1. Romantic Writers of 1800s Washington Irving James Fenimore Cooper
William Cullen Bryant Edgar Allan Poe

2. Common Themes for Romantic Writers
Nature
The Past
The Inner World of Human Nature

3. Romantic Writers
Emphasized the beauty, strangeness, and mystery of nature
Constantly changing---as human nature changes, so do their views/perceptions of nature

4. Major Writers Washington Irving James Fenimore Cooper
William Cullen Byrant
Edgar Allan Poe

5. 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

6. Old truths (stereotypes) about human nature and possibilities of American landscape (mixes history with fantasy through use of hearsay)
Uses humorous tone (satirical at times) but conveys serious message about human values

7. Notable Works “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” “Rip Van Winkle”
Link to Bartleby
“Rip Van Winkle”
The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
A History of New York…by Diedrich Knickerbocker

8. Pictured: John Quidor, 1801–81, The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane, 1858, oil

9. Rip Van Winkle, oil on canvas by John Quidor, 1829; in the Art Institute of Chicago.

10. “The Devil and Tom Walker”
Common folktale about selling soul to the devil
“Devil will get his due”
Other Devilish Names
black man of the forest; black miner; black woodsman; Old Scratch; Mephistopheles; Satan; Diablo; Lucifer

11. Literary Analysis
Be able to provide examples or discuss each of these as they pertain to the tale.
Characterization
Stock, flat characters
Tone
Humorous
Irony
Style
Mix of history and hearsay
Message about human values

12. Think-Pair Share Questions
Thoroughly summarize the entire story in just 3 sentences.
Provide an example of human motivation affecting behavior
What words are used to tell events are legend and NOT history?
What historical references are used to legitimize the work?
Tone/humor/irony
What is his “serious” message that is reinforced by the stereotypes? (hint: see commentary)

13. Irving Homework (answer in your notebook)
Pg. 136-questions 2, 5, and 6 a and b

14. James Fenimore Cooper 1st major American novelist
Uses actual events in American history as settings for his novels
his characters define their personal values by their experiences in the lawless wilderness
Natural view of life is simple and profound

15. Notable Works
Leatherstocking Tales---collection of 5 novels that chronicle life of Natty Bumppo
The Pioneers
The Last of the Mohicans
The Prairie
The Pathfinder
The Deerslayer
Natty Bumppo is literary hero

17. Literary Analysis Characterization Conflict Theme
Round, dynamic character
Literary hero
Conflict
Natty as a product of two conflicting cultures
Theme
Nature vs. civilization

18. William Cullen Bryant Poetry reflects Romantic approach to life
through imagination and intuition one can learn from Nature great moral and spiritual truths
“religion of nature”---natural world is inexhaustible source of moral and spiritual lessons
Observations of nature evoke feelings of self in oneself.
Father of American Poetry

19. By living in harmony with nature,
man will understand transience (temporary state) on earth
accept death
rejoice in immortality of nature

20. Notable Poetry “To A Waterfowl” “Thanatopsis”
Apostrophe---direct address to non human object
“Thanatopsis”
Audio version
Randy Pausch Video Homework: watch clip and complete sheet

21. Poetic Devices Blank Verse Free Verse Caesuras Foot Meter
Personification
Imagery

22. Literary Analysis Lesson or truth about life in each poem
Sentimentalism

23. Commentary on “Thanatopsis”
Romantics poets were often concerned about:
Death
Individualism
Since death is the final restriction upon the self and its powers, individualism (the power of the self) became an important theme in poetry.

24. Emphasis of the poetry
Romantics emphasized the organic process of constant changes in nature: Every living thing fulfills its appointed life cycle of birth, growth, decay, and death.

25. Sentimentalism
An expression of feeling that is excessive for the subject and becomes an indulgence in the emotion for its own sake.
“Thanatopsis” avoids sentimentalizing death because it neither disguises it nor dwells too much upon its sadness.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust mentality

26. Theme of “Thanatopsis”
By living in harmony with nature, and realizing that all must come to an end, rather than fear it, one can come to accept death as a restful sleep
If we move away from fear and bitterness about death, then our broader awareness about the “consciousness of time” (life eternal) makes it possible to accept our time on Earth and the natural completion of death.

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

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

29. Accomplishments Most important American poet before Walt Whitman
Unreal atmosphere and musical effects influenced French symbolist poets and on all modern poetry
Literary critic
Credited along with Hawthorne for giving short story it modern form
Poe thought a short story should be short enough to be read in one sitting so as to achieve and sustain a single emotional effect
Inventor of the detective story

30. Gothic Elements of Literature
Language
Everyday language that focuses on nature
Repetition
Imagery
Mystery, horror, violence, grotesque, supernatural

31. “The Fall of the House of Usher”
NOTE: Usher was the name of a couple who took in Poe’s orphaned mother when she was a child; thus, Poe probably considered himself to be of the House of Usher
Stop Animation Video

32. Literary Analysis Read Commentary
Be able to find several examples of symbolism
Discuss the point of view of the story and the role it plays in the story
Discuss specific uses of imagery and the effect of that imagery in the story

33. Symbols Haunted Palace (allegory) Crack in the foundation of house
Picture on the wall
Storm

34. Who is Poe in the story?