2. Romanticism A very brief survey

3. What is Romanticism? –Romanticism is an artistic, philosophical, and literary movement which originated in the late 18 th century in Europe and lasted until approximately 1937, the year that Queen Victoria ascended to the British throne. In the United States, the Romantic Movement lasted until approximately the end of the Civil War although we certainly embrace many of the Romantic tenets today.

4. Romanticism was, in part, a reaction to the excesses of the Enlightenment era, during which logic and reason were considered the pinnacle of human abilities, and scientific discoveries opened the way for the Industrial Revolution. Romanticism was, in part, a reaction to the excesses of the Enlightenment era, during which logic and reason were considered the pinnacle of human abilities, and scientific discoveries opened the way for the Industrial Revolution.

5. While the Industrial Revolution brought untold conveniences and wealth to many people, it also brought pollution, overcrowding in cities, and great cultural change. While the Industrial Revolution brought untold conveniences and wealth to many people, it also brought pollution, overcrowding in cities, and great cultural change.

6. Difficult aspects of the Industrial Revolution: Dehumanization Dehumanization Value of technology over humanity Value of technology over humanity Poverty and pollution in cities Poverty and pollution in cities Mass production takes the place of individual craftsmanship Mass production takes the place of individual craftsmanship

7. London neighborhood, circa 1830

9. The Romantics: * sought to reassert the importance of nature over technology, and believed that nature was the place to find true divinity. * sought to reassert the importance of nature over technology, and believed that nature was the place to find true divinity. *valued intuition and feelings over logic and *valued intuition and feelings over logic and imagination over reason, imagination over reason, *believed that ultimate truth could be found not through the process of reason, but through an individual’s, (especially an artist’s), emotional life, *believed that ultimate truth could be found not through the process of reason, but through an individual’s, (especially an artist’s), emotional life, *celebrated the individual over the social order, and *celebrated the individual over the social order, and *believed that civilization was often a corrupting influence. *believed that civilization was often a corrupting influence.

10. Romantic artists considered self- analysis to be especially constructive. They highly valued the exploration of the inner self; and they brought it into literature. Romantic artists considered self- analysis to be especially constructive. They highly valued the exploration of the inner self; and they brought it into literature.

11. Romantic writers and artists frequently perceived themselves as at once sensitive and unappreciated. The intensity of personal self-assessment and the pursuit of the spiritual or other mystical/psychological ideas created a sense of alienation from commercial society, often expressed through literature, painting, and music. Romantic writers and artists frequently perceived themselves as at once sensitive and unappreciated. The intensity of personal self-assessment and the pursuit of the spiritual or other mystical/psychological ideas created a sense of alienation from commercial society, often expressed through literature, painting, and music.

12. Gothic Connection Many romantics also felt attracted to the Gothic and the grotesque. Gothic literature is characterized by a mood of decay, action that is dramatic and generally violent, and loves that are destructively passionate, with grandiose yet gloomy settings. Many romantics also felt attracted to the Gothic and the grotesque. Gothic literature is characterized by a mood of decay, action that is dramatic and generally violent, and loves that are destructively passionate, with grandiose yet gloomy settings. Gothic/romantic literature often involves the grotesque, bizarre, and unnatural. To the romantics, the grotesque or gothic represented a freedom of spirit, mystery, and imagination. Gothic/romantic literature often involves the grotesque, bizarre, and unnatural. To the romantics, the grotesque or gothic represented a freedom of spirit, mystery, and imagination.

13. Grotesque/gothic images

14. A good example of the gothic in romantic literature is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. A SENSITIVE monster created by a SENSITIVE young scientist symbolizes technology run amok. A good example of the gothic in romantic literature is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. A SENSITIVE monster created by a SENSITIVE young scientist symbolizes technology run amok.

15. Two of the biggest names in Romantic literature: (England) William Wordsworth “The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!” “ Samuel Taylor Coleridge “You stood before me like a thought…” “You stood before me like a thought…”

16. England, continued Percy Bysshe Shelley Percy Bysshe Shelley “The awful shadow of some unseen Power “The awful shadow of some unseen Power Floats though unseen amongst us,… Floats though unseen amongst us,… John Keats, (died young of tuberculosis) John Keats, (died young of tuberculosis) “Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter;…” “Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter;…”

17. AMERICAN ROMANTICISM

18. “Growing from the rhetoric of salvation, guilt, and providential visions of Puritanism, the wilderness reaches of this continent, and the fiery rhetoric of freedom and equality, the American brand of Romanticism developed its own character.”Ann Woodlief “Growing from the rhetoric of salvation, guilt, and providential visions of Puritanism, the wilderness reaches of this continent, and the fiery rhetoric of freedom and equality, the American brand of Romanticism developed its own character.”Ann Woodlief

19. Glory years: 1850-1855 Why?? a.Independence had been established, there was time now for literature and art. a.Independence had been established, there was time now for literature and art. b. There were American publishers, and readers with leisure time, including many women. b. There were American publishers, and readers with leisure time, including many women. c.Religion: stern dogmas of Calvinism, Puritanism replaced by more rationalistic Unitarianism; however people were searching for satisfaction of deep spiritual yearnings; Deism and Unitarianism not enough. c.Religion: stern dogmas of Calvinism, Puritanism replaced by more rationalistic Unitarianism; however people were searching for satisfaction of deep spiritual yearnings; Deism and Unitarianism not enough.

20. More “Why??” d. Politics: 18 th century left heritage of optimism about man’s possibilities and perfectability. Democratic ideals asserted value of individuals, (white male individuals, that is). d. Politics: 18 th century left heritage of optimism about man’s possibilities and perfectability. Democratic ideals asserted value of individuals, (white male individuals, that is). e. Clash of egalitarian ideals with reality, (primarily slavery, also Indian relocation, and women’s position) enabled writers to see very dark, hypocritical side of fragmented society. e. Clash of egalitarian ideals with reality, (primarily slavery, also Indian relocation, and women’s position) enabled writers to see very dark, hypocritical side of fragmented society.

21. A little more “why” f. Nature: Writers aware of “wild” aspects of nature, and were aware that this wild side was becoming lost as the physical frontiers were being conquered in this time of “Manifest Destiny.” f. Nature: Writers aware of “wild” aspects of nature, and were aware that this wild side was becoming lost as the physical frontiers were being conquered in this time of “Manifest Destiny.”

22. Washington Irving (1789-1851) First famous American writer, first American to actually make a living as a writer First famous American writer, first American to actually make a living as a writer Wrote short stories, travel books, satires Wrote short stories, travel books, satires Legend of Sleepy Hollow: terrified generations of children Legend of Sleepy Hollow: terrified generations of children Rip Van Winkle: created success from failure: first anti- hero Rip Van Winkle: created success from failure: first anti- hero “Devil and Tom Walker:” an encounter-with-the-devil tale “Devil and Tom Walker:” an encounter-with-the-devil tale

23. Herman Melville (1819-1891) (1819-1891) Ranked as one of America’s top novelists, but recognized by few in his own time Ranked as one of America’s top novelists, but recognized by few in his own time Moby Dick: Moby Dick: –Didn’t sell, only his friend N.H. liked it, not reprinted for 60 years. –Now considered America’s greatest prose epic

24. Walt Whitman (1819-1892) (1819-1892) Rejected conventional themes, forms, subjects Rejected conventional themes, forms, subjects Used long lines to capture the rhythm of natural speech, free verse, everyday vocabulary Used long lines to capture the rhythm of natural speech, free verse, everyday vocabulary “Song of Myself” “Song of Myself” “I hear America Singing” “I hear America Singing” “O Captain My Captain” “O Captain My Captain” Leaves of Grass: published 1855 Leaves of Grass: published 1855

25. “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” Walt Whitman When I heard the learn’d astronomer, When I heard the learn’d astronomer, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them, When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them, When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, applause in the lecture-room, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself, Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.

26. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) (Mrs. Kurnick’s B.F.) The leader of the “Transcendentalists” The leader of the “Transcendentalists” His writings helped established the philosophy of individualism, an idea deeply embedded in American culture. His writings helped established the philosophy of individualism, an idea deeply embedded in American culture. “There is a soul at the center of nature, and over the will of every man, so that none of us can wrong the universe.” “There is a soul at the center of nature, and over the will of every man, so that none of us can wrong the universe.” –“Spiritual Laws” - essay

27. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864 Wrote about sin and guilt; consequences of pride, selfishness, etc. Wrote about sin and guilt; consequences of pride, selfishness, etc. Ancestor was Judge “Hathorne” at the Salem Witch trials. Ancestor was Judge “Hathorne” at the Salem Witch trials. The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter Short Stories: Short Stories: –“The Minister’s Black Veil” –“Young Goodman Brown”

28. Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) Lousy childhood, substance abuse issues Lousy childhood, substance abuse issues Created modern short story and detective story Created modern short story and detective story Gothic Gothic Didn’t believe that a long poem had to teach a lesson. Didn’t believe that a long poem had to teach a lesson. Inspired future detective/horror stories, Stephen King, etc. Inspired future detective/horror stories, Stephen King, etc.

29. American Romantic Artists

30. Asher Durand

31. John Quidor, (“Headless Horseman”)

32. Emerson the dog

33. Painting from the Romantic Period: Painting from the Romantic Period:

37. Composers of the Romantic Era: Ludwig Von Beethoven Germany Ludwig Von Beethoven Germany Richard WagnerGermany Richard WagnerGermany Frederic ChopinPoland/France Frederic ChopinPoland/France Felix Mendelssohn Germany Felix Mendelssohn Germany