1. Introduction to American Romanticism

2. Romanticism: The Movement Time Frame: late 18th century - early 20th century Origins First appearance in Germany in 1770s (“Sturm und Drang”); England in 1790s; spread to America from 1820s onward What Started It? A reaction against the Enlightenment or Age of Reason, especially emphasis on formal propriety, classical style, and decorum

3. What do you think of when you hear the word “Romantic”? Jot down as many things as possible. Bullet points are fine. Go for at least 8-10 associations.

4. Romantic and romantic ➔ r: Emotion, imagination, symbolism, love ➔ R: INDIVIDUALITY - The Individual and relationship to society (Birth of “Self”) ➔ R: FEELING over FORM - experimentation and creativity in art and literature ➔ R: AWE, OPTIMISM, ESCAPISM - the uncharted frontier, opportunity, adventure ➔ R: NATURE as REFUGE - source of spirituality, Truth, wisdom, inspiration

6. “ “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. American Romantics ◍ Poets o Henry Wadsworth Longfellow o Walt Whitman o Emily Dickinson ◍ Prose Writers o Ralph Waldo Emerson o Henry David Thoreau o Herman Melville ◍ Artists o Thomas Cole o Asher B. Durand o Alfred Bierstadt

8. TRANSCENDENTALISM Valued intuition, insight, inspiration, experience, personal discovery, social reform, and universal truth

9. THOMAS COLE, “The Falls of Kaaterskill” (1826)

10. THOMAS COLE, “The Oxbow (View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, after a Thunderstorm)” (1836)

11. ASHER DURAND, “Kindred Spirits” (1848)

12. ALFRED BIERSTADT, “Emigrants Crossing the Plains” (1867)

13. ALFRED BIERSTADT, “Looking up the Yosemite Valley” (1865-67)

15. CHAIN REACTION Renaissance Enlightenment Romanticism

17. Time Frame?MVPs?Reaction to? Likes Dislikes Transcen- dentalism? LET’S REVIEW