Characteristics of American

Romanticism

Feeling and IntuitionMore valuable

than reasonStick to your

guts/conscience over logic/mind

FaithFaith placed in

inner expression

Faith placed in the power of the imagination

A Typical American Romantic belief that reason and logic are limiting and imagination is superior is illustrated in this quote from Albert Einstein

Civilization vs. NatureShuns the

artificiality of civilization

Seeks unspoiled nature

The City (Civilization!)

Corruption Immorality Reason Logic Planning routine

Poor working conditions ConformityNo imagination or freedom

Romantics shun the artificiality of civilization and seek unspoiled nature!

Innocence vs. SophisticationPrefers

youthful innocence over educated sophistication

IndividualsChampions

individual freedom

Promotes the worth of the individual

Nature’s BeautyContemplation

of nature leads to spiritual and moral development

Past vs. ProgressLooks

backwards to the wisdom of the past

Distrusts progress

Beauty and TruthFound in exotic

locales

Found in the supernatural realm

Beauty and Truth

Found in the inner world of the imagination

Poetry

Viewed as the highest expression of the imagination

PoetryUsed English

themes, meter, and imagery

Used American settings and subject matter

InspirationFound in mythFound in

legendFound in folk

culture

American Romantic Hero Is young or

possesses youthful qualities

Innocent and pure of purpose

American Romantic HeroHas a sense of

honor based not on society’s rules but on some higher principle

American Romantic HeroHas a knowledge

of people and of life based on deep, intuitive understanding, not formal learning

American Romantic HeroLoves nature

and avoids town life

Quests for higher truth in natural world

The Romantic

HERO•The classic hero of the time was James Fennimore Cooper’s Natty Bumppo.

There are 21st Century Natty Bumppo descendants all

around us in the guise of pop-culture heroes all around us!

The Man with No Name

Rugged and lives in nature!

Luke Skywalke

rIntuitive and uses

the “force!”

Indiana Jones

Always on a quest for a pure purpose!

Can you make a connection between each image a value of the American Romantics??

7

23

4

56

1

8

Journal 1Journal 1Describe a journey that Describe a journey that you’ve taken. Write at you’ve taken. Write at least half a page.least half a page.

Journal 2Journal 2Describe your favorite Describe your favorite get-away place. Write at get-away place. Write at least half a page.least half a page.