1. AMERICAN ROMANTICISM

2. Romanticism - artistic, literary, intellectual movement that took hold of Europe in the 1700’s Characteristics: -The Individual (the Self) -The natural world = inherently good -Human Society = corrupt -Industry, technology furthers corruption (why?) -Moral obligation -Emphasis on emotion, imagination, intuition and perception over empirical reason/logic * Similar to Transcendentalism: Emerson and Thoreau

3. LITERARY TRADITION How do we see these changes affect literature? -Broke conventions, went against traditional way of writing(experimented with style and form, ex. Poetry) -Made the “self” or an individual the subject, emphasized perspective/perception -Nature played a bigger role

4. LITERARY TRADITION By 2 nd half of European Romantic period, “Gothic Fiction” was popular. By 2 nd half of European Romantic period, “Gothic Fiction” was popular. Ex. Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, Dracula Ex. Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, Dracula Middle age architecture inspired the imagery (castles, dungeons, motes etc.) Middle age architecture inspired the imagery (castles, dungeons, motes etc.)

5. GOTHIC FICTION Other literary elements? -Used nature to set the tone (the unknown  eerie, suspenseful) -Terror/Horror -Death -Supernatural -Madness/Insanity

6. ROMANTIC  GOTHIC/SUSPENSE How do you see the Romantic Movement inspiring writers to create this style/genre? -Freed their minds, severed from Age of Reason (neoclassical era), followed imagination wherever it led them

7. DARK? Why might people call this the “dark” side of Individualism? (think about how Romantics/Transcendentalist thinkers saw the individual?) -Is a person inherently good and trustworthy? (Romantic/Transcendental view) -A person is psychologically complex, potentially evil, insane/unstable -In order to explore this: set in certain (extreme) situations to expose a person’s true colors. Write from unusual perspectives