1. Romanticism

2. Romanticism 1800 – 1860 1800 – 1860 An artistic movement that began in Europe and valued imagination and feeling over intellect and reason. An artistic movement that began in Europe and valued imagination and feeling over intellect and reason. A way of looking at life as it should be, would be, could be if you use your imagination. A way of looking at life as it should be, would be, could be if you use your imagination.

3. Characteristics of Romanticism: Celebration of self Celebration of self Focus on the individual Focus on the individual Inclusion of author’s own personality and imagination Inclusion of author’s own personality and imagination Exaltation of Nature Exaltation of Nature Focus on remote and exotic settings Focus on remote and exotic settings

4. Historical, Social, Cultural Factors: Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution (agricultural/small town - industrial/large city) (agricultural/small town - industrial/large city) Sectional Strife Sectional Strife (Civil War ended Romanticism) (Civil War ended Romanticism) Age of Reform Age of Reform (religion, slavery, drunkenness,women’s rights, mental health, and prisons) (religion, slavery, drunkenness,women’s rights, mental health, and prisons)

5. Three themes (Big Ideas) Optimism and Individualism Optimism and Individualism Kinship with Nature Kinship with Nature The Power of Darkness The Power of Darkness

6. Optimism and Individualism

7. Optimism A positive outlook on life A positive outlook on life A belief or an attitude in achieving as individuals and citizens A belief or an attitude in achieving as individuals and citizens

8. Individualism Being true to yourself Being true to yourself Each person is important Each person is important

9. Rise of the Common People Involvement in political and social life of their communities and country Involvement in political and social life of their communities and country

10. Transcendentalism a philosophical and literary movement whose followers believed that basic truths could be reached only by “going beyond,” or transcending reason and reflecting on the world of the spirit and on one’s own deep and free intuition. Transcendentalists believed that the individual could transform the world – not only through writing, but also through utopian communities, antislavery activity, and other social action. a philosophical and literary movement whose followers believed that basic truths could be reached only by “going beyond,” or transcending reason and reflecting on the world of the spirit and on one’s own deep and free intuition. Transcendentalists believed that the individual could transform the world – not only through writing, but also through utopian communities, antislavery activity, and other social action.

11. Transcendental Beliefs: 1. Idealism 1. Idealism 2. Intuition and imagination (not reason and logic) 2. Intuition and imagination (not reason and logic) 3. Optimism 3. Optimism 4. Non-conformity (follow your own path) 4. Non-conformity (follow your own path) 5. Antiestablishment 5. Antiestablishment 6. Strong opposition to materialism 6. Strong opposition to materialism 7. Belief in the value of the individual 7. Belief in the value of the individual 8. Insistence on self reliance 8. Insistence on self reliance 9. Pantheism (God in all) 9. Pantheism (God in all) 10. Interconnectedness of the universe 10. Interconnectedness of the universe

12. Transcendental Authors: Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Margaret Fuller Margaret Fuller

13. Kinship with Nature Civilization’s effect on wilderness Civilization’s effect on wilderness Nature’s benefits to humans: Nature’s benefits to humans: Spiritual connection BeautyPeacefulnessRespect Garden vs. wilderness Garden vs. wilderness (paradise) (need to be tamed) (paradise) (need to be tamed)

14. Authors: Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau

15. The Power of Darkness (Gothic view) Imagination is the key to Romanticism (author’s personality) Imagination is the key to Romanticism (author’s personality) Horror Horror Terror of the Soul Terror of the Soul (loss, sorrow, ruin, revenge, disease, death, troubles, fears, dark impulses of human nature) (loss, sorrow, ruin, revenge, disease, death, troubles, fears, dark impulses of human nature)

16. Authors: Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne Herman Melville Herman Melville Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe