1. American Romanticism 1830-1865

2. Escaping social convention, embracing emotion Between 1830 and 1865, the period between the Jacksonian Era and the close of the Civil War, America had been tested and developed by ordeal.

3. Westward expansion was at its peak, and sections of the country pitted themselves against others over the rising debate over the slavery issue. The practice of democracy was strengthened by the conclusion of the civil war, which solidified America’s course on a path toward egalitarianism (equality).

4. From this time period arose the first truly creative, uniquely American literature. The Romantic period in America was ripe with marvelous creative vision.

5. Romantic Ideals an escape from social convention and control an embracing of emotion Major premise: you are a little fragment of the universe, and God is in everything, even you Man is inherently good; it is only society that corrupts. (Rousseau’s “Noble Savage”) You must view the universe as a child, to see it through your emotion and creativity. Creativity is the key to your place in the universe.

6. Romantic View of Religion Necessary, internal force in universe (view moves inside for first time). No longer anthropomorphic! Evolving, rather than fixed Present in everything: you, trees, flowers, Native Americans There is no division in the universe; it is one whole, and God is in everything.

7. Romantic View of Self Emphasis is on the individual Create and feel free from laws God is IN you

8. Romantic View of Society Little need for institutional society. Instead of society, nature should be your teacher and your conscience.

9. If society has any use at all…

10. It should be to promote SOCIAL REFORM

11. “Society can pave roads, but should not control your conscience.”

12. What Romantics Wrote Adventure stories, wildly imaginative tales Early Novels Poetry about Romantic themes Essays about nature

13. Romantic Themes Adventure, wilderness exploration The motif of the JOURNEY Life cycles, as in nature (tides, phases of the moon, changing seasons)

14. Characteristics of American Romanticism Values feeling and intuition over reason Values the power of the imagination Prefers unspoiled nature over civilization Prefers youthful innocence to educated sophistication Believes in individual freedom and the worth of the self Believes that nature’s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development Looks backward to the wisdom of the past and distrusts progress Finds beauty and truth in exotic locales Sees poetry as the highest expression of the imagination Finds inspiration in myth, legend, and folklore Generally features a “Romantic Hero”

15. Natty Bumppo Prototypical Romantic Hero James Fenimore Cooper Leatherstocking Series Hawkeye, Deerslayer, Long Carbine, Pathfinder

16. Characteristics of the Romantic Hero Is young or possesses youthful qualities Is innocent and pure of purpose

17. Has a sense of honor based not on society’s rules but on some higher principle Has a knowledge of people and life based on deep, intuitive understanding, not on formal learning (“wilderness smarts”)

18. Loves nature and avoids town life Quests for some higher truth in the natural world. Shy and uncomfortable around women