1. The American Romantic Hero

2. Characteristics of the Romantic Hero
Clichéd rather than well rounded
The embodiment of ideas
A flawed character

3. Characteristics cont.
The American Romantic Hero has qualities that can be found in the beliefs of the Romantics.

4. Characteristics cont. Individual Youthful Instinctive
Utilizes humor based on a higher principal

5. Characteristics cont. Nature Truth Key to the Romantic Hero
Avoids the city
Derives knowledge from experiences and nature
Truth
Finds truth in nature

6. American Romantic Novel
Different from European Romantic novels
Created a new and unusual American style
American novels ventured into unexplored territories

7. Birth of Romantic Hero James Fenimore Cooper
Father of the American Novel
Wrote of the American Frontier
The Leatherstockings Tales
Natty Bumppo

8. Natty Bumppo First American Romantic Hero
Character in many of Cooper’s novels
Leatherstockings
Pioneers
Deerslayer
Has stark integrity

9. Natty Bumppo cont. One with nature Has extraordinary ingenuity
Cooper combines Indian spirit with frontiersman mentality
“Nobel Savage”

10. Natty as an Indian Appearance
Deer-skin moccasin
Long unkempt hair
Represents the Indian antithesis who kills in cold blood while celebrating nature

11. Natty as an Indian cont. Befriends Delaware Chief Chingachgook
Typical Romance Indian
Natty’s opposite
Eventually takes on characteristics of Chingachgook
With Chingachgook’s death, Natty fleas society escaping its captivity

12. Natty as the Frontiersman
Natty represents the linguistic switch from the rationalist thinking to the creation of the American dream
Symbol of the natural man
Caught in the adapting American society

13. runningredskins.blogspot.com
Rip Van Winkle
Prolonged sleep sheltered and ostracized him from society
Upon awakening Rip encounters trouble conforming to the new society
Laziness helps cause separation from society
Involved with nature

14. Modern Romantic Heroes
Today authors still write about the American Romantic Hero
Popular examples are
Superman
Luke Skywalker
Indiana Jones
superman-picture.com

15. Works Cited
Dekker, Geroge G. “James Fenimore Cooper.” Biography Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar < Cooper >.
Grimes, Geoffrey A. "Basic Concept: Primitivism and the Noble Savage."  English 2327: Survey of American Literature. Mountain View Coll, 27 Aug. 2004. Web. 29 Mar <       eng2327/BC-Primitivism.html>.
Kayden. “How Might Rip Van Winkle Be Seen as a Model American Romantic Hero?” Enotes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar < might-rip-van-winkle-seen-model-american-16475>.

16. Works Cited
“A New Kind of Hero.” Elements of Literature. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Print.
Stevens, Jason. “The American Romantic Hero.” Hoffman Estates High School. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar < Assignments_Activities/Romanticism/american_romantic_h ero.htm>.
Sullivan. “American Romanticism.” PPT file.
University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences. "Natty Bumppo." James Fenimore Cooper. U of Virginia, n.d. Web. 23 Mar        <
Unknown. “American Romanticism.” PPT file.