The Romantic PeriodThe Romantic Period

1800-18601800-1860

American Romanticism American Romanticism

A journey away from corruption of A journey away from corruption of civilization and toward the integrity of civilization and toward the integrity of nature and the freedom of imaginationnature and the freedom of imagination

An attempt to rise above dull realities to a An attempt to rise above dull realities to a realm of higher truthrealm of higher truth

OriginsOrigins

Came from EuropeCame from Europe

Influenced literature, music, and paintingInfluenced literature, music, and painting

Largely prompted by the negative effects of Largely prompted by the negative effects of the Industrial Revolution the Industrial Revolution Pollution, crime, slums, crowding, disease, etc.Pollution, crime, slums, crowding, disease, etc.

Romanticism vs. Rationalism Romanticism vs. Rationalism

City is corrupt; nature is City is corrupt; nature is purepure

City is a place of moral City is a place of moral ambiguityambiguity

Imagination is valued; Imagination is valued; reason is too constricting reason is too constricting and has limitsand has limits

City is a land of City is a land of opportunity opportunity

City is a place of progress City is a place of progress and moral growthand moral growth

Reason and logic are the Reason and logic are the keys to truth and progress keys to truth and progress

Romantic ValuesRomantic Values

Imagination Imagination Spontaneity Spontaneity Intuition Intuition Nature Nature Individuality Individuality Self-reliance Self-reliance BeautyBeauty

EscapismEscapism

Exotic settings Exotic settings

Wild frontier settingsWild frontier settings

SupernaturalSupernatural

Folklore and LegendsFolklore and Legends

Romantic Poetry Romantic Poetry Poetry was perceived as highest form of Poetry was perceived as highest form of

Romantic writingRomantic writing

Intense study of natural objects or eventsIntense study of natural objects or events

Insight discovered through contemplating Insight discovered through contemplating naturenature

TRADITIONAL formsTRADITIONAL forms

American subject matter American subject matter

Fireside PoetsFireside Poets

The American Novel The American Novel

First American novels publishedFirst American novels published

First time American literature is originalFirst time American literature is original

Uniquely American settingsUniquely American settings AdventuresAdventures American frontier (westward expansion)American frontier (westward expansion)

The Romantic HeroThe Romantic Hero Very different from Age of Reason heroesVery different from Age of Reason heroes

Traits of Romantic hero:Traits of Romantic hero: Innocent Innocent Adventurous Adventurous Youthful Youthful IntuitiveIntuitive Close to nature Close to nature Distrust in society (and women) Distrust in society (and women) Superhuman resourcefulness Superhuman resourcefulness

American GothicAmerican Gothic

The Dark RomanticsThe Dark Romantics Melville, Hawthorne, PoeMelville, Hawthorne, Poe

In contrast to Romantics, they explored the In contrast to Romantics, they explored the darker side of humanitydarker side of humanity

Supernatural eventsSupernatural events

Mysterious settingsMysterious settings

Psychological investigation of the human mindPsychological investigation of the human mind