer to gain European respect. Best-known for his short stories and caricatures that celebrate America’s past. Best-known for his short stories and caricatures that celebrate America’s past.

His characters are humorously drawn stereotypes that represent American traits. His characters are humorously drawn stereotypes that represent American traits. Stories set in quant American villages (generally in New York’s Hudson River area). Stories set in quant American villages (generally in New York’s Hudson River area). Works include “The Devil and Tom Walker,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and “Rip Van Winkle.” Works include “The Devil and Tom Walker,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and “Rip Van Winkle.”

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW ( ) Father of American poetry and a member of the Fireside Poets. Father of American poetry and a member of the Fireside Poets. Traditionally formatted, sentimental, optimistic lyrics give a romanticized version of America’s early history. Traditionally formatted, sentimental, optimistic lyrics give a romanticized version of America’s early history. Works include “Hiawatha,” “The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls,” and “Paul Revere’s ride.” Works include “Hiawatha,” “The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls,” and “Paul Revere’s ride.”

EDGAR ALLAN POE ( ) Father of the American detective story. Father of the American detective story. As famous for his troubled life as he is for his literature. As famous for his troubled life as he is for his literature. Defined the short story as we know it today, as well as the psychological thriller. Defined the short story as we know it today, as well as the psychological thriller.

Poetry reflects his belief in the power of sound and the impact of the death of a beautiful woman. Poetry reflects his belief in the power of sound and the impact of the death of a beautiful woman. Stories are not typically American, in that they don’t highlight American characters or settings. Stories are not typically American, in that they don’t highlight American characters or settings. Works include “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Telltale Heart,” and “The Raven.” Works include “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Telltale Heart,” and “The Raven.”

THE NEW AMERICAN NOVEL James Fenimore Cooper Natty Bumpo - new kind of hero Triumph of American innocence Popular twenty and twenty-first century Romantic heroes

NEW AMERICAN NOVELISTS Herman Melville - (ex-sailor) wrote Moby Dick Herman Melville - (ex-sailor) wrote Moby Dick Nathaniel Hawthorne - wrote The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne - wrote The Scarlet Letter More a “coming of age” than a renaissance More a “coming of age” than a renaissance

THE FIRESIDE POETS Opposite of novelists - worked within European literary traditions Opposite of novelists - worked within European literary traditions Used English themes, meter, imagery with American settings and subjects Used English themes, meter, imagery with American settings and subjects Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, Oliver Wendel Holmes, James Russell Lowell Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, Oliver Wendel Holmes, James Russell Lowell

TRANSCENDENTALISM The idea that in determining the ultimate reality of God, the universe, the self, and other important matters, one must transcend, or go beyond, everyday human experience in the physical world. The idea that in determining the ultimate reality of God, the universe, the self, and other important matters, one must transcend, or go beyond, everyday human experience in the physical world.

Ralph Waldo Emerson influenced by ancient Greek - Plato Ralph Waldo Emerson influenced by ancient Greek - Plato Also based on Puritan belief and Romantics Also based on Puritan belief and Romantics Based on intuition; optimistic Based on intuition; optimistic Henry David Thoreau Emerson’s close friend Henry David Thoreau Emerson’s close friend

THE REALM OF DARKNESS Edgar Allen Poe with Hawthorne and Melville known and anti-Transcendentalists Edgar Allen Poe with Hawthorne and Melville known and anti-Transcendentalists Had much in common with Trascendentalists Had much in common with Trascendentalists Explored conflicts between good and evil, psychological effects of guilt and sin, and madness Explored conflicts between good and evil, psychological effects of guilt and sin, and madness

WHITMAN AND DICKINSON 19TH CENTURY’S GREATEST POETS Whitman: Spoke to the masses Spoke to the masses Universal brotherhood, democracy Universal brotherhood, democracy Aimed for overall impression, free verse based on cadence Aimed for overall impression, free verse based on cadence

WHITMAN AND DICKINSON 19TH CENTURY’S GREATEST POETS Dickinson: Obscure homebody In nature, found metaphors for the spirit Meticulous word choice, precise language, evoking feelings

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