ROMANTIC Period Early American Lit - Miss...
Transcript of ROMANTIC Period Early American Lit - Miss...
ROMANTIC Period
Part Two
Early American Lit
Across the Continent Westward the Course of Empire Takes its Way
Palmer, 1868
Think Pair-Share
Along with progress, what other ideas/events (etc.) are
being conveyed? How? Think in terms of colors/symbols
OPPORTUNITY
American “Progress”
• Industrial Revolution (1750s-1850s)
– Time of Great Progress
• Westward Expansion (1800s)
– Rapid growth for America
American ProgressGast, 1872
Think Pair-Share
In what ways are Gast’s and Palmer’s paintings similar
and/or different? How does each convey “Progress”?
MANIFEST DESTINY
The belief that the country’s territorial expansion was not only a reality, but inevitable and divinely ordained
SCHOOL BOOKSTAR OF EMPIRE
TECHNOLOGY
DARKNESS(Savagery)
CLARITY(Civilization)
Overview• Historical Backdrop
• Romanticism& American Romanticism
• 5 Characteristics:American Romantic Literature
“Romantic”
• Everyday language– implies “love”
• In literary terms (since Medieval times)
– adventuresome
– improbable
“Romanticism” (artistic movement)
• CHALLENGED the rational thinking of The “Age of Reason” (1700s)
– seen in Europe during the Enlightenment
– seen in America during the Revolutionary Period
American Literary Movements
Realismlate 1800s
Romanticismearly 1800s
Revolutionary Period
1700s
“Progress”• AGE of REASONled to Industrial Revolution led to
conflicting reactions:time of Great Progress but also of Potential Drawbacks
• Optimism about opportunity and growth(advancements in communication, technology, territory etc.)
• Skepticism about future drawbacks– Loss of Pure/Untouched Nature; replaced with big cities (overpopulated,
dirty, disease ridden– Loss of the wisdom/ innocence of the “noble savage” (natives)
Early 1800sAmerica still young; anxious to create its own identity
1830s 1865 (Civil War)
“American Romanticism”(Rise of a truly “American” Literature)
• The “first flowering” of American literary greatness (of a distinctly American expression)
• 5 characteristics . . .
American Romantic LITERATURE
5 Characteristics
• Imagination & Escapism
• Individuality
• Nature (as a source of spirituality)
• Nostalgia/ Past (looking to it for wisdom)
• Common man (as hero)
• Romanticism& American Romanticism
Growth