The Romantic Period The Romantic Period in American in American LiteratureLiterature

1800-18601800-1860

Hudson River School of ArtHudson River School of Art

Hudson River School Hudson River School paintings reflect three paintings reflect three themes of America in themes of America in the 19th century: the 19th century: discovery, exploration, discovery, exploration, and settlement. The and settlement. The paintings also depict paintings also depict the American landscape the American landscape as a as a pastoralpastoral setting, setting, where where human beingshuman beings and and naturenature coexist coexist peacefully peacefully

In the words of Ralph Waldo In the words of Ralph Waldo EmersonEmerson

““For all men live by truth, and stand in For all men live by truth, and stand in need of expression. In love, in art, in need of expression. In love, in art, in avarice, in politics, in labor, in games, avarice, in politics, in labor, in games, we study to utter our painful secret. we study to utter our painful secret. The man is only half himself, the other The man is only half himself, the other half is his expression.” half is his expression.”

After the Bill of RightsAfter the Bill of Rightsandand

Before the Civil WarBefore the Civil War

City vs. CountryCity vs. Country

►To the Romantic, the city is corrupt To the Romantic, the city is corrupt and ugly.and ugly.

►To the Romantic, the country To the Romantic, the country represents independence, moral represents independence, moral clarity, and healthy living.clarity, and healthy living.

Imagination over ReasonImagination over Reason

►Romanticism is a reaction against Romanticism is a reaction against rationalism which brought about the rationalism which brought about the sooty, squalid cities of the Industrial sooty, squalid cities of the Industrial Revolution.Revolution.

► Imagination was able to apprehend Imagination was able to apprehend truth the rational mind could not truth the rational mind could not reach.reach.

Romantics vs. Romantics vs. RationalistsRationalists

►ImaginationImagination►SpontaneitySpontaneity►Individual Individual

feelingsfeelings►Wild natureWild nature

► ReasonReason► LogicLogic► PlanningPlanning► CultivationCultivation

Gothic NovelsGothic Novels

►Allowed Romantics to explore the Allowed Romantics to explore the exotic nature of the supernatural exotic nature of the supernatural realm and the psychological realm and the psychological exploration of the human mind.exploration of the human mind.

The American JourneyThe American Journey

►Takes reader to the literal countryside Takes reader to the literal countryside and the countryside of the and the countryside of the imagination.imagination.

►A journey away from corruption of A journey away from corruption of civilization and rational thought.civilization and rational thought.

►A journey toward the integrity of A journey toward the integrity of nature and the freedom of the nature and the freedom of the imagination.imagination.

Romantic NovelsRomantic Novels

►Looked to wilderness and westward Looked to wilderness and westward expansion.expansion.

►““Geography of the Imagination”Geography of the Imagination”

Romantic PoetsRomantic Poets

►Believed poetry was the greatest Believed poetry was the greatest witness to the power of imagination.witness to the power of imagination.

►Still modeled themselves after the Still modeled themselves after the European poets.European poets.

►Fireside poets known for their Fireside poets known for their comfortable subjects appealing to comfortable subjects appealing to families—love, patriotism, nature, families—love, patriotism, nature, family, God and religion.family, God and religion.

►Their literary conservationism kept Their literary conservationism kept them from being truly innovative.them from being truly innovative.

Romantic HeroRomantic Hero

► Is innocent and pure of purposeIs innocent and pure of purpose►Has a sense of honor based Has a sense of honor based notnot on society’s on society’s

rules but on some higher principlerules but on some higher principle►Has a knowledge of people and of life based Has a knowledge of people and of life based

on deep, on deep, intuitive intuitive understanding, not on understanding, not on formal learningformal learning

► Loves natureLoves nature► Avoids town lifeAvoids town life

SNIIIIIIPDSNIIIIIIPD

► SupernaturalSupernatural►NatureNature

Intense feelingIntense feeling ImaginationImagination IndependenceIndependence Intuition Intuition Innocence Innocence Inner Experience Inner Experience

►Nostalgia for the PASTNostalgia for the PAST►Distrust of civilization Distrust of civilization

When I heard the Learn’d When I heard the Learn’d AstronomerAstronomer

When I heard the learn’d astronomer;When I heard the learn’d astronomer;

When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;before me;

When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure thedivide, and measure the

When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,with much applause in the lecture-room,

How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;

Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself,Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself,

In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,

Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.

(Walt Whitman)(Walt Whitman)