A Journey through A Journey through RomanticismRomanticism

1800 – 18701800 – 1870

Authors and PoetsAuthors and Poets Romanticism PioneersRomanticism Pioneers – Washington Irving and William – Washington Irving and William

C. BryantC. Bryant Fireside PoetsFireside Poets – Henry W. Longfellow, Oliver W. – Henry W. Longfellow, Oliver W.

Holmes, John G. Whittier, and James R. LowellHolmes, John G. Whittier, and James R. Lowell TranscendentalistsTranscendentalists – Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry – Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry

David Thoreau David Thoreau Dark Romantics Dark Romantics –– Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar

Allan Poe Allan Poe New Poetic FormsNew Poetic Forms – Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson – Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson

Historical ContextHistorical Context

1800-1870 = time of growth and westward 1800-1870 = time of growth and westward expansionexpansion

The move west brought new technologies in The move west brought new technologies in transportation, industry, and communication:transportation, industry, and communication: Canals and railroadsCanals and railroads Factories and advanced farming equipmentFactories and advanced farming equipment Telegraph and Morse codeTelegraph and Morse code

Historical ContextHistorical Context

The move west and new technology also The move west and new technology also spurred troublesome changes:spurred troublesome changes: Factories brought fierce competition = child labor Factories brought fierce competition = child labor

and unsafe working conditionsand unsafe working conditions Women’s rights were severely hampered and Women’s rights were severely hampered and

efforts to change this came to the forefrontefforts to change this came to the forefront Opposition to slavery began to grow and gain a Opposition to slavery began to grow and gain a

voice in abolitionists, eventually dividing the voice in abolitionists, eventually dividing the nation in twonation in two

What is Romanticism?What is Romanticism?

A literary and artistic movement that placed an A literary and artistic movement that placed an emphasis on emphasis on imaginationimagination, , emotionemotion,, nature nature, , and and individuality.individuality.

Elevated the imagination over reason and Elevated the imagination over reason and intuition over facts.intuition over facts.

Intense interest and reverence in nature.Intense interest and reverence in nature.

Who are the Romantics?Who are the Romantics?

Before 1800 American writers were not Before 1800 American writers were not widely-read, and the Romantics changed this.widely-read, and the Romantics changed this.

These writers define the These writers define the American voiceAmerican voice – – personal and bold.personal and bold.

These writers define the primary These writers define the primary theme theme of of American writing: American writing: the quest of the individual the quest of the individual to define himself.to define himself.

Who are the Romantics?Who are the Romantics?

Washington IrvingWashington Irving William Cullen BryantWilliam Cullen Bryant “The Pioneers’ “The Pioneers’

Henry W. LongfellowHenry W. Longfellow Oliver W. HolmesOliver W. Holmes James R. LowellJames R. Lowell John G. WhittierJohn G. Whittier

“ “Fireside Poets”Fireside Poets”

Who are the Romantics?Who are the Romantics?Washington IrvingWashington Irving

11stst American writer to achieve international reputation American writer to achieve international reputation Travel through Europe and a fascination with its folklore Travel through Europe and a fascination with its folklore

lead Irving to create his two most famous stories:lead Irving to create his two most famous stories: ““The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” ““Rip Van Winkle”Rip Van Winkle”

Wrote “The Devil and Tom Walker” at the same time Wrote “The Devil and Tom Walker” at the same time Puritan beliefs were being replaced by materialism and Puritan beliefs were being replaced by materialism and the desire for personal gain.the desire for personal gain.

Who are the Romantics?Who are the Romantics?

William C. BryantWilliam C. Bryant

Wrote “Thanatopsis”Wrote “Thanatopsis”

Helped establish Romantic Movement in Helped establish Romantic Movement in AmericaAmerica

Known as Father of American poetryKnown as Father of American poetry

Who are the Fireside Poets?Who are the Fireside Poets?Henry W. LongfellowHenry W. Longfellow

First American poet to reach a First American poet to reach a wide audience and create a wide audience and create a national interest in poetry – national interest in poetry – most popularmost popular

Wrote “Paul Revere’s Ride”Wrote “Paul Revere’s Ride”

James R. LowellJames R. Lowell Remembered for nature Remembered for nature

poetrypoetry Wrote “The First Snowfall”Wrote “The First Snowfall”

Oliver W. HolmesOliver W. Holmes Wrote “Old Ironsides”Wrote “Old Ironsides” PhysicianPhysician

John G. WhittierJohn G. Whittier Wrote “Snowbound”Wrote “Snowbound”

They were the TV of the American Romantic period and families gathered around the fireside to be entertained by their poetry.

Fireside Poets Lasting ImpactFireside Poets Lasting Impact Longfellow remained the most popular American poet Longfellow remained the most popular American poet

for decades. for decades.

They took on causes in their poetry, such as the They took on causes in their poetry, such as the abolition of slavery, which brought the issues to the abolition of slavery, which brought the issues to the forefront in an agreeable way.forefront in an agreeable way.

Through their scholarship and editorial efforts, they Through their scholarship and editorial efforts, they paved the way for later Romantic writers like Ralph paved the way for later Romantic writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman.Whitman.

What is Dark Romanticism?What is Dark Romanticism?

Same attributes of Romanticism, but Same attributes of Romanticism, but tends to tends to accent the fantastic aspects of accent the fantastic aspects of human experiencehuman experience more. more.

Characterized as part of the literary genre Characterized as part of the literary genre known as: known as: Gothic LiteratureGothic Literature

Gothic Style CharacteristicsGothic Style Characteristics

SettingSetting is in bleak or remote places. is in bleak or remote places. PlotPlot involves morbid or violent incidents. involves morbid or violent incidents. CharactersCharacters are in psychological and/or are in psychological and/or

physical torment.physical torment. A A supernaturalsupernatural or otherworldly element or otherworldly element

is often present.is often present.

Who are the Dark Romantics?Who are the Dark Romantics?

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe Wrote “The Raven” Wrote “The Raven” Widely accepted as the Widely accepted as the

inventor of the detective inventor of the detective story.story.

Known as an eccentric Known as an eccentric writer – his dark and dismal writer – his dark and dismal life probably had something life probably had something to do with it.to do with it.

Herman MelvilleHerman Melville Wrote Wrote Moby-DickMoby-Dick which is which is

widely regarded as one of widely regarded as one of the finest novels in all of the finest novels in all of American Literature.American Literature.

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne Believed evil was a dominant Believed evil was a dominant

force in the world.force in the world. Wrote Wrote The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter and and

“The Minister’s Black Veil”“The Minister’s Black Veil”

1515

The American NovelThe American Novel• James Fenimore Cooper was the first American novelist to break from James Fenimore Cooper was the first American novelist to break from

European tradition.European tradition.• Novels sets in American frontierNovels sets in American frontier• Main character - Natty Bumppo, the first American literary heroMain character - Natty Bumppo, the first American literary hero• Bumppo appeared in a series of Cooper novels as other characters: Bumppo appeared in a series of Cooper novels as other characters:

Hawkeye, Deerslayer, Leatherstocking, etc.Hawkeye, Deerslayer, Leatherstocking, etc.• Bumppo - virtuous, moral, distrustful of city life, one with nature, etc.; Bumppo - virtuous, moral, distrustful of city life, one with nature, etc.;

skills were almost superhumanskills were almost superhuman• Cooper’s series of novels were called Cooper’s series of novels were called The Leatherstocking TalesThe Leatherstocking Tales

1616

The New American HeroThe New American HeroAmerican Romantic literature created this unique American Romantic literature created this unique

personperson•he was youthfulhe was youthful•he was innocenthe was innocent•he was intuitivehe was intuitive•he was one with naturehe was one with nature•he was a loner – uneasy around womenhe was a loner – uneasy around women•he was handsomehe was handsome•he was bravehe was brave•he was moral and honorablehe was moral and honorable