2. Characteristics of American Romanticism

3. Feeling and Intuition More valuable than reason Stick to your guts/conscience over logic/mind

4. Faith Faith placed in inner expression Faith placed in the power of the imagination

5. A Typical American Romantic belief that reason and logic are limiting and imagination is superior is illustrated in this quote from Albert Einstein

6. Civilization vs. Nature Shuns the artificiality of civilization Seeks unspoiled nature

7. The City (Civilization!)  Corruption  Immorality  Reason  Logic  Planning  routine  Poor working conditions  Conformity  No imagination or freedom Romantics shun the artificiality of civilization and seek unspoiled nature!

8. Innocence vs. Sophistication Prefers youthful innocence over educated sophistication

9. Individuals Champions individual freedom Promotes the worth of the individual

10. Nature’s Beauty Contemplation of nature leads to spiritual and moral development

11. Past vs. Progress Looks backwards to the wisdom of the past Distrusts progress

12. Beauty and Truth Found in exotic locales Found in the supernatural realm

13. Beauty and Truth Found in the inner world of the imagination

14. Poetry Viewed as the highest expression of the imagination

15. Poetry Used English themes, meter, and imagery Used American settings and subject matter

16. Inspiration Found in myth Found in legend Found in folk culture

17. American Romantic Hero Is young or possesses youthful qualities Innocent and pure of purpose

18. American Romantic Hero Has a sense of honor based not on society’s rules but on some higher principle

19. American Romantic Hero Has a knowledge of people and of life based on deep, intuitive understanding, not formal learning

20. American Romantic Hero Loves nature and avoids town life Quests for higher truth in natural world

21. The Romantic HERO The classic hero of the time was James Fennimore Cooper’s Natty Bumppo.

22. There are 21 st Century Natty Bumppo descendants all around us in the guise of pop-culture heroes all around us! The Man with No Name Rugged and lives in nature! Luke Skywalker Intuitive and uses the “force!” Indiana Jones Always on a quest for a pure purpose!

23. Can you make a connection between each image a value of the American Romantics?? 7 2 3 4 5 6 1 8

24. Journal 1  Describe a journey that you’ve taken. Write at least half a page.

25. Journal 2  Describe your favorite get-away place. Write at least half a page.