RL 11.2: Determine two or more themes or ideas central to the text and analyze the development; summarize text

RL11.4: Determine meaning of words/phrases used in text – figurative lang., connotative meanings – how words affect tone and meaning, symbolism, motif.

RL 11.9: Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth century foundational works of American literature, including how two or more texts from the same period treat similar themes or topics

Tone

Motif

The attitude (emotion) of the author or narrator. Then tone is an emotion word.

is an event or image that is repeatedly used, to reinforce the theme of a work and to the draw the reader's attention to a particular event or idea.

Symbol

Symbolism

A thing that represents or stands for something else, esp. a material object representing something abstract.

Use of symbols to help develop the theme

Figurative Language

Theme

Imagery, sensory details, symbolism, metaphor, motif, simile, personification, onomatopoeia

The central idea(s) or purpose(s) of a text, seen through motif, symbolism, tone, plot, and characterization

Characteristics of the Romantic Era (Major Themes/Motifs in the literature)

- Distrust of “Civilization”

- Nostalgia for the past

- Concern with the Individual Freedom

- Interest in the Supernatural

- Profound love for beauties of natural landscape.

More Characteristics of Romanticism - Innocence

- Anti-Industrialism - Spontaneous

overflow of emotion recollected in tranquility

- Imagination

Rationalism vs. Romanticism

- Reaction to rationalism and the Age of Reason

- Imagination able to discover truths that Reason could not reach

- Truths accompanied by powerful emotion and associated with beauty

Definition In order to understand the ultimate reality of God, the universe, the self, and other important matters, one must transcend, or go beyond everyday human experience in the physical world using intuition and imagination.

Intuition The chief aim is to become fully aware not only of what our senses record, but also to recognize the ability of our inner voice—our intuition—to wisely and correctly interpret the sensory input.

Individualism One aspect of individualism is the value of the individual over society. To "transcend" society one must first be able to look past and beyond it. One must follow his instincts and not conform to what society dictates. Although society will influence an individual towards conformity, it is important to remain true to one's self and to one's identity. Secondly, individualism includes being self-reliant.

Emerson and Nature

In his essay, "Nature," Emerson explained how every idea has its source in natural phenomena, and that the attentive person can "see" those ideas in nature.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, and Herman Melville

Unlike Emerson and transcendentalism, their view of the world lacked optimism. They saw a dark side to human existence and recorded this aspect of human nature in their works.

Similarities to transcendentalism: valued intuition over reason, saw signs and symbols in events, spiritual facts lie behind physical appearances.

- Poe’s lit. about the workings of the human mind; master or suspense/horror

- He most desired to cut free from reality or actually enter into the world of the imagination

- Poe used his stories to show readers the truth that lies in the dark and irrational depths of the human mind

- Poe is the father of Dark Romanticism

- Poe is a Gothic writer - Gothic novels feature

mysterious settings and elements of the bizarre and supernatural

- Poe wrote the first detective story – Inspired Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes

Include highly charged emotional states like:  terror, a feeling that one is on the brink of insanity, anger, agitation, an exaggerated feeling of some impending doom, and obsessive love.

Supernatural events:  ghosts, doors that open themselves, unexplained sounds, etc.

Damsels in distress are frequent.  Women who are frightened and confused, wandering around lost, or dying due to a slow and unexplainable ailment.

Settings- include large, drafty old houses that have "been in the family for years." 

Atmosphere of mystery and suspense

A ghostly legend, an unexplainable occurrence, or a story about a horrible death or murder .

Omens, foreshadowing, and dreams usually play a large role in the mysterious air that is created within the story.

Gothic Lit Words designed to evoke images of gloom and doom: dark, foreboding, forbidding, ghostly, etc.

Romantic themes often involve the death of a man or woman in the throes of some great passion, the obsessive nature of a man or woman in love, or excessive grief one feels upon the loss of a loved one.

Arpin, Gary. “American Romanticism.” Elements of Literature, 5th Course. Austin: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston, 2000. 138-150.

Brulatour, Meg. “Transcendental Ideas: Definitions.” Virginia Commonwealth University. Web. 12 October

2011.

“Transcendentalism, Anti-Transcendentalism and the Dark Romantics.” Arcadia School System. Powerpoint. 12 Ocotober 2011. teachers.ausd.net/classlink/getfile.ausd?fileid=65679