1. Chapter 2: American Romanticism 1800-1860

2. I. What is Romanticism? A.School of thought that values emotions, intuition, and creativity over reason and science

3. B.We can only achieve a higher truth through being in touch with our feelings, creativity, and intuition 1.Argues against Rationalism (belief that a higher truth can only be achieved through reason) C.Starts in Europe and makes its way to America 1.Actual time span is 1828-1865

4. II. What is Transcendentalism? A.Belief that you must transcend the physical and be in touch with your emotions, intuition, creativity and nature in order to reach a higher truth B.Connected to Romanticism 1.Co-exsisted; timespan = 1836-1865 2.All Transcendentalists are Romantics, but not all Romantics are Transcendentalists

5. III. Historical Background A.The Early National Period 1.1775-1865 2.Birth of a national imaginative literature a.First American comedy is published in 1787 b.First American novel is published in 1789 c.James Fenimore Cooper is first major American novelist d.Washington Irving gains international fame and success for his essays and short stories

6. 3. Beginning of American literary criticism a.Poe, Simms, Lowell 4. African-American writings are published more frequently a.Poetry of women such as Francis Ellen Watkins Harper b.Birth of African-American novel 1.William Wells Brown’s Clotel (1853) 2.Harriet E. Wilson’s Our Nig (1859) 3.Slave narratives and autobiographies published between 1760 to 1865 a.Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845) is most popular

7. B. The Romantic Period is also known as the American Renaissance 1.Comes from the title of F.O. Matthiessen’s book published in 1941 2.Plethora of outstanding writers: Poe, Emerson, Thoreau C. Also referred to as Age of Transcendentalism 1.Emerson, Thoreau, Margaret Fuller (early feminist writer)

8. IV. Characteristics of Romantic Literature A.Subjects and themes often argue against: 1.Formal religion 2.Social conformity 3.Materialism and commercialism

9. B.Subject and themes often reflect the beliefs of: 1.Knowledge being grounded in feeling & intuition 2.Individualism: self-trust, self- reliance, self-sufficiency 3.Nature is the ultimate connection to the Divine Spirit (God)

10. C. The Romantic Hero 1.Young or possesses youthful qualities 2.Innocent and pure of purpose 3.Sense of honor comes from a higher principle & is independent of society’s rules 4.Shuns society and sophistication and praises nature and intuition 5.Most famous: James Fenimore Cooper’s Natty Bumpo 6.Modern: Indiana Jones, Luke Skywalker, Superman

11. V. Dark Romantics A.Often referred to as Anti- Transcendentalists B.Emphasize the darker aspects of emotion, intuition, creativity, and nature 1.Conflict between good and evil 2.Psychological effects of guilt and sin 3.Madness of the human psyche 4.Destructive underside of appearances

12. C.Writers: Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Washington Irving D.Influenced Horror and Gothic Fiction

13. Romantic, Transcendental, or Dark Romantic?

14. Dark Romantic

15. Romantic

16. Transcendental