1. Puritanism (1620-1730s): Knowledge: comes from grace, scripture, typological

history World view is God directed Social view: governmental theocracy, mutual

suspicion Self Concept: self-loathing, very self-conscious View of Nature: emblematic of God's purposes, the

living work of God. Earlier: fearful woods, Satan, Later: beauty

Representative Persons: Bradford/Winthrop--Edwards

2. Colonialism/Enlightenment 2. Colonialism/Enlightenment (1740s-1820): (1740s-1820):

► Knowledge: Lockian empiricism, through senses and Knowledge: Lockian empiricism, through senses and reason reason

► World view: natural laws are discoverable, Deism World view: natural laws are discoverable, Deism (celestial clockmaker) (celestial clockmaker)

► Social view: democracy, common man is more moral, Social view: democracy, common man is more moral, closer to truth, Constitution is "machine" to set closer to truth, Constitution is "machine" to set government in motion government in motion

► self concept: social, member of a community, be a self concept: social, member of a community, be a good citizen, social works good citizen, social works

► View of Nature: mechanical, scientific, follows View of Nature: mechanical, scientific, follows laws/rules, hierarchical separation of God, Man, laws/rules, hierarchical separation of God, Man, Nature Nature

► Representative Persons: Franklin, Jefferson Representative Persons: Franklin, Jefferson

3. Romantic Period (1820-1860/65) 3. Romantic Period (1820-1860/65)

Knowledge: genius, intuition, the sublime Knowledge: genius, intuition, the sublime World view: individual directed, only know World view: individual directed, only know

through own mind through own mind Social view: autocracy of the soul Social view: autocracy of the soul Self concept: self-discovery of your true self Self concept: self-discovery of your true self View of Nature: organic, God, Man, Nature View of Nature: organic, God, Man, Nature

fused fused Representative Persons: Emerson, Hawthorne Representative Persons: Emerson, Hawthorne

Romanticism [1830-1865] Romanticism [1830-1865]

Hawthorne, Poe, Thoreau, Melville, Whitman, Hawthorne, Poe, Thoreau, Melville, Whitman, Dickinson Dickinson

emphasis on the individual, center of life/experience emphasis on the individual, center of life/experience extraordinary characters in unusual circumstances extraordinary characters in unusual circumstances concentration on Nature over world alter/affected by concentration on Nature over world alter/affected by

man -exault wild/natural, scorn the urban/artificial man -exault wild/natural, scorn the urban/artificial often set in distant/historic/exotic past often set in distant/historic/exotic past importance of the imagination/intuition importance of the imagination/intuition

Elements of Transcendentalism: Elements of Transcendentalism:

combines world of senses with a world beyond combines world of senses with a world beyond the senses the senses

triumph of feeling/intuition over scientific triumph of feeling/intuition over scientific reason reason

exaltation of individual over society exaltation of individual over society impatience of bondage to custom and habit impatience of bondage to custom and habit thrilling delight in nature thrilling delight in nature

Transcendental Doctrines: Transcendental Doctrines:

living close to nature living close to nature dignity of manual labor dignity of manual labor strong need of intellectual companionship and strong need of intellectual companionship and

interests interests great emphasis on "spiritual living" great emphasis on "spiritual living" Men's relation to God personal, not intermediation of Men's relation to God personal, not intermediation of

ritualistic church ritualistic church self-trust and self-reliance practiced at all times self-trust and self-reliance practiced at all times intense individualism intense individualism

Philosophy and Tone of Philosophy and Tone of Transcendental writings: Transcendental writings:

worth of the individual worth of the individual rejection of the past, especially European rejection of the past, especially European

traditions traditions call for a new American literature call for a new American literature

(Insist on yourself, never imitate) (Insist on yourself, never imitate)

Critique of Slavery--some common Critique of Slavery--some common elements of slave narratives [1820-elements of slave narratives [1820-

1865]1865] • emphasis on family and attempts to destroy emphasis on family and attempts to destroy

or deny family ties or deny family ties • undulating hope and hopelessness undulating hope and hopelessness • dehumanization, animal imagery of both dehumanization, animal imagery of both

slave and slave owner slave and slave owner • preference for death rather than slavery preference for death rather than slavery • power and powerlessness, often tied to food power and powerlessness, often tied to food

imagery/hunger imagery/hunger • religious/political hypocrisy of slave owners religious/political hypocrisy of slave owners

Southwestern Humor [1830s-Southwestern Humor [1830s-1880s]: 1880s]:

• anti-intellectual bias • avid interest in "native" vernacular

characters • exaggeration/hyperbole often used • interest in representing actual spoken

dialects/vernacular • often uses a Frame structure [genteel

narrator vs. vernacular]

Local Color/Regionalism [1870-1910]:

folklore, local customs fading, need to be preserved

response to complexity of day, loss of pastoral

nostalgic particular regional setting simple, deceptive quality; best work

becomes universal

Realism [1865-1910] Realism [1865-1910]

fidelity to actuality, reality as it appears fidelity to actuality, reality as it appears through observation through observation

objectivity, neutrality objectivity, neutrality social awareness, critical appraisal of social awareness, critical appraisal of

society/institutions society/institutions vernacular/dialect, spoken language vernacular/dialect, spoken language

verisimilitude verisimilitude greater concern in character over action greater concern in character over action

(as in romanticism) (as in romanticism) absolute opposition to sentimental fiction absolute opposition to sentimental fiction

Naturalism [1880-1900] Naturalism [1880-1900]

attempted objectivity attempted objectivity frankness frankness amoral attitude toward material amoral attitude toward material philosophy of determinism philosophy of determinism pessimism pessimism projection of "strong" characters, animal or projection of "strong" characters, animal or

neurotic naturesneurotic natures