American Romanticism: 1800-1860Light Romanticism, Dark Romanticism, Transcendentalism

Romanticism as a JourneyAway from

Corruption of civilization

Limits of rational thought

Romanticism as a Journey

Toward Integrity of nature Freedom of

imagination

Source The Deerslayer N. C. Wyeth

Which are you?Romantic• Intuitive• Nature-

loving

Rational• Practical• Worldly

Imagination

Beauty

Truth

Big Ideas of Romanticism

Intuition Experience Individual Nature Ideal

source: Skipp, Francis in American Literature

Characteristics of American Romanticism Values feeling over reason Places faith in inner experience and

imagination Shuns artificiality of civilization; seeks

unspoiled nature Prefers youthful innocence to educated

sophistication Emphasizes individual freedom and worth Believes nature’s beauty can lead to

spiritual and moral development

Elements of Literature (145)

Characteristics of American Romanticism Looks backward to the wisdom of past

and distrusts progress (Science) Finds beauty and truth in

Exotic locales Supernatural realm Inner world of the imagination

Sees poetry as the highest expression of the imagination

Finds inspiration in myth, legend, and folk culture

Elements of Literature (145)

A New Hero

Young or youthful Innocent and pure of purpose Sense of honor based on principle

higher than society’s rules Understanding of the world is intuitive,

not based on formal learning Loves nature Quests for higher truth in the natural

world

Elements of Literature 149

LegacyLasting Effects of American Romanticism

Humanitarian reform Abolitionism Feminism

Liberal religious movements Unitariansim Universalism

Economic experiments Communal living (Brook Farm, New Harmony)

James D. Hart, The Oxford Companion to American Literature, 6th ed. (572).

Light Romanticism Emily Dickinson

“Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church” Walt Whitman

“Learn'd Astronomer”

Focus on the inherent inner light of humans, the beauty

of nature, and the perfection of the universe.

Dark Romanticism Nathaniel Hawthorne

“The Birthmark” (packet 131)

Focus on the inherent inner darkness of humans, the perverseness of spirit,

and the punishing nature of the universe.

Hudson River Painters

Art as an agent of moral and spiritual transformation

Kindred Spirits, Asher B. Durand, 1849

Transcendentalism Immanuel Kant“…concerned not with objects but with our mode of knowing objects."

source

Transcendental Beliefs the spark of divinity lies within man; everything in the world is a microcosm of

existence the individual soul is identical to the world soul

(Emerson’s Over-Soul)

By meditation, by communing with nature, through work and art, man could transcend his senses and attain an understanding of

beauty and goodness and truth.

source

Transcendentalists Belief in the Inner Light Authority of

Self Ralph Waldo Emerson’s doctrine of Self-

Reliance Henry David Thoreau's civil

disobedience, Utopian communities at Brook Farm

source

Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Self Reliance” (packet 67) “Henry David Thoreau

Walden Solitude (packet 80) Conclusion (packet 84)

Built on the idea of the inner light, but believed that this was the divine spark, that humans carry God inside us. And because we all carry the divine, we are all capable of

perfection.

Anti-Transcendentalism Causes Opposed the optimism and idealism of

transcendentalists Dwelt on guilt and remorse over past

sins Discontented with circumstances in

America Women’s rights, slavery, poor educational

system, lack of justice

Key Beliefs/Philosophies Belief in potential destructiveness of

human spirit Belief in individual truths, not universal

ones Focus on man’s uncertainty and

limitations in the universe Nature is vast and incomprehensible

Style Man vs. Nature conflicts – bring out evil

in humanity Focus on protagonist’s inner struggles

Usually outsiders who are alienated from society

Lots of symbolism and allegory