1. American Romanticism 1800-1860 Lit Book pg.138

2. Romanticism was seen as a Journey Away from civilization and back to nature Away from corruption and back to innocence and youth Away from industrialization and back to intuition and emotion Away from rationalization and back to imagination Away from science and back to poetry

3. Traits of Romantic Literature: Contains a search for higher truth Set in exotic locales Contemplates the natural world Develops the Gothic novel and exploration of the human mind Contains less clearly defined divinity in nature

4. American Novels New subject matter: – Frontiers & frontier life – Westward expansion – Wilderness New American hero – Heroic – Simple morality – Love of nature – Innocent – Youthful – Intuitive

5. American Poetry Mimics European styles, themes, meter, imagery The Fireside Poets were read aloud for family entertainment Subjects include love, patriotism, nature, family, God/religion Fireside Poets also introduced new subjects: American landscapes, abolitionist issues, American Indian culture