American American RomanticismRomanticism

Before Before we look we look at where at where we’re we’re headed, headed, let’s let’s review review where where we’re we’re coming coming from…from…

PuritanismPuritanism 1600-1750: Puritan Literature and 1600-1750: Puritan Literature and

DoctrineDoctrine The BibleThe Bible the sole source of law the sole source of law Belief in Belief in original sinoriginal sin Belief in Belief in predestinationpredestination

Literature reflected this way of lifeLiterature reflected this way of life focused on religious beliefs, relationship with Godfocused on religious beliefs, relationship with God often intolerant often intolerant gender stereotypinggender stereotyping Examples:Examples:

PrimerPrimer

The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason 1750-1800: The Age of Reason1750-1800: The Age of Reason

– Responded to the political, social, economic changes in Responded to the political, social, economic changes in AmericaAmerica

– Influenced by historical context of:Influenced by historical context of: The Salem Witch TrialsThe Salem Witch Trials ColonialismColonialism The American RevolutionThe American Revolution Economic and industrial progressEconomic and industrial progress

Literature was Literature was practicalpractical Urged social or political reformUrged social or political reform Stressed reason and judgmentStressed reason and judgment Concerned with the values of societyConcerned with the values of society as a wholeas a whole Critical of institutionalized religionCritical of institutionalized religion Challenged the BibleChallenged the Bible

– Examples:Examples: Thomas Paine’s Thomas Paine’s Common SenseCommon Sense Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

This Gave Way to…This Gave Way to…

The Romantic Movement

In America, artists, writers and In America, artists, writers and philosophers rebelled against philosophers rebelled against conventions of the Age of conventions of the Age of ReasonReason wanted to deal with EMOTIONS!wanted to deal with EMOTIONS! Championed the value of the Championed the value of the

individual human beingindividual human being Focused on the individual and his Focused on the individual and his

experiencesexperiences

The Romantic AgeThe Romantic Age

The Romantic AgeThe Romantic Age

Responded to a rapidly Responded to a rapidly changing world that was changing world that was becoming urbanbecoming urban Strove for freedomStrove for freedom EscapismEscapism

Characteristics of Characteristics of RomanticismRomanticism

Appealed to the imagination:Appealed to the imagination:Emotion over reasonEmotion over reason““suspension of disbelief”suspension of disbelief”

– Improbable plotsImprobable plots– Remote, far-away settingsRemote, far-away settings– The abnormalThe abnormal– Use of terror, fear, the oddUse of terror, fear, the odd

GothicismGothicism• A sub-movement of Romanticism

• When you think of the Gothic, you should picture melodramatic settings of old castles, statues of gargoyles, dark and gloomy moors, ancient monasteries, and wild landscapes

• Gothic literature was popular during the late 18th and early 19th centuries

• Edgar Allan Poe was the American pioneer

The Romantic HeroThe Romantic Hero

Brooding, dark, and dreaming Brooding, dark, and dreaming

At odds with societyAt odds with society

Not interested in authority or Not interested in authority or conformityconformity

    – Indulges – wallows – in his/her Indulges – wallows – in his/her

own feelings, uniqueness, and own feelings, uniqueness, and intuition intuition

– Self-centeredSelf-centered

The Romantic HeroThe Romantic Hero

A character of extremesA character of extremes– No limitations on imagination No limitations on imagination

or feelings - the more or feelings - the more powerful the feelings, the powerful the feelings, the better!  better! 

– Can be obsessive (in love and Can be obsessive (in love and otherwise)otherwise)

Quest for Beauty or Quest for Beauty or PerfectionPerfection– Becomes consumed with Becomes consumed with

desire for the “unattainable”desire for the “unattainable”– Longs for something MORELongs for something MORE

transcends the ordinarytranscends the ordinary the pastthe past the impossible the impossible