AMERICAN ROMANTICISM 1800-1855

READING ACTIVITY

Read the nonfiction article in your group. You will read about the literary movement of

the mid-19th century.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is the purpose of this article?2. What two literary movements does the article

discuss?3. What is the time period of these literary

movements?4. What caused the start of the literary

movements?5. How might the described literary movements

contrast with what was happening in American literature in previous eras?

6. What are 3-4 characteristics seen in the texts and/or values the literary movement embraces?

HISTORICAL CONTEXTS Post American Revolution

What was important to the revolutionaries? American was starting to thrive - they had

broken free from England and were finally their own nation

BUT…the revolutionary ideals applied only to white malesTensions were building which cried out for creative

release. Inequality, not equality was the rule for many, especially women and slaves.

The clash of these realities with the idealistic rhetoric led writers to take extremes, championing individualism yet also seeing the darker sides of a fragmenting society.

HISTORICAL CONTEXTS Economically America had never been wealthier. The rising materialism and focus on business at the

cost of the mind and the spirit was spawning reform movements all over America.

Over 150 intentional communities--from the Shakers to Oneida to Brook Farm--were formed by people disillusioned by the materialistic values and inequities of American society.

Yet there was enough affluence for people to develop and appreciate writing and reading, and a growing leisure class with cultural pretensions.

HISTORICAL CONTEXTS The movement appealed to the revolutionary

spirit of America as well as to those longing to break free of the strict religious traditions of early settlement.

The Romantics rejected rationalism and religious intellect.

The Romantic movement gave rise to New England Transcendentalism which portrayed a less restrictive relationship between God and Universe.

The new religion presented the individual with a more personal relationship with God.

MAIN IDEAS OF ROMANTICISMICEFUN

IndividualAn increased sense of the value

of the individualMan is becoming more isolated from society

Themes of alienation begin to appear

Common ManThere is a new sympathy for and interest in the "common people”

Ordinary people can be heroes.

Ordinary people can be the subject of art.

EmotionThere is a new fascination with

the inner life, the imagination and the soul. Emotions are important. They are as important in perceiving reality as rational thought. (What I feel is as important as what I think.)

FreedomA growing sense that freedom

is more important than order.One cannot be truly happy

unless they are truly free.Nationalism (due to European

philosophical influences)

UniqueImagination is more

highly valued than reason.Creativity is as useful as

rational thought.There is an enthusiasm

for anything that deals with the exotic, the unusual, the mystical or the bizarre.

Nature ← this one is hugeNature is not a force to

conquer. It is a friendly spiritual guide

God can be discovered in nature.

Truth can be discovered in nature.