The Elements of Romanticism A Renaissance in American Literature

The Rise of Romanticism Reaction to the “cold” intellect (devoid of emotion) of the Age of Reason Reaction to the “cold” intellect (devoid of emotion) of the Age of Reason Enlightenment and French Revolution refines the role of the individual Enlightenment and French Revolution refines the role of the individual Scientific and Industrial Revolutions lead to interest in the unknown and new ways of thinking Scientific and Industrial Revolutions lead to interest in the unknown and new ways of thinking Major reform movements such as abolitionism and women’s rights lead to the search for truth and the perfection of the social order Major reform movements such as abolitionism and women’s rights lead to the search for truth and the perfection of the social order Rise of Transcendentalism and Unitarianism Rise of Transcendentalism and Unitarianism Attempts to cultivate utopian societies Attempts to cultivate utopian societies The move westward adds to American optimism The move westward adds to American optimism

Elements of Romanticism The quest for “pure beauty” and truth The quest for “pure beauty” and truth The use of antique and fanciful subject matter The use of antique and fanciful subject matter Interest in the past Interest in the past Use of the grotesque, gothic, odd or queer Use of the grotesque, gothic, odd or queer Escapism from American problems Escapism from American problems Interest in external nature as a source of beauty and knowledge Interest in external nature as a source of beauty and knowledge Nature as a refuge and a revelation of God to the individual Nature as a refuge and a revelation of God to the individual

Elements of Romanticism, cont. Emphasis on emotion Emphasis on emotion Appeals to imagination/ use of the sublime and mystical (otherworldly) Appeals to imagination/ use of the sublime and mystical (otherworldly) Subjectivity of the speaker as opposed to objectivity Subjectivity of the speaker as opposed to objectivity Common people as subject matter as opposed to “the great” Common people as subject matter as opposed to “the great” Originality/ New philosophies and ways of doing things Originality/ New philosophies and ways of doing things

Romantic Techniques Remote settings Remote settings Improbable/contrived plots (inclusion of magical/mystical/unexplained events) Improbable/contrived plots (inclusion of magical/mystical/unexplained events) Organic principle: form rises out of content Organic principle: form rises out of content Authorial subjectivity Authorial subjectivity Appearance of authenticity Appearance of authenticity Romantic writing forms: essay, short story. poetry, novel Romantic writing forms: essay, short story. poetry, novel

Romantic Techniques Remote settings Remote settings Improbable/contrived plots (inclusion of magical/mystical/unexplained events) Improbable/contrived plots (inclusion of magical/mystical/unexplained events) Organic principle: form rises out of content Organic principle: form rises out of content Authorial subjectivity Authorial subjectivity Appearance of authenticity Appearance of authenticity Romantic writing forms: essay, short story. poetry, novel Romantic writing forms: essay, short story. poetry, novel

5 BASIC BELIEFS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM 5 BASIC BELIEFS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM Everything is a reflection of God Everything is a reflection of God - People are basically good - People will still sin, but they will repent and will most of the time choose to do the right thing - People are close to God - Nature is great! - People are basically good - People will still sin, but they will repent and will most of the time choose to do the right thing - People are close to God - Nature is great! Contemplating nature can allow you to transcend the real world and go to a higher, spiritual level - People can get closer to God without church - Nature is as close as you can get to God - Society (the opposite of nature) keeps people from getting to a higher spiritual level Contemplating nature can allow you to transcend the real world and go to a higher, spiritual level - People can get closer to God without church - Nature is as close as you can get to God - Society (the opposite of nature) keeps people from getting to a higher spiritual level

5 BASIC BELIEFS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM, cont. A person’s INSTINCT (intuition) can lead them to understand God’s spirit - Everyone can do this! Wealth, status, prior knowledge not needed. - Stressed that people were basically good – their gut instincts could lead them to God Individualism and self-reliance are better than following others or depending on tradition. - People will make the right choices if given the chance - Believed that government was not necessary - Urged people to question tradition - Materialism was not good; people should not be dependent on money or belongings - People will make the right choices if given the chance - Believed that government was not necessary - Urged people to question tradition - Materialism was not good; people should not be dependent on money or belongings A person’s true feelings and intuition are more valuable than book knowledge. A person’s true feelings and intuition are more valuable than book knowledge. - Average people were able to do this - Money, wealth, status not necessary - Trusted people to do and feel good things - Average people were able to do this - Money, wealth, status not necessary - Trusted people to do and feel good things

5 BASIC BELIEFS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM, cont. A person’s true feelings and intuition are more valuable than book knowledge. - Average people were able to do this - Money, wealth, status not necessary - Trusted people to do and feel good things A person’s true feelings and intuition are more valuable than book knowledge. - Average people were able to do this - Money, wealth, status not necessary - Trusted people to do and feel good things

American Romantic Authors Washington Irving Washington Irving Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne Herman Melville Herman Melville Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson

Influence of Romanticism & Transcendentalism Led to the American ideals of individualism and free thought Led to the American ideals of individualism and free thought Celebrated multiculturalism and feminism Celebrated multiculturalism and feminism Encouraged reform Encouraged reform Emphasized self reflection and exploration Emphasized self reflection and exploration Paved the way for literary creativity of the modern era Paved the way for literary creativity of the modern era

Discuss How does Emerson’s “Nature” illustrate some of the principles of the Romantic and Transcendental movements? How does Emerson’s “Nature” illustrate some of the principles of the Romantic and Transcendental movements?