Romanticism and Romanticism and TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Where We’ve BeenWhere We’ve Been

First American Literature (2000 B.C. – First American Literature (2000 B.C. – A.D. 1620)A.D. 1620) Native American LiteratureNative American Literature Historical NarrativesHistorical Narratives

Becoming a Country (1620-1800)Becoming a Country (1620-1800) PuritanismPuritanism Revolutionary Writing (persuasive rhetoric)Revolutionary Writing (persuasive rhetoric)

Individualism (1800-1855)Individualism (1800-1855)

Romanticism and Transcendentalism Romanticism and Transcendentalism Longfellow, Irving, Emerson, Fuller, Thoreau, Longfellow, Irving, Emerson, Fuller, Thoreau,

WhitmanWhitman

American GothicAmerican Gothic Poe and HawthornePoe and Hawthorne

DefinitionsDefinitions

Romanticism sprang up in both Europe and Romanticism sprang up in both Europe and America as a reaction to everything that had America as a reaction to everything that had come before it: the rationalism of the 18come before it: the rationalism of the 18 thth century century Age of Reason and, especially, Puritanism.Age of Reason and, especially, Puritanism.

Romantic artists, philosophers, and writers saw Romantic artists, philosophers, and writers saw the limitations of reason and celebrated instead the limitations of reason and celebrated instead the glories of the individual spirit, the emotions, the glories of the individual spirit, the emotions, and the imagination as basic elements of human and the imagination as basic elements of human nature.nature.

Transcendentalism was based on a fundamental Transcendentalism was based on a fundamental belief in the unity of the world and God. belief in the unity of the world and God.

They believed that the “macrocosm” (the They believed that the “macrocosm” (the universe) and the “microcosm” (the indivdual) universe) and the “microcosm” (the indivdual) were directly connected.were directly connected.

Emerson said that every individual is capable of Emerson said that every individual is capable of discovering higher truth (and identification with discovering higher truth (and identification with God) on his or her own, through intuition.God) on his or her own, through intuition.

Transcendentalists sought to have individuals Transcendentalists sought to have individuals “transcend” to a higher spiritual level.“transcend” to a higher spiritual level.

To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek spiritual, not material, greatness and the spiritual, not material, greatness and the essential truths of life through intuition.essential truths of life through intuition.

Intuition, or common sense, functioned above Intuition, or common sense, functioned above and beyond the five senses. The faculty of and beyond the five senses. The faculty of intuition provided every person with their own intuition provided every person with their own ability to know what is absolutely true.ability to know what is absolutely true.

Transcendentalists saw nature not only as Transcendentalists saw nature not only as beautiful, but as a reflection of divinity—literally, beautiful, but as a reflection of divinity—literally, the face of God.the face of God.

They believed that the purpose of human life They believed that the purpose of human life was union with the so-called “over-soul” which was union with the so-called “over-soul” which embraced, and was reflected in, everything in embraced, and was reflected in, everything in the world.the world.

People could develop their potential by People could develop their potential by immersing themselves in the beauty of the immersing themselves in the beauty of the natural world.natural world.

Beauty and truth could be experienced only Beauty and truth could be experienced only through intuition, though careful observation of through intuition, though careful observation of nature might help to uncover its laws and nature might help to uncover its laws and provide a glimpse into the divine.provide a glimpse into the divine.

Tended to be anti-religious.Tended to be anti-religious. They felt that the authority of organized religion They felt that the authority of organized religion

needed to be rejected and that people needed to needed to be rejected and that people needed to find God within themselves.find God within themselves.

In pursuit of divine knowledge, seekers needed In pursuit of divine knowledge, seekers needed to be prepared to resist accepted social codes to be prepared to resist accepted social codes and customs.and customs.

Truth could be found in nature and within one’s Truth could be found in nature and within one’s self.self.

Self-reliance and individuality, not obedience to Self-reliance and individuality, not obedience to outside authority, were the pathways to self-outside authority, were the pathways to self-understanding and to the divine.understanding and to the divine.

Characteristics of RomanticismCharacteristics of Romanticism

ClassicismClassicism-NormalityNormality-The group, the massesThe group, the masses-Balance, orderBalance, order-Control, constraintControl, constraint-RealityReality-OrderOrder-Facts and reasonFacts and reason-TraditionTradition-UrbanUrban-CrowdsCrowds-Even temperamentEven temperament-BalanceBalance-Formal languageFormal language-PracticalityPracticality-The present The present

RomanticismRomanticism-AbnormalityAbnormality-The individualThe individual-The grotesqueThe grotesque-SpontaneitySpontaneity-Mystery, imaginationMystery, imagination-Reverence for natureReverence for nature-Intuition and feelingIntuition and feeling-New ideasNew ideas-RusticRustic-SolitudeSolitude-MelancholyMelancholy-DisorderDisorder-Vernacular languageVernacular language-WhimsyWhimsy-Distant in time or placeDistant in time or place

Romanticism Idealizes . . .Romanticism Idealizes . . .

Natural sceneryNatural scenery Natural manNatural man Rustic and primitive lifeRustic and primitive life The past, especially the medieval periodThe past, especially the medieval period

Romanticism Emotionalizes Romanticism Emotionalizes

Indulges the emotions Indulges the emotions Appeals to the senses, imagination, Appeals to the senses, imagination,

emotionemotion Encourages awareness of the Encourages awareness of the

supernaturalsupernatural

Romanticism IndividualizesRomanticism Individualizes

Values the eccentricValues the eccentric Celebrates the abnormalCelebrates the abnormal Revels in differences and uniquenessRevels in differences and uniqueness

Romanticism EscapesRomanticism Escapes

In time (past or future)In time (past or future) In distant, rural placesIn distant, rural places Into the emotionsInto the emotions Into the subconsciousInto the subconscious Into the abnormalInto the abnormal Into the imagination, the supernaturalInto the imagination, the supernatural Into the sensesInto the senses

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Possessed a religious sense of missionPossessed a religious sense of mission Emerson was the philosopher and teacherEmerson was the philosopher and teacher Left the Unitarian church because he felt that “to be a Left the Unitarian church because he felt that “to be a

good minister, it was necessary to leave the church.”good minister, it was necessary to leave the church.” He avoided building a logical intellectual system.He avoided building a logical intellectual system. Called for the birth of American individualism inspired by Called for the birth of American individualism inspired by

naturenature Most famous essay is “Nature”Most famous essay is “Nature” Major Ideas:Major Ideas:

Need for new national visionNeed for new national vision Use of personal experienceUse of personal experience Notion of the cosmic Over-SoulNotion of the cosmic Over-Soul

Emerson QuotesEmerson Quotes

““Trust thyself, every heart vibrates to that iron Trust thyself, every heart vibrates to that iron string.”string.”

““Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members.”manhood of every one of its members.”

““Whoso would be a man, must be a Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist.”nonconformist.”

““A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”minds.”

““To be great is to be misunderstood.”To be great is to be misunderstood.”

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

From a poor family, like EmersonFrom a poor family, like Emerson Thoreau was the student and the practitioner.Thoreau was the student and the practitioner. Worked his way through HarvardWorked his way through Harvard Reduced his needs to the simplest level and Reduced his needs to the simplest level and

lived on very little moneylived on very little money A nonconformist, he attempted to live his life at A nonconformist, he attempted to live his life at

all times according to his rigourous principlesall times according to his rigourous principles WaldenWalden: the result of two years, two months, and : the result of two years, two months, and

two days he spent living in a cabin he built at two days he spent living in a cabin he built at Walden PondWalden Pond

Thoreau, continuedThoreau, continued

He also wrote “Civil Disobedience,” which He also wrote “Civil Disobedience,” which contains his theory of passive resistance based contains his theory of passive resistance based on the moral necessity for the just individual to on the moral necessity for the just individual to disobey unjust laws (inspired Gandhi and King)disobey unjust laws (inspired Gandhi and King)

Main Ideas:Main Ideas: Ecological consciousnessEcological consciousness Do-it-yourself independenceDo-it-yourself independence Ethical commitment to abolitionismEthical commitment to abolitionism Political theory of civil disobedience and peaceful Political theory of civil disobedience and peaceful

resistanceresistance

Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider In small groups (four or less), discuss the following questions. In small groups (four or less), discuss the following questions.

These will help you fully understand transcendentalism. One These will help you fully understand transcendentalism. One person per group should take notes.person per group should take notes.

How are you affected by nature? Do you find comfort in it? Do How are you affected by nature? Do you find comfort in it? Do you reflect the moods of nature?you reflect the moods of nature?

What is the role of nature in your life?What is the role of nature in your life? What is meant by an individual’s spiritual side? How do you What is meant by an individual’s spiritual side? How do you

define it?define it? Is there a connection between the individual’s spirit and nature? Is there a connection between the individual’s spirit and nature?

If so, what is that connection?If so, what is that connection? What does it mean to know something intuitively? For example, What does it mean to know something intuitively? For example,

has a parent or a sibling ever known something was wrong with has a parent or a sibling ever known something was wrong with you without having talked with or seen you? What do we mean you without having talked with or seen you? What do we mean when we say “I just know it”?when we say “I just know it”?

How do you demonstrate that you are an individual? Do you How do you demonstrate that you are an individual? Do you think independently or others or do you follow the crowd?think independently or others or do you follow the crowd?

Other QuestionsOther Questions 1. How can one find truth and, specifically, the meaning 1. How can one find truth and, specifically, the meaning

of life? Can you find it by reasoning? How would you of life? Can you find it by reasoning? How would you define "reason"?define "reason"?

2. What is the relationship between these two words: 2. What is the relationship between these two words: "religion" and "spirituality"? Are they the same?"religion" and "spirituality"? Are they the same?

3. If you believe in God, how do you understand the 3. If you believe in God, how do you understand the problem of salvation? How does one find God? How is problem of salvation? How does one find God? How is one to be "saved"? How does one find a place in one to be "saved"? How does one find a place in Heaven?Heaven?

4. Have you ever had a "religious experience"? Where 4. Have you ever had a "religious experience"? Where and when?and when?

5. How would you describe your own personal 5. How would you describe your own personal relationship to nature?relationship to nature?

6. Do you support the current environment movement? If 6. Do you support the current environment movement? If so, why?so, why?