Unit II: Romanticism

  Colonial literature

Puritanism – Belief that man is inherently evil. Only the divine mercy of God will allow them into Heaven.

Rationalism- Humans can use their own reasoning; they do not need God to figure out their own solutions to their own problems.Deism- People do not need God’s help. They are

capable of caring for themselves. People need reasoning to get through life – not God’s divine guidance.

Birth of Romanticism

Began in Europe, affecting art, music, and literature

Reaction against rationalism Also reaction to Industrial Revolution

over-crowded, crime-ridden cities wretched working conditions

Spread to American post Revolutionary War

Characteristics of American Romanticism

Values feeling and intuition over reason Places faith in inner experience and the

power of the imagination Shuns the artificiality of civilization and

seeks unspoiled nature Prefers youthful innocence to educated

sophistication Champions freedom and the worth of the

individual

Characteristics of American Romanticism

Contemplates nature’s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development

Looks backward to the wisdom of the past and distrusts progress

Finds beauty and truth in exotic locales, the supernatural realm, and the inner world of the imagination

Sees poetry as the highest expression of the imagination

Finds inspiration in myth, legend, and folk culture

Escaping reality

The Journey to the countryside/nature Find moral clarity, healthful living,

independence, and imagination Reveal underlying beauty and truth

Romantic Hero

Exemplified by James Fenimore Cooper’s Natty Bumpo (The Last of the Mohicans)

Characteristics Young or has youthful qualities Innocent or pure of heart Has a sense of honor not based on society’s rules—

based on a higher principle Not necessarily formally educated—still has deep,

intuitive understanding of people and life Loves nature—avoids towns/cities

Quest for some higher truth in natural world

Romantic Poetry/Fireside Poets

Movement in American poetry to prove that Americans were sophisticated—could also write poetry

Devoted to European/English poetic traditions of meter, rhythm, imagery, and theme

Fireside Poets: Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, and Lowell Poetry read aloud by families by fireplace

—“fireside” Subject matter: Patriotism, Love/family, Nature,

God/religion

Puritanism/Cavaliers Rationalism (Deism) Romanticism Transcendentalism Dark Romanticism

1620-1800 1750-1800 1800-1860 1840-1860 1840-1860

Mayflower CompactJamestown/PlymouthHarvard/printing pressKing Philip’s War

Stamp Act/Boston Tea PartyAmerican RevolutionConstitution

War of 1812Expansion: Lousiana PurchaseMovement: Railroad

Mexican WarelectedGold RushWomen’s Rights/Sufferage

Uncle Tom’s CabinWhitman’s Leaves of GrassFrederick DouglassRaid on Harper’s Ferry

Bradford/ Rowlandson/ BradstreetByrd (Cavalier)

Franklin/ Henry Irving/ Fireside Poets/ Bryant Emerson/ Thoreau Hawthorne/ Melville/ Poe

God and The Bible Use God-given intellect All basic truths found in nature

Man is sinful Man is good Man is good if he stays connected to nature/morality

Divine Free will Society/cities corrupt

Predestination Science and technology help promote society

Intuition & imagination are just as important as religion and intellect

Utilitarianism Helping others proves morals

Success proves God’s favor

Bible as literal fact

AMERICAN LITERATURE (Beginning to 1860)

The American Renaissance