Romanticism/ Transcendentalism

1800-1860

Romanticism Overview

– The Romantic Period was an intellectual, literary, and artistic movement that began in Europe.

– It eventually made its way to America and influenced writers we will be reading and discussing in this class.

Romanticism Literature

– Expressed own intuitive experiences

– Subject matter was nature

– Inner world of human nature emphasized emotions, intuition, individual, human nature (what makes people tick; their private inner being)

– Seeks unspoiled nature

– Finds truth and beauty in world of imagination

– Sees poetry as highest expression of imagination

Transcendentalism Overview

– This is NOT a religion. It is a way of thinking.

– It’s a view that the basic truths of the universe lie beyond the knowledge we obtain from our senses; this knowledge transcends (goes beyond) what we hear, see, or learn from books.

– Intuition= how we come to “know” life

Transcendental Beliefs

– Respect nature and its relationship to humanity (man/nature connection)

– Value individualism

– Maintain positive, optimistic view of life

– Self-reliance, non-conformist; intuition over reason

– Rejection of materialism

– Simplicity is the path to spiritual greatness

– Nature is source of truth and inspiration

Difference between Romanticism and Transcendentalism– Transcendentalism- God is an internal force and

everyone has within him a divine spark or “internal light” that can be accessed through nature; POSTIVE element in everyone

– Romanticism- God is more external; the battle between POSTIVE and NEGATIVE occurs in everyone

Anti-Transcendentalists/ Dark Romantics Overview– Famous authors were Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman

Melville, and Edgar Allen Poe

Anti-Transcendentalists/ Dark Romantics Beliefs– Explores darker side of nature

– Life is a combination of good and evil

– Explores psychological effects of guilt, sin, madness, derangement in human psyche

– Believe in mystical and melancholy (gloomy state of mind) occurrences

– Believe spiritual truths may be ugly or frightening

Transcendental Elements through Songs– Get out a sheet of paper and fold it hot dog style.

Then fold it hamburger style.– You should now have 4 boxes.– Listen to the following songs and write down

notes of how they reflect transcendentalism.

Song One- “Dirty Paws” by Of Monsters and Men– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCHUw7ACS8o

Song Two- “Drive” by Incubus

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgT9zGkiLig

Song Three- “Straight Line” by Silverchair– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47P3bzefCVI

Song Four- “Go Do” by Jonsi

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5VgLOs0LwQ