Romantic ElementsRomantic Elements

RomanticismRomanticism

When you think “Romantics” When you think “Romantics” DON”T think of “romance”!DON”T think of “romance”!

The literary term The literary term “Romanticism” is very “Romanticism” is very different from what different from what “romantic” commonly means “romantic” commonly means today.today.

It’s not hearts and flowersIt’s not hearts and flowers It’s imagination and an It’s imagination and an

emphasis on the individual emphasis on the individual and natureand nature

How did the Romantics How did the Romantics Begin?Begin?

Puritans came to New World in 1620. Puritans came to New World in 1620. Remember that Colonial Era literature Remember that Colonial Era literature is written for the purpose of survivalis written for the purpose of survival

Ex: Letters, legal documents, journals, Ex: Letters, legal documents, journals, etc.etc.

By 1776, we were in the Revolutionary By 1776, we were in the Revolutionary War. Writing was linked with forming a War. Writing was linked with forming a national identity.national identity.

Ex: brochures, pamphlets, political Ex: brochures, pamphlets, political information, short fiction, etc.information, short fiction, etc.

How did the Romantics How did the Romantics Begin?Begin?

Many historians view the Romantic era as Many historians view the Romantic era as beginning between 1785 and 1798.beginning between 1785 and 1798.

During this era, some authors, decided to During this era, some authors, decided to ignore/avoid the political topics, and focus ignore/avoid the political topics, and focus on different ideas (specifically nature) in on different ideas (specifically nature) in their writings.their writings.

They were turning away from the values They were turning away from the values and ideas of the previous era, embracing and ideas of the previous era, embracing new ways of expressing their imagination new ways of expressing their imagination and feelings. and feelings.

Who were the Romantics?Who were the Romantics?

Instead of a concentration on "head," Instead of a concentration on "head," the intellectual focus of reason, they the intellectual focus of reason, they preferred to rely on the self, in the preferred to rely on the self, in the radical idea of individual freedom. radical idea of individual freedom.

This was a reaction to the This was a reaction to the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Instead of striving for perfection, the Instead of striving for perfection, the Romantics preferred "the glory of the Romantics preferred "the glory of the imperfect." imperfect."

Interest in the common man Interest in the common man and childhoodand childhood

The main characters are The main characters are average, “every man” average, “every man” characters.characters.

People are naturally good; People are naturally good; childhood is goodchildhood is good

Urban life interferes with Urban life interferes with human goodnesshuman goodness

Picture – In “The Legend of Picture – In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” the main Sleepy Hollow” the main character is a simple school character is a simple school teacher…teacher…

Strong senses, emotions, and Strong senses, emotions, and feelingsfeelings

Knowledge is Knowledge is gained through gained through intuition, not intuition, not deductiondeduction

Poetry is the Poetry is the ““spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”

Picture – Poe often Picture – Poe often wrote about intense wrote about intense emotions and being emotions and being driven mad driven mad because of them…because of them…

Love of NatureLove of Nature People find meaning People find meaning

in life through a in life through a connection with connection with naturenature

Romantic lit often Romantic lit often features nature as a features nature as a settingsetting

Example: Melville’s Example: Melville’s adventure tales adventure tales often take place on often take place on the seathe sea

Celebration of the IndividualCelebration of the Individual Admired the Admired the

achievements of the misunderstood, heroic individual outcast.

Picture – In “The Picture – In “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Minister’s Black Veil”, the main character the main character understands a understands a spiritual concept that spiritual concept that the rest of the the rest of the community cannot community cannot grasp.grasp.

Importance of ImaginationImportance of Imagination Stories include Stories include

fantastic elements fantastic elements (things that can’t (things that can’t be true)be true)

Might also involve Might also involve exotic settings and exotic settings and supernatural supernatural elementselements

Picture – Rip Van Picture – Rip Van Winkle’s Winkle’s adventure…adventure…

Gothic ElementsGothic Elements strange and terrifying strange and terrifying

eventsevents medieval-like settingsmedieval-like settings distortion of realitydistortion of reality insanityinsanity dark side of human dark side of human

naturenature supernaturalsupernatural Example: PoeExample: Poe