American Romanticism 1800- 1860 Objectives

Recognize similarities & differences in Puritans & Transcendentalists

Encounter non-fiction works & biographical information:

Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Understand the philosophy of

Transcendentalism Create your own Transcendental

Society View & respond to film, The Dead

Poets Society

Americans lookedto untamed natureas inspirationfor a uniquely American art. Cole was a leaderof this new Americanlandscape painting.In this painting of theAdirondack Mountains, Cole erases all signs ofwhite settlement, & depictsa Native American as thelone inhabitant.

Indian Pass (1847)

By Thomas ColeExamine the Thomas Colepainting. What attitudestowards nature are suggested by this painting?

The Romantic Sensibility:Celebrating Imagination

The Romantics valued…• imagination• individual feelings• Natureover…• reason• logic• cultivation

• Poetry ~ the highest embodiment of the imagination

Romantic Escapism: Romantic Escapism: From Dull Realities to Higher From Dull Realities to Higher

TruthsTruthsRomantics sought a higher truth by:Romantics sought a higher truth by:

searching for exotic settings as in the searching for exotic settings as in the supernatural realm or in old legends and supernatural realm or in old legends and folklorefolklore

reflecting on the natural world until dull reality reflecting on the natural world until dull reality fell away to reveal underlying truth & beauty fell away to reveal underlying truth & beauty gaining insight from an ordinary object in gaining insight from an ordinary object in nature nature

Characteristics of American Characteristics of American RomanticismRomanticism

IIntuitionntuition IImaginationmagination IInnocencennocence IInspiration from naturenspiration from nature IInner experiencenner experience

Emerson & Emerson & Transcendentalists:Transcendentalists: TThhee

AAmmeerriiccaann RRoooottssEmerson’s thought

processwas Intuitive,

in contrast withBen Franklin’s

Rational approachto thinking.

The development of the American novelcoincided with…

Westward expansionGrowth of national spiritRapid spread of cities

The American Novel &the Wilderness Experience

James Fenimore Cooper

Created the first American hero…named Natty Bumpo,also known as…HawkeyeDeerslayerLeatherstocking

American Fiction HeroesCharacteristics Young Innocent Intuitive Loves nature Quest for higher truth

Current day examples Lone Ranger Luke Skywalker Superman Indiana Jones

American Romantic Poetry: Read at Every Fireside

Romantic poets used Typically English• Themes• Meter• Imagery

Fireside Poets…• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow• John Greenleaf Whittier• Oliver Wendell Holmes• Russell Lowell

In reference to Walt

Whitman…Emerson

said,

“I greet you at thebeginning of agreat career.”

Transcendentalist:Transcendentalist:True Reality is True Reality is SpiritualSpiritualThe leader of the Transcendentalist was The leader of the Transcendentalist was

Massachusetts writer and lecturer… Massachusetts writer and lecturer… Ralph Waldo Ralph Waldo EmersonEmerson

Transcendental refers to the idea that inTranscendental refers to the idea that indetermining the…determining the…

† ultimate reality of Godultimate reality of God† the universethe universe† the selfthe self† other important manners…other important manners…

One must transcend, or go beyond, everyday humanOne must transcend, or go beyond, everyday humanexperience in the physical worldexperience in the physical world

Dark RomanticsIncludes authors such as… Nathaniel Hawthorne Herman Melville Edgar Allan Poe

Values in common w/ Transcendentalists: Intuition over reasoning Saw signs & symbols in events

In contrast, they did not believe that nature isnecessarily good or harmless

They explored: Conflict between good & evil Psychological effects of guilt & sin And madness

Ralph Waldo Emerson:The Early Years

Born in Boston, Massachusetts

From a cultured,but poor family

His father died of TB when Ralph was only 8 years old

His mother & aunt raised the family of 6 children

Emerson entered Harvardat the age of 14

Burden of Expectation…Following an eight yeartradition, Emerson became a minister.

Being an independentthinker, he feltuncomfortable being achurch leader.

So…in 1832 he left theministry and headedfor…

While abroad, While abroad, Emerson Emerson befriended many befriended many famous writers. famous writers. Such as theSuch as the

RomanticRomantic Poets…Poets…William William Wordsworth andWordsworth andSamuel Taylor Samuel Taylor ColeridgeColeridge

Transcendentalism

In the words of Emerson…“The Transcendentalist adopts the whole connection of spiritual doctrine. He believes in miracle, in the perpetual openness of the human mind to new influx of light & power; he believes in inspiration and ecstasy.

“The American Scholar”In 1837, Emerson gave a speech to students at Harvard. He demanded that American scholars free themselves from the shackles of the past. “Our day of dependence, our long apprenticeship to the learning of other lands, draws to a close.”

“Divinity-School Address”Emerson’s second speech to Harvard students called for a rejection of institutional religion in favor of a personal relation with God. It outraged authorities…not until 3 decades later did Emerson speak again at Harvard.

Emerson on PoliticsEmerson on Politics In spite of being involved in In spite of being involved in Concord politics, Emerson wasConcord politics, Emerson was a reluctant participant. From thea reluctant participant. From the

first he had believed that thefirst he had believed that theslaves should be freed. But heslaves should be freed. But heavoided the radical societies that wereavoided the radical societies that werepromoting abolition. As slavery clamoredpromoting abolition. As slavery clamored

Emerson, against his instincts, actively associated Emerson, against his instincts, actively associated himselfhimself

with the abolitionist cause. He contributed to the causewith the abolitionist cause. He contributed to the causebeyond his means. One of his children once wrote in abeyond his means. One of his children once wrote in aschool essay, “no house should be built without having school essay, “no house should be built without having

in itin ita space to hide a runaway slave.a space to hide a runaway slave.

Henry David Henry David ThoreauThoreau• Born in Concord, MA in 1817Born in Concord, MA in 1817• Father was a pencil manufacturerFather was a pencil manufacturer• Mother took in boardersMother took in boarders

(among them Emerson’s sister-in-law)(among them Emerson’s sister-in-law)• Entered Harvard in 1833Entered Harvard in 1833• Thoreau and his brother opened a privateThoreau and his brother opened a private

school in 1839 that lasted only 2 years,school in 1839 that lasted only 2 years,however they developed a newhowever they developed a neweducational practice: field trips –educational practice: field trips –for nature study!for nature study!

• He had several loves, but never married andHe had several loves, but never married andnever traveled far from Concord.never traveled far from Concord.

• He died of tuberculosis at the age of 44He died of tuberculosis at the age of 44

Thoreau on Thoreau on Writing…Writing…• ““Essentially, your truest poetic sentence is Essentially, your truest poetic sentence is

as free and lawless as a lamb’s bleat. The as free and lawless as a lamb’s bleat. The grammarian is often one who can neither grammarian is often one who can neither cry nor laugh, yet thinks that he can cry nor laugh, yet thinks that he can express human emotions.express human emotions.

• Referring to some rules forReferring to some rules forspeaking & writing he said:speaking & writing he said:””Any fool can make a ruleAny fool can make a ruleAnd every fool will mind it.”And every fool will mind it.”

• ‘‘Success is due to blend of style & content.’Success is due to blend of style & content.’• He looked to nature as a model for life.He looked to nature as a model for life.

The The RebelRebel• Independent and eccentric, he refused to wear Independent and eccentric, he refused to wear

black to chapel – he choose a green coat black to chapel – he choose a green coat insteadinstead

• Protested against the Mexican War by refusing Protested against the Mexican War by refusing to pay the poll tax - spent the night in jail.to pay the poll tax - spent the night in jail.

• Wrote “Resistance to Civil Government” which Wrote “Resistance to Civil Government” which inspired passive resistance which was laterinspired passive resistance which was laterused by Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used by Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thoreau…on dyingThoreau…on dying• 1860 Thoreau caught a cold – turned out 1860 Thoreau caught a cold – turned out

to be Tuberculosis, which was deadly thento be Tuberculosis, which was deadly then• He faced his coming death with great calmHe faced his coming death with great calm• ““Henry, have you made your peace with Henry, have you made your peace with

God?” his aunt asked him toward the end.God?” his aunt asked him toward the end. “ “Why , Aunt,” he replied, “I didn’t know we Why , Aunt,” he replied, “I didn’t know we

had ever quarreled.”had ever quarreled.”

Imagery…Imagery…

The use of language to evoke a picture or The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, a thing, a concrete sensation of a person, a thing, a place, or an experience. Images appeal a place, or an experience. Images appeal to one or more of the five senses—sight, to one or more of the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. hearing, smell, touch, and taste.

As we read from Nature, look for examples As we read from Nature, look for examples of images that appeal to the senses.of images that appeal to the senses.

Birds of Birds of WaldenWalden

tanagertanager

veeryveerysparrowsparrow

thrush

thrush whippoorwillwhippoorwill

Figures of SpeechWords or phrases that describes something

in terms of another and are not meant literally.

• Simile: comparison between 2 unlike things, using words such as like, than, asExample: She was as sharp as a tack.

• Metaphor: a comparison between 2 unlike things in which 1 is said to be another Example: He was a tiger in the ring.

• Personification: object or animal is given human thoughts or feelings.Example: The purse cried out, “BUY ME!”

• Symbol: person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself & that also stands for something more than itself.Example: pink ribbon is a symbol for breast cancer awareness

Your task: Find examples of each in the text.

Nature1- A person goes where to be alone?2- Truly seeing nature is child-like because . . .3- Which part of a farm can not be owned?4- Emerson’s meaning of “nature.”5- Feelings while crossing the “bare common”6- Nature wears the colors of..?7- Why does Emerson call himself a

transparent eyeball?8- Purpose of this essay??9- Emerson finds this in the woods.10- Emerson’s attitude toward society11- Use of Imagery in Nature12- At least 5 new words

Transcendentalism4-Square

MASTERYIdentify and explain 3 similes from Nature.

INTERPERSONALChoose a place that you enjoy & describe it as Thoreau described Walden

UNDERSTANDINGDo you think it would be possible to live today as Thoreau did? Why or Why not?

SELF-EXPRESSIVECreate and design a visual representation of one of sensory imagery described in Nature.

Journal EntryYou have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourself any direction you choose.You’re on your own. and you know what you know.And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go. Dr. Seuss