1. The Romantic Period

2. Characteristics of Romantic Period
Interest in American past
Emphasis on nature, imagination, emotion, and individuality
Concentration on the inner world of human nature

3. Emergence of New Spirit of Nationalism
Political reasons---American Revolution and 2nd war with England (1812)
Pres. Jackson warned before he left the Presidency (1837) that internal divisions were the greatest threat to America {Slavery}
Economic reasons---Eli Whitney’s cotton gin; Slater’s textile mill; Louisiana Purchase; desire of most to own land

4. Cultural reasons---After independence, there was a call for national literature that would express the values and ideals of the new nation
Most American writers grew up with English literature. They then adapted these literary forms and applied them to their own American experiences
American culture not established over night…took a long time to evolve into its own materials, themes, and attitudes

5. Classicism to Romanticism
Intellectual movement most immediately apparent in literature
Classic literature of 18th century gave way to 19th century romantic literature

6. Terms
Frontier Hero: character who embodies the American spirit of adventure and reverence for nature
Authors
Irving: folktales, first American author
Cooper: novelist, frontier hero
Bryant: poet, exalted nature
Poe: invented the short story; explores depth of human emotions into irrationality

7. Elements of Classicism (1700s)
Reason is dominating characteristic of nature and human nature
Reason more important than imagination, which had to be restrained by common sense
Common good over the individual good
Literature clear and ordered; illustrates common values and rational law of human existence
Literature upholds tradition
Social factors more important than personal

8. Elements of Romanticism (1800s)
Emphasized emotions, intuition, and inner perception of truth
Reason is not the sure guide to truth
Key to the inner world is imagination, which gives expression to one’s intuition
All art is the imaginative expression of the inner essence of an individual

9. Elements of Romanticism (1800s)
Stressed human potential for social progress and spiritual growth
National literature; American themes and attitudes
Literature very much rooted in imagination, wilderness, or inner self (madness)

10. Emerson asks… (he’s a transcendentalist)
“Who can set bounds to the possibilities of man?”

11. American Romanticism
Not so much a philosophy…rather a change in attitude
If all men are created equal, then naturally there would be a new emphasis on dignity and worth of man (social reform)
Humanitarian reform (ie: abolishing slavery)

12. Major Writers Washington Irving William Cullen Bryant Edgar Allan Poe
James Fenimore Cooper

13. Washington Irving
Romantic tales of folklore, adapted from European legends
Set in American landscape
Characterized by American stereotypes that reveals general truths about human nature
Nagging wife
Battered husband

14. Washington Irving
Old truths (stereotypes) about human nature and possibilities of American landscape (mixes history with fantasy through the use of hearsay)
Use a humorous tone (satirical at times) but conveys a serious message about human values
Notable Works
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
“Rip Van Winkle”

15. Bryant Poetry reflects Romantic approach to life
through imagination and intuition the individual can learn from Nature great moral and spiritual truths
“religion of nature”– natural world is inexhaustible source of moral and spiritual lessons

16. Bryant Observations of nature evoke feelings of self in oneself
Father of American poetry

17. By living in harmony with nature,
Man will understand transience (temporary state on earth)
Be accepting of death
Rejoice in the immortality of nature
Notable Poetry
“To a Waterfowl”
“Thanatopsis”

18. Poetic Devices
Blank verse- poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter (5 beats per line)
Free verse- poetry that lacks a regular rhythmical pattern
Caesura- pause or break in the middle of a line of poetry

19. Poetic Devices
Personification- nonhuman subject is given human characteristics
Meter- rhythmical pattern in the poem
Determined by the number and types of stresses, or beats in a line
Foot- two or more syllables that together make up the smallest unit of rhythm in a poem.
Imagery- descriptive or figurative language; used to create word pictures for the reader

20. Poe
Romantic view of nature and the inner self by depicting irrational characters in a grotesque reality
Nature’s greater truth = internal madness

21. “Poe Myth” vs. Poe’s Reality
Myth = immoral behavior, fiendish, brutish
Reality = life was dull, miserable, dreary, perhaps just unlucky

22. Accomplishments Most important American writer before Walt Whitman
Credited along with Hawthorne for giving short story the modern form
Poe thought the short story should be short enough to read in one sitting
Inventor of the detective story

23. Gothic Elements of Literature
Language
Everyday language that focuses on nature
Repetition in poetry
Imagery to bring the plot and characters to life
Mystery, horror, violence, grotesque, supernatural