The Elements of Romanticism

A Renaissance in American Literature

The Rise of Romanticism Reaction to the “cold” intellect (devoid of emotion) of the Age

of Reason Enlightenment and French Revolution refines the role of the

individual Scientific and Industrial Revolutions lead to interest in the

unknown and new ways of thinking Major reform movements such as abolitionism and women’s

rights lead to the search for truth and the perfection of the social order

Rise of Transcendentalism and Unitarianism Attempts to cultivate utopian societies The move westward adds to American optimism

Elements of Romanticism

The quest for “pure beauty” and truth The use of antique and fanciful subject matter Interest in the past Use of the grotesque, gothic, odd or queer Escapism from American problems Interest in external nature as a source of beauty and

knowledge Nature as a refuge and a revelation of God to the

individual

Elements of Romanticism, cont.

Emphasis on emotion Appeals to imagination/ use of the sublime and

mystical (otherworldly) Subjectivity of the speaker as opposed to

objectivity Common people as subject matter as opposed

to “the great” Originality/ New philosophies and ways of

doing things

Romantic Techniques

Remote settings Improbable/contrived plots (inclusion of

magical/mystical/unexplained events) Organic principle: form rises out of content Authorial subjectivity Appearance of authenticity Romantic writing forms: essay, short story.

poetry, novel

5 BASIC BELIEFS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM 

Everything is a reflection of God

 - People are basically good- People will still sin, but they will repent and will most of the time choose to do the right thing- People are close to God- Nature is great!

Contemplating nature can allow you to transcend the real world and go to a higher, spiritual level

- People can get closer to God without church- Nature is as close as you can get to God- Society (the opposite of nature) keeps people from getting to a higher spiritual level

5 BASIC BELIEFS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM , cont.A person’s INSTINCT (intuition) can lead them to understand

God’s spirit- Everyone can do this!  Wealth, status, prior knowledge not

needed.- Stressed that people were basically good – their gut instincts could lead them to GodIndividualism and self-reliance are better than following others or depending on tradition.

- People will make the right choices if given the chance- Believed that government was not necessary- Urged people to question tradition- Materialism was not good; people should not be dependent on money or belongings

  A person’s true feelings and intuition are more valuable than

book knowledge.

- Average people were able to do this- Money, wealth, status not necessary- Trusted people to do and feel good things

5 BASIC BELIEFS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM , cont. A person’s true feelings and intuition are

more valuable than book knowledge.- Average people were able to do this- Money, wealth, status not necessary- Trusted people to do and feel good things

American Romantic Authors

Washington Irving Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Nathaniel Hawthorne Herman Melville Edgar Allan Poe Emily Dickinson

Influence of Romanticism & Transcendentalism

Led to the American ideals of individualism and free thought

Celebrated multiculturalism and feminism Encouraged reform Emphasized self reflection and exploration Paved the way for literary creativity of the

modern era

Discuss

How does Emerson’s “Nature” illustrate some of the principles of the Romantic and Transcendental movements?