Romantic Period ( ) American Literature

A Growing Nation 1800-U.S consisted of 16 states clustered near the east coast 1800-U.S consisted of 16 states clustered near the east coast 1803-T. Jefferson signed Louisiana Purchase and doubled the nation’s size 1803-T. Jefferson signed Louisiana Purchase and doubled the nation’s size 1828-Andrew Jackson (the People’s President); era of the common man; property requirements for voting eliminated 1828-Andrew Jackson (the People’s President); era of the common man; property requirements for voting eliminated Political reforms only for white men-not women or African Americans; “Indian removal” Political reforms only for white men-not women or African Americans; “Indian removal” U.S. became a world power; War of 1812; “Monroe Doctrine”; Texas secession war with Mexico; Gold Rush U.S. became a world power; War of 1812; “Monroe Doctrine”; Texas secession war with Mexico; Gold Rush

New Prosperity Western expansion Western expansion Transportation changing-Erie Canal; “iron horse” (1850) linked coast by 1869 Transportation changing-Erie Canal; “iron horse” (1850) linked coast by 1869 Factories in Northeast Factories in Northeast Steel plow and reaper encouraged frontier settlement Steel plow and reaper encouraged frontier settlement Telegraph led to almost instant communication Telegraph led to almost instant communication Steamboats increased river travel Steamboats increased river travel

Winds of Change New prosperity unleashed fierce competition New prosperity unleashed fierce competition Led to the creation of factories with child labor and unsafe working conditions Led to the creation of factories with child labor and unsafe working conditions most women could not vote or file a lawsuit; decade of women’s rights promotion (Seneca Falls Convention) most women could not vote or file a lawsuit; decade of women’s rights promotion (Seneca Falls Convention) Slavery divided the nation; abolitionists and advocates of states’ rights Slavery divided the nation; abolitionists and advocates of states’ rights Civil War began Civil War began

War is Coming! As war was inevitable, the burst of creativity began to subside As war was inevitable, the burst of creativity began to subside Emerson, Thoreau – supported the North Emerson, Thoreau – supported the North Whitman- worked in the war as a nurse; incorporated war into his later poems Whitman- worked in the war as a nurse; incorporated war into his later poems Oliver Wendell Holmes (“the last leaf upon the tree”)- the last of the Romantic poets Oliver Wendell Holmes (“the last leaf upon the tree”)- the last of the Romantic poets

Comparison Romanticism Focused on emotion Focused on emotion Idealistic Idealistic Change Change Faith in inner experience Faith in inner experience Youthful, innocent Youthful, innocent Looks to wisdom of the past Looks to wisdom of the past Unspoiled nature Unspoiled nature Values inner feeling, intuition Values inner feeling, intuition Depends on imagination Depends on imagination Inspired by nature, supernatural Inspired by nature, supernatural Change, freedom, spontaneity Change, freedom, spontaneityRationalism Focused on the intellect Focused on the intellect Practical Practical Stability Stability Faith in science Faith in science Adult, sophisticated Adult, sophisticated Looks to the future Looks to the future Civilization, city life Civilization, city life Values reason Values reason Depends on facts Depends on facts Inspired by reality Inspired by reality Stability, harmony, tradition Stability, harmony, tradition

Romantic Divisions Romantics Washington Irving Washington Irving “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper The Last of the Mohicans The Last of the Mohicans The Fireside Poets The Fireside Poets Oliver Wendell Holmes Oliver Wendell Holmes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dark Romantics/Antitranscende ntalists Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe “The Fall of the House of Usher” “The Raven” Nathaniel Hawthornne Nathaniel Hawthornne The Scarlet Letter “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”Transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Self-Reliance Self-Reliance Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Civil Disobedience Civil Disobedience ROMANTICISM

Washington Irving ( ) “Father of the American Short Story” “Father of the American Short Story” First American writer to have an international reputation First American writer to have an international reputation Wrote satirical essays (pen name: John Oldstyle); at 24 began publishing Salmagundi with humorous sketches and essays about N.Y. society Wrote satirical essays (pen name: John Oldstyle); at 24 began publishing Salmagundi with humorous sketches and essays about N.Y. society Diedrich Knickerbocker- A History of New York From the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty Diedrich Knickerbocker- A History of New York From the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty lived in Europe; German folklore inspired “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle” lived in Europe; German folklore inspired “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle” “The Devil and Tom Walker”- timely because in New England the Puritan belief of devoting one’s life to God was being replaced by materialism and the desire for person gain “The Devil and Tom Walker”- timely because in New England the Puritan belief of devoting one’s life to God was being replaced by materialism and the desire for person gain

James Fenimore Cooper ( ) “Father of the American Novel” “Father of the American Novel” Wrote The Leatherstocking Tales about Natty Bumpo- a man of excellent moral integrity who preferred Nature over civilization Wrote The Leatherstocking Tales about Natty Bumpo- a man of excellent moral integrity who preferred Nature over civilization Established the pattern for countless future American heroes Established the pattern for countless future American heroes

The Romantic Hero Youth or youthful qualities. Youth or youthful qualities. Innocence. Innocence. Pure or noble purpose. Pure or noble purpose. Bravery and courage. Bravery and courage. Honor not based on society’s principles but on ‘higher’ moral standards. Honor not based on society’s principles but on ‘higher’ moral standards. Love of nature; close knowledge of natural world. Love of nature; close knowledge of natural world. Avoidance of city life or civilization. Avoidance of city life or civilization. Quest (search) for higher truth in the world of nature. Quest (search) for higher truth in the world of nature.

The Last of the Mohicans Setting: upstate NY (1757) during the French and Indian War. Setting: upstate NY (1757) during the French and Indian War. Plot: Traces the journey of a frontier hero named Natty Bumpo during the French and Indian War. He must defend his people and their land against the materialistic desires of the French and Indian forces who want to claim the Western frontier for their own commercial pursuits. Plot: Traces the journey of a frontier hero named Natty Bumpo during the French and Indian War. He must defend his people and their land against the materialistic desires of the French and Indian forces who want to claim the Western frontier for their own commercial pursuits.