1. Romanticism 1800-1860

2. Characteristics of American Romanticism Values feeling and intuition over reason. Places faith in the inner experience and the power of the imagination. Shuns the artificiality of civilization and seeks unspoiled nature.

3. Characteristics of American Romanticism, continued Prefers youthful innocence to educated sophistication. Champions of individual freedom and the worth of the individual.

4. Characteristics of American Romanticism, continued C ontemplates nature’s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development. L ooks backward to the wisdom of the past and distrusts progress. F inds beauty and truth in exotic locations, the supernatural realm, and the inner world of the imagination.

5. Sees poetry as the highest expression of the imagination. Finds inspiration in myth, legend, and folk culture.

6. Characteristics of the American Romantic Hero Young or possesses youthful qualities Innocent and pure of purpose Sense of honor based on a higher principle, not on society’s rules

7. Characteristics of the American Romantic Hero, continued K nowledge of people and of life based on deep, intuitive understanding, not on formal learning. L oves nature and avoids town life Q uests for some higher truth in the natural world

8. American Romantic Poetry (Fireside Poetry) These poets wrote for a family audience and usually about subjects of general appeal: patriotism, home, family, nature, and religion. They also gave moral lessons through poetry. These poets were very popular in their time, but they were not very innovative. They borrowed their style from the Europeans. However, many consider them the most popular poets.

9. Examples: Oliver Wendell Holmes John Greenleaf Whittier James Russell Lowell Henry Wadsworth Longfellow