The Age of Romanticism The Age of Romanticism

Washington IrvingWashington Irving

It occurred and developed in Europe and It occurred and developed in Europe and America at the turn of the 18th and 19th America at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries under the historical background of centuries under the historical background of the Industrial Revolution around 1760 and the the Industrial Revolution around 1760 and the French Revolution (1789-1799). The term French Revolution (1789-1799). The term “Romantic” as a designation for a school of “Romantic” as a designation for a school of literature opposed to the classic was first used literature opposed to the classic was first used by the German critic Friedrich Schlegel (1772-by the German critic Friedrich Schlegel (1772-1829) at the beginning of the 19th century.1829) at the beginning of the 19th century.

Romantics stressed individual and creative Romantics stressed individual and creative function of imagination. It placed individual at function of imagination. It placed individual at the very center of all life and all experience the very center of all life and all experience and at the center of art. and at the center of art.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1). Romanticism was a rebellion against the o1). Romanticism was a rebellion against the objectivity of rationalism.bjectivity of rationalism.

2). For romantics, the feeling, intuitions and e2). For romantics, the feeling, intuitions and emotions were more important than reason and motions were more important than reason and common sense.common sense.

3). Romantics did not thinking of the world as 3). Romantics did not thinking of the world as a ticking watch made by God. They thought of a ticking watch made by God. They thought of the world as a living, breathing being. the world as a living, breathing being.

4). They emphasized individualism, placing 4). They emphasized individualism, placing the individual against the group, against the individual against the group, against authority.authority.

5). They affirmed the inner life of the self, and 5). They affirmed the inner life of the self, and wanted each person to develop and express his wanted each person to develop and express his own inner thoughts.own inner thoughts.

6). They cherished strong interest in the past, 6). They cherished strong interest in the past, especially the medieval.especially the medieval.

7). They were attracted by the wild, the irregular, the 7). They were attracted by the wild, the irregular, the indefinite, the remote, the mysterious, the strange.indefinite, the remote, the mysterious, the strange.

8). They were interested in variety. In romantic 8). They were interested in variety. In romantic fiction, mystery, romance, and adventure play the fiction, mystery, romance, and adventure play the largest part in plot. Typical literary forms of largest part in plot. Typical literary forms of romanticism include ballad, lyric, sentimental romanticism include ballad, lyric, sentimental comedy, problem novel, historical novel, gothic comedy, problem novel, historical novel, gothic romance, metrical romance, sonnet, and critical essay. romance, metrical romance, sonnet, and critical essay.

American RomanticismAmerican Romanticism

Distinct featuresDistinct features: American romantics tended : American romantics tended to moralize, to edify rather than to entertain. to moralize, to edify rather than to entertain.

New England poetsNew England poets: Bryant, Longfellow, : Bryant, Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, Oliver Wendell Holmes James Russell Lowell, Oliver Wendell Holmes and John Greenleaf Whittier.and John Greenleaf Whittier.

Washington IrvingWashington Irving

In addition to being a fiction writer, Irving was In addition to being a fiction writer, Irving was also a historian and biographer, A History of also a historian and biographer, A History of New York and A His Story of the Life and New York and A His Story of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus being two Voyages of Christopher Columbus being two of several examples of several examples

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Irving was the first American writer to achieve Irving was the first American writer to achieve international recognition. He was known as international recognition. He was known as America’s literary ambassador to Europe. He America’s literary ambassador to Europe. He lived to see his works translated into 12 lived to see his works translated into 12 languages and printed in more than 50 languages and printed in more than 50 editions. He earned the respect and praises editions. He earned the respect and praises from such prominent English writers as from such prominent English writers as Coleridge, Byron, Scott, and Dickens.Coleridge, Byron, Scott, and Dickens.

His representative worksHis representative works

A History of New York (1809)A History of New York (1809) The Sketch Book (1820)The Sketch Book (1820) Bracebridge Hall (1822)Bracebridge Hall (1822) Tales of a Traveler (1824)Tales of a Traveler (1824) The Alhambra (1832)The Alhambra (1832)

Interpreting Rip Van WinkleInterpreting Rip Van Winkle The other American dream. The other American dream. Rip was the first American storyteller created iRip was the first American storyteller created i

n a literary text n a literary text The origin of an androcentric narrative type The origin of an androcentric narrative type

“ “Rip Van Winkle” has been seen as a symbol Rip Van Winkle” has been seen as a symbol of several aspects of America. ( Rip, The Damof several aspects of America. ( Rip, The Dame, The town) e, The town)

The theme of Rip Van WinkleThe theme of Rip Van Winkle

. The story of man who has difficulties facing . The story of man who has difficulties facing his advantage age; 2. The contradictory impulshis advantage age; 2. The contradictory impulses in America toward work—the puritan attitues in America toward work—the puritan attitude as opposed to the American desire for leisurde as opposed to the American desire for leisure; 3. The theme of escape from one’s responsie; 3. The theme of escape from one’s responsibilities and even one’s history, and 4). The loss bilities and even one’s history, and 4). The loss of identity. of identity.

Questions about Rip Van WinkleQuestions about Rip Van Winkle

1. Why did Rip frequently leave his house?1. Why did Rip frequently leave his house? 2. Who was Derrick Van Bummel and why wa2. Who was Derrick Van Bummel and why wa

s he important to the meetings of the junto?s he important to the meetings of the junto? 3. How did Nicholas Vedder express his opini3. How did Nicholas Vedder express his opini

on on public matters?on on public matters? 4. How did Rip escape his wife after she came 4. How did Rip escape his wife after she came

to the inn? to the inn?

5. Why was Rip suspected of being disloyal on 5. Why was Rip suspected of being disloyal on his return?his return?

6. What is your opinion of Rip? Is he a tragic 6. What is your opinion of Rip? Is he a tragic or comic figure?or comic figure?

7. Do you think Rip symbolize man’s desire to 7. Do you think Rip symbolize man’s desire to flee from responsibility? flee from responsibility?