AMERICAN LITERATUREIntroduction to the Romantic Age

(1820 – 1855)

THEMES OF THE AMERICAN RENAISSANCE

The American Ideal

Transcendentalism

The American Dream

The Romantic Hero

AMERICAN IDEALS

The following ideals are very present in American writing of the time:

Optimism Tolerant of different religions, social classes,

and ethnic backgrounds Read: The first two paragraphs of the

Declaration of Independence Think: When it was written, did the line “all

men are created equal” include women and people of color?

TRANSCENDENTALISM

"all knowledge transcendental which is concerned not with objects but with our mode of knowing objects.“ – Kant

Divinity lies within the man Great importance on the individual Man will be able to transcend the material

world and understand spiritual truths through art, science, and intuition.

Great importance on understanding the natural world

Discuss: What examples of Transcendentalism are there in “A Song of Myself”

THE AMERICAN DREAM

Through moral behavior and hard work, human beings will achieve success and prosperity.

The happiness and optimism of the American People

Discuss: Is the American Dream now different from the American dream in the 19th century?

THE ROMANTIC HERO

Common in Romantic texts is the image of the Romantic hero.

Freedoms of the Individual Detests conformity; rebels The hero is tolerant, respects others, values

freedom and nature Wanderers Emotional

WALT WHITMAN

Read lines 53-130 of “Song of Myself” on pages 153-154 in your textbook

“Song of Myself” – Imagined autobiographical image of Whitman; very lyrical

Content and style are different from conventions popular at the time

Regards nature as a miracle Saturates poems with many details of the

surroundings

EMILY DICKINSON

Agoraphobic Wide perspective in poems deceiving of her

lifestyle. She imagined the world how she wanted it to be

Respects nature but also sees the dark side of it

Many poems about death and passion that display anxiety

THIS CONCLUDES YOUR INTRODUCTION TO THE ROMANTIC

ERA!