American Romanticism

Before we look at where we’re headed let’s review where we’re

coming from …Puritanism

1600-1750: Puritan Literature and DoctrineThe bible the sole source of law

Belief in original sin

Belief in predestination

Literature reflected this way of lifeFocused on religious beliefs, relationship with God

Often intolerant

Gender stereotyping

The Age of Reason

• 1750-1800: The Age of Reason– Responded to the political, social, economic

changes in America

• Literature was practical– Urged social or political reform

• ex. Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanack

– Stressed reason and judgment– Critical of institutionalized religion

• Ex. Thomas Pain’s Common Sense• Declaration of Independence

This gave way to …

American Romanticism

Dispelling Misconceptions• It isn’t about romance, i.e. candlelight

dinners, roses, and a prince charming• "Romanticism," as a term,

derives from "romance," which from the Medieval Period (1200-1500) and on simply meant a story (e.g. all the chivalric, King Arthur legends) that was adventuristic and improbable.

What are the origins of Romanticism?

• The "Romantic Period" refers to literary and cultural movements in England, Europe, and America roughly from 1770 to 1860.

• In America, artists, writers and philosophers rebelled against conventions of the Age of Reason– Wanted to deal with EMOTIONS!– Championed the value of the individual

• Response to industrialization/urbanization– Escapism

Origins cont’d• Romantic writers (and artists) saw

themselves as revolting against the "Age of Reason" (1700-1770) and its values.

• They celebrated/valued:– imagination/intuition versus

reason/calculation,– spontaneity & freedom versus control, – subjectivity and metaphysical musing versus

objective fact, – revolutionary energy versus tradition, – individualism versus social conformity, – democracy versus monarchy, and so on.

American Romanticism

• The movement began in America in 1828 (roughly)

• It ended in 1865 with the onslaught of the Civil War, which led to the Age of Realism.

The Characteristics of Romanticism

• Emphasis of emotion over reason• Style - Formal language• Description provides a "feeling" of the scene • Silences of the text - universals rather than learned truths• Plot arranged around crisis moments; plot is important • Supernatural foreshadowing (dreams, visions)• Belief in the natural goodness of man• Belief that nature and simplicity= purity and cities and

sophistication= corruption• Fantasy/Introspection• Universe is mysterious; irrational; incomprehensible • Belief in “The 5 I’s”- Imagination, Intuition, Innocence, Inner

Experience, and Inspiration from nature/supernatural

Characteristics of Romanticism, Cont’d• “suspension of disbelief”

– Improbable plots ex. “The Devil and Tom Walker,” The Count of Monte Cristo

– Remote, far-away settings– The abnormal– Use of terror, fear, the unknown

• Another integral part of the Romantic period is the concept of the Romantic hero, a concept that emerged during this movement and still exists today

The Romantic Hero• The Romantic Hero

– valued emotion rather than rational thought, so was often portrayed as brooding or dreaming.

– He often lived excluded from or at odds with society, and became one with the natural world.

– He was youthful, innocent, intuitive, close to nature, and hopelessly uneasy with women who represented the trappings of civilization.

• The “Noble Savage” – an idealization of the Native American as the epitome (best example) of simplicity, innocence and closeness with nature.

The Romantic Hero• A character of extremes

– No limitations on imagination or feelings – the more powerful the feelings, the better!

– Can be obsessive (in love and otherwise)

• Quest for Beauty or Perfection– Becomes consumed with desire for the “unattainable.”

Closely tied to the concept of escapism– Longs for something more

• Transcend the ordinary• The past • The impossible

Famous Romantics and their Works

• Washington Irving– “Rip Van Winkle” The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

• James Fenimore Cooper—The Last of the Mohicans

• William Cullen Bryant (poet)- “Thanatopsis”• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow- “Evangeline”• Edgar Allan Poe- many poems and short stories• Herman Melville- Moby Dick• Nathaniel Hawthorne- “The Scarlet Letter”, short

stories

The Dark Romantics• Same characteristics as the Romantics, but

darker.

• Unlike the Romantics, the Dark Romantics acknowledged the evil of man and the horror of evil.

• Emphasizes the supernatural, grotesque, the gloomy and the morbid.

• The Dark Romantics- Edgar Allan Poe (the father of the horror genre), Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville.

Note• Remember: The Romantic

period is not about Romantic love! It is a literary movement and has nothing to do with the romance novel.

Sources:

1)Professor Bruce Harvey’s American Literature webpage