1. American Romanticism 1800 - 1860

2. Introduction The theme of journey as a declaration of independence The theme of journey as a declaration of independence Bryant, Holmes, Whittier, Longfellow, & Lowell are romantic poets Bryant, Holmes, Whittier, Longfellow, & Lowell are romantic poets Irving is the father of American Literature Irving is the father of American Literature Cooper is the father of the American Novel Cooper is the father of the American Novel Emerson is the father of Transcendentalism Emerson is the father of Transcendentalism Thoreau is a famous practical transcendentalist Thoreau is a famous practical transcendentalist

3. Introduction The rationalistic view of urban life was replaced by the romantic viewThe rationalistic view of urban life was replaced by the romantic view Rationalists saw cities as a place to find success and self-realizationRationalists saw cities as a place to find success and self-realization Romantics saw the city as a place of moral corruption, poverty, and deathRomantics saw the city as a place of moral corruption, poverty, and death

4. Introduction The Romantic journey is to the country sideThe Romantic journey is to the country side The Romantics associated the country with independence, moral clarity, and purityThe Romantics associated the country with independence, moral clarity, and purity The Gothic Romantic saw the country as a place of phantasmThe Gothic Romantic saw the country as a place of phantasm Irving saw the country as idyllic and as an escapeIrving saw the country as idyllic and as an escape

5. The Romantic Sensibility Romanticism: values feeling and intuition over reasonRomanticism: values feeling and intuition over reason Romanticism: viewing life as we would like it to be, rather than how it really isRomanticism: viewing life as we would like it to be, rather than how it really is Romanticism began in Germany and influenced literature, music, & artRomanticism began in Germany and influenced literature, music, & art Romanticism is a reaction against RationalismRomanticism is a reaction against Rationalism

6. The Romantic Sensibility The Development of slums and poverty due to the Industrial Revolution turned people from RationalismThe Development of slums and poverty due to the Industrial Revolution turned people from Rationalism Romantics believed that imagination. Emotion, spontaneity, feelings, and nature were more important than rational thoughtRomantics believed that imagination. Emotion, spontaneity, feelings, and nature were more important than rational thought

7. Characteristics of American Romanticism Values feelings over reasonValues feelings over reason Values the power of the imaginationValues the power of the imagination Seeks beauty of unspoiled natureSeeks beauty of unspoiled nature Values youthful innocenceValues youthful innocence Values individual freedomValues individual freedom Values lessons of the pastValues lessons of the past Finds beauty in exotic locales, the supernatural, and in the imaginationFinds beauty in exotic locales, the supernatural, and in the imagination Values poetry as the highest expression of the imaginationValues poetry as the highest expression of the imagination Values myth, legend, and folk cultureValues myth, legend, and folk culture

8. Romantic Escapism Romantic writing looked for comforting exotic settings from the pastRomantic writing looked for comforting exotic settings from the past This was found in the supernatural, in nature, and/or folk legendsThis was found in the supernatural, in nature, and/or folk legends Romantics believed in contemplating, or becoming one with the natural worldRomantics believed in contemplating, or becoming one with the natural world

9. Romantic Escapism Romanticism also used lyrical poetry as a means to contemplate the beauty of natureRomanticism also used lyrical poetry as a means to contemplate the beauty of nature It focused on simple natural beautiesIt focused on simple natural beauties Its intent was to seek truth through a calm contemplation of a simple natural beautyIts intent was to seek truth through a calm contemplation of a simple natural beauty Romantics saw God in this contemplationRomantics saw God in this contemplation

10. The American Novel Most American Romantic writers imitated the European writing styleMost American Romantic writers imitated the European writing style American Romantic novelists broke away from European tradition and discovered uniquely American topics and settingsAmerican Romantic novelists broke away from European tradition and discovered uniquely American topics and settings American novelists explored the vast unknown lands – something the Europeans could notAmerican novelists explored the vast unknown lands – something the Europeans could not

11. The American Novel James Fennimore Cooper was the first American novelist to break away from European traditionJames Fennimore Cooper was the first American novelist to break away from European tradition His novels were set in the American FrontierHis novels were set in the American Frontier His Central character, Natty Bumppo, was the first American literary heroHis Central character, Natty Bumppo, was the first American literary hero Bumppo appeared in a series of Cooper novels as other characters: Hawkeye, Deerslayer, Leatherstocking, etc.Bumppo appeared in a series of Cooper novels as other characters: Hawkeye, Deerslayer, Leatherstocking, etc. His skills were almost superhumanHis skills were almost superhuman Cooper’s series of novels were called The Leatherstocking TalesCooper’s series of novels were called The Leatherstocking Tales

12. The New American Hero American Romantic literature created this unique personAmerican Romantic literature created this unique person He was youthfulHe was youthful He was innocentHe was innocent He was intuitiveHe was intuitive He was one with natureHe was one with nature He was a loner – uneasy around womenHe was a loner – uneasy around women He was handsomeHe was handsome He was braveHe was brave He was moral and honorableHe was moral and honorable

13. American Romantic Poetry Most Romantic poets worked within conventional European literary structuresMost Romantic poets worked within conventional European literary structures They proved that American poetry could reflect American subject matter, yet still hold to conventional poetic styleThey proved that American poetry could reflect American subject matter, yet still hold to conventional poetic style Most American Romantic poets wrote about the pastMost American Romantic poets wrote about the past The Fireside Poets, a Boston group of Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, and Lowell, were widely read and loved in AmericaThe Fireside Poets, a Boston group of Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, and Lowell, were widely read and loved in America They were the TV of the American Romantic period and families gathered around the fireside to be entertained by their poetryThey were the TV of the American Romantic period and families gathered around the fireside to be entertained by their poetry There subject matter was comfortable and instructionalThere subject matter was comfortable and instructional