american romanticism early 1800s -1865
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American Romanticism Early 1800s -1865. What Romanticism is NOT!. Despite the name “Romantic”, this literary period DOES NOT deal with sappy love stories. So…What is Romanticism?. Romanticism is the name of the literary period that followed the Age of Reason (Revolutionary literature) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
American RomanticismEarly 1800s -1865
What Romanticism is NOT!
Despite the name “Romantic”, this literary period DOES NOT deal with sappy love stories.
So…What is Romanticism?
Romanticism is the name of the literary period that followed the Age of Reason (Revolutionary literature)
Writers moved focus away from politics and focused on emotions and imagination
Romanticism is N.I.I.C.E
NatureIndividualismImaginationCreativityEmotion and Experience
Nature
Seeking the unspoiled beauty of natureRejection of civilizationBelieved nature was the pathway to
spiritual and moral improvement
“Catskill Scenery” by Thomas Cole 1833
Individualism
Worth of the individualBelief of individual freedomContrasts with Puritan view of communityLife is unpredictable and short death is
certain…so be yourself!#YOLO
“Wander above the Sea of Fog” by Casper David Friedrich 1818
Imagination
Explore the supernaturalInspiration in myths and legends Finds truth in the inner imaginationValues imagination over reality
Creativity
Wrote mostly fictionUsed a lot of rich, figurative languagePoetry is the highest expression of the
imagination
“Youth” by Thomas Cole1840
Emotion and Experience
Believed that emotion is the BEST teacherExplored powers of good (life and love) and
evil (death and fear)Intuition is above reason and logicLooked towards the past for guidance.
Distrust of progress
“Abbey in a Dark Forest” by Casper David Friedrich 1810
Satire
Literary device used to ridicule (make fun of) or mock and individual or society by the use of humor, irony and exaggeration
Example
Washington Irving
Many of his pieces are written as a satireWrote many short stories and essaysBecame famous for pieces such as “Rip
Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
W. Irving Continued
Set his writings in an American settingCharacterized by American stereotypes
Battered husbandNagging wife
Uses a funny tone but has a serious underlying (hidden) message
The Devil and Tom Walker
The story's plot is based on a very famous German legend about a man called Faust , who makes a deal with the Devil in order to gain knowledge and wealth.
The story if set up as an old legend, with witnesses who have passed the story down over the years giving it some validity for his audience.