American Renaissance 1800-1870 A Literary “Coming of Age” in America Miss Amorin Grade 11

American Experience TIMELINE

What was going on during the period of the American Renaissance What was going on during the period of the American Renaissance? (mid 1800s) An explosion of literary genius appeared in America For the first time, American writers no longer looked to the British as the literary trend-setters Many of the most famous writers to emerge during this time period lived in the same town- Concord, Massachusetts

Two Groups of Writers Emerged: The Transcendentalists The Dark Romantics

The Dark Romantics: Believed that mankind had a darker side Explored the conflict between good and evil Addressed the psychological effects of guilt, sin, madness, and insanity Saw the horror of evil

Famous Dark Romantics: Nathaniel Hawthorne Herman Melville Edgar Allan Poe

EDGAR ALLAN POE American Renaissance (1800-1870) *The Tell Tale Heart (poem) *The Raven (poem) The Fall of the House of Usher (short story)

Mini-Lesson: On a post-it, write down something that is frightening or unsettling to you, especially when reading a mysterious book or watching a scary movie. It can be something in life, society, or even a movie. Something that creates feelings of: Fright, terror, petrifying, spine-chilling, hair-raising, blood-curling, bone-chilling, chilling, horrifying, fear, unnerving, etc… Ex.) Someone getting followed by an unknown individual Place post-it on board (next slide).

Fears….

Edgar Allan Poe (background) 1809-1849 Orphaned at age three Lived with the Allans, a Southern couple with no children Attended the University of Virginia, but dropped out At age twenty-six, he married his thirteen-year- old cousin As an adult, he was plagued with misfortunes as many loved-ones died of tuberculosis, including his wife.

Edgar Allan Poe… Most famous for his poem “The Raven,” (for which he received only $14) and for numerous short stories that explored insanity and guilt Made a “darker” style of writing popular which engaged audience through mystery. Invented the “detective” story Died under mysterious circumstances in Baltimore, MD; modern theorists believe he actually had rabies.

In a nutshell… Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer in the first half of the 19th century famous for scaring the heck out of his readers. He is the master of dismemberment, underground crypts, murder, suffocation, ghosts, the living dead, haunted mansions, blood, and all the other lovely features of your favorite horror movies.

Remember: Poe= dark mystery (RomaNticism Period) http://www. youtube

A little preview of the dark mystery poe was legendary for creating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpEIMERxgi4

Edgar AllAn Poe’s Poem,. The Raven http://www. youtube. com/watch

Read Edgar AllAn Poe’s The Raven (poem) Class assignment: Read the poem, The Raven. (pg. 312-317- audio) READ straight through to get a feel for story line being conveyed in the poem. Go back to read a second time or even third time. Analyze ideas in poem. Take reflection notes for each stanza. Write down any figurative language you can identify. Write down words/phrases that represent GOTHIC literature. Look up any unknown words. Write them down with definition.

Edgar AllAn Poe’s The Raven (poem) Complete this chart to identify the Gothic elements in The Raven: Setting= The supernatural= Lenore= Characterization Narrator Raven Why is “nevermore” the answer the raven gives to each question asked by the narrator? What message is the raven sending by saying, “nevermore”?

SYMBOLISM* The Raven =

Edgar AllAn Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher

*Independent Read- ‘R’ Track* Class assignment: Read Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher Pg. 293-310 “There was an iciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heart.” Consider the elements of gothic literature present in the many descriptions within this story. Analyze the three characters: Narrator, Roderick Usher, & Madeline Usher *Independent Read- ‘R’ Track*

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher POST- Reading (classwork) Setting= Genre= Symbols Art= House= Nameless narrator?? (point?)= What’s up with the Title?=

The Fall of the House of Usher by: Edgar Allan Poe (pg. 293-310) Groupwork ASSIGNMENT: Give an example/s from the text to support the THEMES* prevalent in the story. Include a “quote” (cite) as evidence. Madness- Family- Isolation- Fear- Identity-

Nathaniel Hawthorne (dark Romantic)

NathaNiel Hawthorne (Dark Romantic) Most famous for The Scarlet Letter Used the theme of “guilt” and its effects in nearly all of his major works Wrote about man’s “dark side” Was a direct descendant of Judge Hathorne in the Salem Witch Trials; Hawthorne changed the spelling of the last name to distance himself from the judge and negativity surrounding that time period. Met Herman Melville (another dark romantic) on a literary picnic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9diLEX5iFQ&list=PLtCYchYCR_-cCunt4UUYULdk2zBFt4Fj5

A Minister’s Black Veil (pg A Minister’s Black Veil (pg.272) by: Nathaniel Hawthorne (dark romantic)

A Minister’s Black Veil (pg.272) by: Nathaniel Hawthorne Assignment: Independently read the story. Consider the following ideas during the reading and take NOTES. The minister’s appearance The reaction of the townspeople The funeral The wedding Elizabeth The veil* (at end)

What is the SIGNIFICANCE of the VEIL? (end) Ideas? Thoughts? Interpretations? (post-reading)

Transcendentalism* Transcendentalists believe that society and its institutions—particularly organized religion and political parties—ultimately corrupt the purity of the individual. They have faith that people are at their best when truly "self-reliant" and independent. It is only from such real individuals that true community could be formed.

Famous Transcendentalists: Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Emily Dickinson

Transcendentalists believed:

To sum up….. Transcendentalism= People functioning at their best when they are independent and self-reliant They don’t allow religious or organized institutions like the government guide their beliefs and views on life.

Henry David ThoreAU Lived near Ralph Waldo Emerson in Concord, MA and looked to him as a mentor Famous for Walden, a book that described when he lived self-sufficiently for two years on Walden Pond (a large lake in Concord) in a cabin that he built for himself Also famous for “Resistance to Civil Government,” which he wrote after being arrested and thrown in jail for a night for refusing to pay a poll tax. Died of tuberculosis, the dread disease of the time period

American Government Pre-Reading Activity Pros Cons

Henry David ThoreAU’s from Civil Disobedience (pg. 388-389) Assignment Read from Civil Disobedience How is this excerpt a reflection of transcendentalism? What are Thoreau’s views on government? What is Thoreau asking his readers to do? Why do you think this selection has had such a powerful influence on its readers?

Connections to Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience Can you draw a connection to another event in history or society? Explain the connection. Examples) Martin Luther King, Jr.

RST: Research Simulation Task American renaissance: Transcendentalism See assignment (handout- word docs.) Assignment: As Thomas Jefferson once stated, “If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it; he is obligated to do so.” Write an essay on the idea of ‘civil disobedience.’ When is it acceptable to disobey a law? Should one retaliate or stay silent? What difference can be made when one disobeys an unjust law? Use evidence, “quotes,” and ideas from BOTH Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, and the film, The Great Debaters. You should also give examples from literature, history, current events, etc… to illustrate and clarify your position on topic.

Walt Whitman Transcendentalist “The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.” - Walt Whitman http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/walt-whitman- transcendental-and-realist-poet.html

Walt Whitman (American Renaissance Poet) Born in Long Island but raised in Brooklyn, NY Worked as a printer but alternated between printing jobs and newspaper writing. He then became inspired to write POETRY. He was influenced by other writers including Henry David Thoreau, Shakespeare, Homer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and others. Henry David Thoreau described Whitman and his work as, “… awfully good… brave and American… and should be rejoiced.” His most famous work is Leaves of Grass. Whitman took a lot of pride in being AMERICAN and what it meant to be a “true” American. In his poetry, Whitman loved to express his passionate beliefs in democracy, equality, humanity, and the spiritual unity of all forms of life.

Walt Whitman: I hear America Singing I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman – YouTube

Walt Whitman: I hear America Singing Read poem, “I Hear America Singing” (pgs. 434-435) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR4uAoMY5eY Why does Whitman describe the different “jobs” in the poem? Why do you think he repeats the term “singing” after referencing each jobs? Any figurative language in this poem? What lesson does Whitman convey about the American people/society in this poem? What makes Walt Whitman a TRANSCENDENTALIST?