American RomanticismAmerican Romanticism

1800-18601800-1860Rose-colored Rose-colored

glassesglasses

Neoclassicism vs. Neoclassicism vs. RomanticismRomanticism

• Community/SocietyCommunity/Society• Reason/LogicReason/Logic• Classical Classical

KnowledgeKnowledge• RationalityRationality• ConservativeConservative• Political Political

pamphlets, essays, pamphlets, essays, satire, moral fablessatire, moral fables

• Individual freedomIndividual freedom• Human imaginationHuman imagination• NatureNature• EmotionEmotion• OptimisticOptimistic• Fiction (poetry and Fiction (poetry and

prose) with prose) with supernatural supernatural elementselements

DefinitionDefinition

American Romanticism can best be American Romanticism can best be described as a journey away from described as a journey away from the corruption of civilization and the the corruption of civilization and the limits of rational thought and toward limits of rational thought and toward the integrity of nature and the the integrity of nature and the freedom of the imagination.freedom of the imagination.

- Elements of Literature- Elements of Literature

Origins & Influential Origins & Influential ConditionsConditions

• 1818thth century Germany century Germany• Reaction against RationalismReaction against Rationalism• Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution• Urban life was filled with crime, violence, Urban life was filled with crime, violence,

corruption, filth, poverty, disease, corruption, filth, poverty, disease, overcrowding and squalorovercrowding and squalor

• Problems of war and slaveryProblems of war and slavery• American frontier promised opportunity for American frontier promised opportunity for

expansion, growth, freedom, etc.expansion, growth, freedom, etc.• Immigration brought new cultures and Immigration brought new cultures and

perspectivesperspectives• Growth of industry in the north further Growth of industry in the north further

polarized the north and agrarian southpolarized the north and agrarian south• Search for new spiritual rootsSearch for new spiritual roots

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Values feeling & intuition over reasonValues feeling & intuition over reason• Places faith in inner experience and Places faith in inner experience and

the power of imaginationthe power of imagination• Shuns the artificiality of civilization & Shuns the artificiality of civilization &

seeks unspoiled natureseeks unspoiled nature• Prefers youthful innocence to Prefers youthful innocence to

educated sophisticationeducated sophistication• Champions individual freedom & the Champions individual freedom & the

worth of the individualworth of the individual• Spontaneity in thought & actionSpontaneity in thought & action

• Contemplates nature’s beauty as a path Contemplates nature’s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral developmentto spiritual and moral development

• Looks backward to the wisdom of the Looks backward to the wisdom of the past and distrusts progresspast and distrusts progress

• Finds beauty and truth in exotic locales, Finds beauty and truth in exotic locales, the supernatural realm & the inner the supernatural realm & the inner world of imaginationworld of imagination

• Sees poetry as the highest expression of Sees poetry as the highest expression of the imaginationthe imagination

• Finds inspiration in myth, legend & folk Finds inspiration in myth, legend & folk cultureculture

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Literary ThemesLiterary Themes

• Highly imaginative and subjectiveHighly imaginative and subjective• Emotional intensityEmotional intensity• Common man as heroCommon man as hero• Nature as refuge, source of knowledge and/or Nature as refuge, source of knowledge and/or

spiritualityspirituality• Universe is mysterious, irrational and Universe is mysterious, irrational and

incomprehensibleincomprehensible• Characters and setting set apart from societyCharacters and setting set apart from society• Supernatural foreshadowing (dreams, visions)Supernatural foreshadowing (dreams, visions)• Good receive justice; nature can punish & rewardGood receive justice; nature can punish & reward• Themes of self-improvement, honor, integrity & Themes of self-improvement, honor, integrity &

romantic loveromantic love• Writers spoke obliquely & ambiguously (not Writers spoke obliquely & ambiguously (not

directly)directly)

Popular WritersPopular Writers

• William Cullen BryantWilliam Cullen Bryant• Washington IrvingWashington Irving• James Fenimore James Fenimore

CooperCooper• Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne• Margaret FullerMargaret Fuller• Harriet Beecher StoweHarriet Beecher Stowe• Louisa May AlcottLouisa May Alcott

Washington IrvingWashington Irving1783-18591783-1859

• Father of the American Short StoryFather of the American Short Story• Born in New York CityBorn in New York City• Sent to England to look after family Sent to England to look after family

business in 1815business in 1815• Decided the business had a “sordid, Decided the business had a “sordid,

dusty, soul-killing way of life”dusty, soul-killing way of life”• Began drafting short stories in 1817 Began drafting short stories in 1817

in the style of German folk talesin the style of German folk tales• Used pen names until he was over Used pen names until he was over

50 50

Washington IrvingWashington Irving• A History of New York, from the A History of New York, from the

Beginning of the World to the End of Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynastythe Dutch Dynasty – Diedrich – Diedrich KnickerbockerKnickerbocker

• The Sketch BookThe Sketch Book – Geoffrey Crayon – Geoffrey Crayon• Borrowed much from European Borrowed much from European

influences, but established his own influences, but established his own inflated voiceinflated voice

• Rip Van Winkle, The Devil and Tom Rip Van Winkle, The Devil and Tom Walker, The Legend of Sleepy Walker, The Legend of Sleepy HollowHollow

The EndThe End

BARGAINBARGAIN

CONSEQUENCECONSEQUENCE

DEBTDEBT

GREEDGREED

DEVILDEVIL

MATERIALISMMATERIALISM

VULTUREVULTURE

SOULSOUL

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