The American The American Romantic HeroRomantic Hero

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the Romantic HeroRomantic Hero

Clichéd rather than well roundedClichéd rather than well rounded The embodiment of ideasThe embodiment of ideas A flawed characterA flawed character

Characteristics cont.Characteristics cont.

The American Romantic Hero has The American Romantic Hero has qualities that can be found in the qualities that can be found in the beliefs of the Romantics.beliefs of the Romantics.

Characteristics cont.Characteristics cont.

IndividualIndividual YouthfulYouthful InstinctiveInstinctive Utilizes humor based on a higher Utilizes humor based on a higher

principalprincipal

Characteristics cont.Characteristics cont.

NatureNature Key to the Romantic HeroKey to the Romantic Hero Avoids the cityAvoids the city Derives knowledge from experiences Derives knowledge from experiences

and natureand nature TruthTruth

Finds truth in natureFinds truth in nature

American Romantic NovelAmerican Romantic Novel

Different from European Romantic Different from European Romantic novelsnovels Created a new and unusual American Created a new and unusual American

stylestyle American novels ventured into American novels ventured into

unexplored territoriesunexplored territories

Birth of Romantic HeroBirth of Romantic Hero

James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper Father of the American NovelFather of the American Novel Wrote of the American FrontierWrote of the American Frontier The Leatherstockings TalesThe Leatherstockings Tales

Natty BumppoNatty Bumppo

http://www.biography.com/articles/James-Fenimore-Cooper-9256602

Natty BumppoNatty Bumppo

First American Romantic HeroFirst American Romantic Hero Character in many of Cooper’s Character in many of Cooper’s

novelsnovels LeatherstockingsLeatherstockings PioneersPioneers DeerslayerDeerslayer

Has stark integrityHas stark integrity

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/COOPER/indian.html

Natty Bumppo cont.Natty Bumppo cont.

One with natureOne with nature Has extraordinary ingenuityHas extraordinary ingenuity Cooper combines Indian spirit with Cooper combines Indian spirit with

frontiersman mentalityfrontiersman mentality ““Nobel Savage”Nobel Savage”

Natty as an IndianNatty as an Indian

AppearanceAppearance Deer-skin moccasinDeer-skin moccasin Long unkempt hairLong unkempt hair

Represents the Indian antithesis Represents the Indian antithesis who kills in cold blood while who kills in cold blood while celebrating naturecelebrating nature

Natty as an Indian cont.Natty as an Indian cont.

Befriends Delaware Chief Befriends Delaware Chief ChingachgookChingachgook Typical Romance IndianTypical Romance Indian Natty’s oppositeNatty’s opposite

Eventually takes on characteristics Eventually takes on characteristics of Chingachgookof Chingachgook

With Chingachgook’s death, Natty With Chingachgook’s death, Natty fleas society escaping its captivityfleas society escaping its captivity

Natty as the FrontiersmanNatty as the Frontiersman

Natty represents the linguistic Natty represents the linguistic switch from the rationalist thinking switch from the rationalist thinking to the creation of the American to the creation of the American dreamdream

Symbol of the natural manSymbol of the natural man Caught in the adapting American Caught in the adapting American

societysociety

Rip Van WinkleRip Van Winkle

Prolonged sleep sheltered and Prolonged sleep sheltered and ostracized him from societyostracized him from society Upon awakening Rip encounters Upon awakening Rip encounters

trouble conforming to the new societytrouble conforming to the new society Laziness helps cause separation Laziness helps cause separation

from societyfrom society Involved with natureInvolved with nature

runningredskins.blogspot.com

Modern Romantic HeroesModern Romantic Heroes

Today authors still write about the Today authors still write about the American Romantic HeroAmerican Romantic Hero

Popular examples arePopular examples are SupermanSuperman Luke SkywalkerLuke Skywalker Indiana JonesIndiana Jones

superman-picture.com

Works CitedWorks Cited Dekker, Geroge G. “James Fenimore Cooper.” Dekker, Geroge G. “James Fenimore Cooper.” Biography Biography

ChannelChannel. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. . N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.biography.com/articles/James-Fenimore-<http://www.biography.com/articles/James-Fenimore-

Cooper-9256602>.Cooper-9256602>. Grimes, Geoffrey A. "Basic Concept: Primitivism and the Noble Grimes, Geoffrey A. "Basic Concept: Primitivism and the Noble

Savage."  Savage."  English 2327: Survey of American LiteratureEnglish 2327: Survey of American Literature. . Mountain View Coll, 27 Aug. 2004. Web. 29 Mar. Mountain View Coll, 27 Aug. 2004. Web. 29 Mar. 2010.<http://www.distancelearningassociates.com/ 2010.<http://www.distancelearningassociates.com/ 

           eng2327/BC-Primitivism.html>.eng2327/BC-Primitivism.html>. Kayden. “How Might Rip Van Winkle Be Seen as a Model Kayden. “How Might Rip Van Winkle Be Seen as a Model

American Romantic Hero?” American Romantic Hero?” Enotes.comEnotes.com. N.p., . N.p., n.d. Web. 23 n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/rip-Mar. 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/rip-van/q-and-a/how-van/q-and-a/how- might-rip-van-winkle-seen-model-might-rip-van-winkle-seen-model-american-16475>.american-16475>.

Works CitedWorks Cited ““A New Kind of Hero.” A New Kind of Hero.” Elements of LiteratureElements of Literature. Austin: Holt, . Austin: Holt,

Rinehart and Winston, 1997. 147-50. Print.Rinehart and Winston, 1997. 147-50. Print. Stevens, Jason. “The American Romantic Hero.” Stevens, Jason. “The American Romantic Hero.” Hoffman Hoffman

Estates High SchoolEstates High School. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. . N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.hehs.d211.org/people/stevensj/classes/E302/<http://www.hehs.d211.org/people/stevensj/classes/E302/Assignments_Activities/Romanticism/american_romantic_hAssignments_Activities/Romanticism/american_romantic_hero.htm>.ero.htm>.

Sullivan. “American Romanticism.” PPT file.Sullivan. “American Romanticism.” PPT file. University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences. "Natty University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences. "Natty

Bumppo." Bumppo." James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper. U of Virginia, n.d. . U of Virginia, n.d. Web. 23 Web. 23 Mar. 2010. Mar. 2010.      <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/COOPER/bumppo.html>.     <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/COOPER/bumppo.html>.

Unknown. “American Romanticism.” PPT file.Unknown. “American Romanticism.” PPT file.