1. Romantic Period of American Literature

2. 4 Characteristics of Romantic Lit. The Distant: Remote settings of time and location Nature: description of beauty, escape from society Individualism: person/human has complete power, individual is center of focus Imagination: use of the supernatural

3. Sub-Categories of Romanticism Romantics: focus on freedom of expression and imaginationRomantics: focus on freedom of expression and imagination Washington Irving, Emily DickinsonWashington Irving, Emily Dickinson Dark Romantics: focus on supernatural and complexities of death/afterworldDark Romantics: focus on supernatural and complexities of death/afterworld Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel HawthorneEdgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne Transcendentalists: focus on nature and renewing power of natureTranscendentalists: focus on nature and renewing power of nature Transcend = to move beyond/to be superiorTranscend = to move beyond/to be superior Henry Thoreau, Ralph Emerson, Walt WhitmanHenry Thoreau, Ralph Emerson, Walt Whitman

4. Major Works  Washington Irving: “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”  Emily Dickinson: The Complete Poems  Edgar Allan Poe: “The Raven” and “The Masque of the Red Death”  Henry Thoreau: “Walden”  Ralph Emerson: “Nature”

5. Historical Context 1800s Westward Expansion: Gold Rush Division of North and South due to industrialization and slavery issues Immigration on a large scale (5 million Europeans from 1815-1860) Technology advances: railroads, telegraphs, steel plow, reaping machine