1. Romantics 1800-1860

2. Romantics A.Colonies are now a nation, 23 states- expanding rapidly. 1.1803 Louisiana Purchase. 2.War of 1812 against Britain opened up more land. a.By 1820, moving west and claiming land for civilization. b. Native Americans struggled to hold on to land.

3. Romantics: Literature A.Tired of reason and logic, the Romantics wished to examine inner feelings of individuals and their emotions. 1.Emphasis on the unique individual 2.Recognize personal intuition over reason 3.Importance of the common people, their lives and experiences

4. Romantics broke into two categories: Transcendentalists American Gothic

5. Transcendentalists Definition: Stresses spiritual well- being achieved through intellectual activity (meditation) and a close relationship with nature.

6. Transcendentalists A.Beginners of the movement are Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. 1.Disgust for conformity and praised individuality. 2.Search for the inner self. 3.Respect intuition to guide people to a higher level of knowledge-supernatural forces. 4.Close relationship to nature. 5.Criticized material possessions and “get ahead” work ethic.

7. Transcendentalists B. Set up their own transcendentalist farm (Brook Farm) in Massachusetts 1840-1847. 1. Lived from the land, grew food, self- sufficient farm 2. Discussed thoughts and feelings about life with other members of their “ideal” society.

8. Transcendentalist Authors EMERSONTHOREAU

9. American Gothic Definition-Emphasis on the dark side of the individual. Not optimistic like transcendentalists. Interested in emotion, nature, the unusual, and the human capacity for evil.

11. American Gothic Edgar Allen Poe Writing deals with the terror of the soul. Deterioration of the mind. Growth of the horror story. Lack of affection in his life.

12. American Gothic B. Writing examines the deterioration of the heart under conditions of fear, greed, vanity, mistrust, and betrayal. William Faulkner Flannery O’Connor

13. Both categories are considered Romantics because of the focus on the individual and their reactions to the world in which they live.