How History Influences Texts American Romanticism

American Romantic Period (1800 – 1860) Sometimes called the American Renaissance. However, Renaissance means “rebirth” and the American Renaissance was not the rebirth of an old style; it was a completely new, uniquely American style. Authors were mature, innovative, and optimistic about America and individualism.

Values of American Romanticism Cherished imagination, individual feelings, and wild nature Held a realistic view of the dark side of the human spirit Reflected strong national pride Believed that the individual, no matter what background or class, was to be respected for his/her personal, and unlimited, accomplishments

American Romanticism was a response to: The grime and noise of the industrial age The direct contact of the population with the American wilderness Brewing conflict among the people regarding slavery Women’s push toward equality with men An audience of readers hungry for literature that was purely American

The Progression of American Thought ROMANTICS WERE DISTINCT FROM PREVIOUS AMERICANS … YET, INFLUENCED BY THESE SAME GROUPS OF AMERICANS Romantics saw themselves as revolting against the “Age of Reason” and its values. Romanticism rejected fiery Puritan rhetoric about religion, guilt, and salvation. Romantics were moved by powerful Rationalist rhetoric about the rights of the individual and freedom. Romantics searched for truth and beauty in ordinary objects or scenes, like the Puritans.

The Voyage of Life: Childhood Thomas Cole, 1840

The Voyage of Life: Childhood Thomas Cole, 1840 (detail) How does this painting depict childhood. Consider both what it shows (denotation) and what it implies (connotation). You have five minutes to write.

Characteristics of Romantic texts Passionate and emotional Sentimental Sometimes deal with the supernatural Characters are often larger-than-life and aristocratic—sometimes stock characters are used Distinctions between upper and lower class characters Colloquial language and settings

More characteristics of Romantic texts Often written in third- person omniscient with the author/narrator interrupting to moralize or guide the reader Intense, with strong rising action leading to a dramatic climax Symbolic, allegorical Show life as it might have been or might be rather than average life as it was during the author’s lifetime

Romanticism vs. Rationalism intuition versus calculation emotion versus reason spontaneity versus control individualism versus social order wilderness versus industry subjective experience versus objective fact metaphysical musing versus scientific research

Transcendentalism Developed from Romanticism Transcendental refers to the idea that one must transcend everyday human experience in the physical world in order to find Spirituality. Transcend: to rise above or extend notably beyond ordinary limits 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.

What did Transcendentalists believe? An individual could perfect himself or herself. Everything in the whole world, including human beings, is part of the Divine Soul. The physical facts of the world are only a doorway into the spiritual world. People must use their intuition and senses to behold the Divine Spirit and their own souls.

What else did Transcendentalists believe? Transcendentalists did not believe in following authority without question. They resisted blind conformity to traditions, customs, and religious dogma. A Transcendentalist believed in individuality and sought solitude and time alone in nature.

What genres of text did the Transcendentalist write? They preferred to write personal narratives. They told the story of their own experiences when in nature and alone. They wrote of their individualism and their profound belief that humans were born good and should seek to perfect themselves throughout their lives. They used imagery, figurative language and rich description. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are famous transcendentalists.

THE DARK ROMANTICS Edgar Allen Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville are known as anti- Transcendentalists but had much in common with Transcendentalists Explored conflicts between good and evil, psychological effects of guilt and sin, and madness Like other Romantics, valued intuition over logic and reason Like other Romantics, saw signs and symbols in all events Unlike other Romantics, did not believe that nature is good or harmless Explored the conflict between good and evil, the psychological effects of guilt and sin, and even madness Saw the horror of evil behind the thin façade of respectable society

Timed Writing: Are You Rationalist or Romantic? Do you, personally, relate more closely to the values of the Rationalists or of the Romantics? Give specific examples of political / philosophical assumptions that you share with the group you identify.