Romanticism
-Here is the video Introduction.
-Here are the unit notes for your binder:
What is Romanticism?
The term “Romanticism” derives from "romance," which from the Medieval Period (1200-1500) and on simply meant a story that was adventurous and improbable. What does improbable mean?
A “Romance” is not the same as a novel. Novels emphasize the mundane and realistic whereas romances emphasize the fantastical. The Legend of King Arthur is a romance. What are some other examples of American romances?
Romantic writers (and artists) saw themselves as revolting against the "Age of Reason" (1700-1770) and its values. They celebrated imagination over reason, spontaneity over control, subjectivity over objective fact, revolutionary energy versus tradition, individualism versus social conformity, democracy versus monarchy, and so on. What is the difference between subjectivity and objectivity?
Conditions that influenced American Romanticism:
Frontier promised opportunity for expansion, growth, freedom; Europe lacked this element.
Spirit of optimism invoked by the promise of an uncharted frontier.
Immigration brought new cultures and perspectives
Growth of industry in the north that further polarized the north and the agrarian south. What does the word agrarian mean?
Search for new spiritual roots.
Literary Themes:
Highly imaginative and subjective
Emotional intensity
Escapism (What is Escapism?)
Common man as hero (Who is the “hero” of a story?)
Nature as refuge, source of knowledge and/or spirituality
Characteristics of Romantic Literature:
-Unit Materials
Dr. Heidegger's Experiment Full Text
Dr. Heidegger's Experiment Questions
The Devil and Tom Walker Full Text
The Devil and Tom Walker Questions
The Devil and Tom Walker Vocabulary Assignment
Annabel Lee, Edgar Allan Poe
-Here are the unit notes for your binder:
What is Romanticism?
The term “Romanticism” derives from "romance," which from the Medieval Period (1200-1500) and on simply meant a story that was adventurous and improbable. What does improbable mean?
A “Romance” is not the same as a novel. Novels emphasize the mundane and realistic whereas romances emphasize the fantastical. The Legend of King Arthur is a romance. What are some other examples of American romances?
Romantic writers (and artists) saw themselves as revolting against the "Age of Reason" (1700-1770) and its values. They celebrated imagination over reason, spontaneity over control, subjectivity over objective fact, revolutionary energy versus tradition, individualism versus social conformity, democracy versus monarchy, and so on. What is the difference between subjectivity and objectivity?
Conditions that influenced American Romanticism:
Frontier promised opportunity for expansion, growth, freedom; Europe lacked this element.
Spirit of optimism invoked by the promise of an uncharted frontier.
Immigration brought new cultures and perspectives
Growth of industry in the north that further polarized the north and the agrarian south. What does the word agrarian mean?
Search for new spiritual roots.
Literary Themes:
Highly imaginative and subjective
Emotional intensity
Escapism (What is Escapism?)
Common man as hero (Who is the “hero” of a story?)
Nature as refuge, source of knowledge and/or spirituality
Characteristics of Romantic Literature:
- Characters and setting set apart from society
- Static characters--no development shown. What is the difference between a static and a dynamic character?
- Characterization--work proves the characters are what the narrator has stated or shown
- Universe is mysterious; irrational; incomprehensible
- Gaps in causality. What is causality?
- Formal language
- Nostalgia for the past. What is nostalgia?
- Good receive justice; nature can also punish or reward
- Silences of the text--universals rather than learned truths. What is the difference between a universal and a learned truth?
- Plot arranged around crisis moments; plot is important
- Plot demonstrates
- romantic love
- honor and integrity
- idealism of self
- Supernatural foreshadowing (dreams, visions)
- Description provides a "feeling" of the scene
- God is found in nature; however, the nature of God is not as clearly defined when compared to the Puritans who found in nature the God they knew from the Bible. How does the God of the Romantics differ from the God of the Puritans?
-Unit Materials
Dr. Heidegger's Experiment Full Text
Dr. Heidegger's Experiment Questions
The Devil and Tom Walker Full Text
The Devil and Tom Walker Questions
The Devil and Tom Walker Vocabulary Assignment
Annabel Lee, Edgar Allan Poe