American RomanticismEarly 1800s -1865

What Romanticism is NOT!

Despite the name “Romantic”, this literary period DOES NOT deal with sappy love stories.

So…What is Romanticism?

Romanticism is the name of the literary period that followed the Age of Reason (Revolutionary literature)

Writers moved focus away from politics and focused on emotions and imagination

Romanticism is N.I.I.C.E

NatureIndividualismImaginationCreativityEmotion and Experience

Nature

Seeking the unspoiled beauty of natureRejection of civilizationBelieved nature was the pathway to

spiritual and moral improvement

“Catskill Scenery” by Thomas Cole 1833

Individualism

Worth of the individualBelief of individual freedomContrasts with Puritan view of communityLife is unpredictable and short death is

certain…so be yourself!#YOLO

“Wander above the Sea of Fog” by Casper David Friedrich 1818

Imagination

Explore the supernaturalInspiration in myths and legends Finds truth in the inner imaginationValues imagination over reality

Creativity

Wrote mostly fictionUsed a lot of rich, figurative languagePoetry is the highest expression of the

imagination

“Youth” by Thomas Cole1840

Emotion and Experience

Believed that emotion is the BEST teacherExplored powers of good (life and love) and

evil (death and fear)Intuition is above reason and logicLooked towards the past for guidance.

Distrust of progress

“Abbey in a Dark Forest” by Casper David Friedrich 1810

Satire

Literary device used to ridicule (make fun of) or mock and individual or society by the use of humor, irony and exaggeration

Example

Washington Irving

Many of his pieces are written as a satireWrote many short stories and essaysBecame famous for pieces such as “Rip

Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

W. Irving Continued

Set his writings in an American settingCharacterized by American stereotypes

Battered husbandNagging wife

Uses a funny tone but has a serious underlying (hidden) message

The Devil and Tom Walker

The story's plot is based on a very famous German legend about a man called Faust , who makes a deal with the Devil in order to gain knowledge and wealth.

The story if set up as an old legend, with witnesses who have passed the story down over the years giving it some validity for his audience.