American Romanticism

What are the attitudes and tendencies of American Romantic literature?

The attitude of American Romanticism are propelled by optimism about the future of the country as well as dissatisfied with present conditions. America Romantic literature is characterized by an interest in nature, human emotion, imagination, individual roles and nostalgia. Common attitudes and tendencies of American Romantic literature include a distrust of civilization, concern for individual freedom, love for the beauty of nature, interest in the supernatural, and nostalgia for the past.

According to our class notes, how is nationalism defined?

Nationalism is defined as devotion to the interests or culture of one’s nation. The belief that nations will benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, emphasizing national rather than international goals.

What do Romantic philosophers and authors say about reason?

The period of American Romanticism was a direct reaction against the Enlightenment or the Age of Reason, emphasizing logic and reason, a complete contrast to the Romanticism’s focus on individual freedom, emotion and intuition. Romantic philosophers did not value reason but rather emphasized nature, emotion, imagination, the individual and nostalgia. They valued national freedom as this was during the period when America established itself as a new nation separate from Britain, exhibiting “literary nationalism” or producing identifiable American work, through characters and stories.

Who is considered the first true “American” writer?

Washington Irving

Why is aforementioned author considered the first true “American” writer?

He was the first American author who sought to entertain his readers.

What is Irving’s Sketch Book?

A series of essays and tales published in 1820 that made Irving the first American writer to achieve international fame. This work includes stories such as Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This work is significant because it established a unique American literary identity internationally.

What are Washington Irving’s literary pseudonyms?

Diedrich Knickerbocker, Geoffrey Crayon, and Jonathan Oldstyle

What is the setting of “Rip Van Winkle”?

Set in Dutch culture of Pre-Revolutionary War in New York State. Rip is a farmer who wanders into the Catskill Mountains near the Hudson River

In what ways does “Rip Van Winkle” classify as Romantic fiction? Which elements of Romanticism work particularly well in this story?

“Rip Van Winkle” includes romantic elements such as distrust for civilization, concern for individual freedom, love of the beauty of nature, and interest in the supernatural. Rip distrusted civilization in the way he preferred to be friends with children, often surrounding himself with them rather than the other adults in town. He was concerned for his personal freedom because of how his wife constantly nags and tries to control him. He loved nature, often wandering into the forest and musing on the landscape before him, describing it to be “majestic” and “magical”. He also was interested in the supernatural, telling the children stories of ghosts, witches, and Indians.

Rip Van Winkle also had the qualities of a romantic hero, with a childlike personality and disposition to life, a distrust towards his wife who nagged him constantly, and a need to engage in a quest for higher truth found in nature, a place where he preferred being in comparison to at home with his family.

Some regard this as the first “real” American short story. What are the traditional elements of a short story? Does “Rip” have these elements?

The traditional elements of a short story include plot, characterization, setting, and other literary devices such as theme, conflict, point of view, suspense, foreshadowing, and flashback.

Rip Van Winkle contains elements such as characterization, setting, conflict, and pov. The story also has a plot that follows the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The conflict of the story is Rip’s marriage. He wanders to the woods because his wife continually nags him. The setting is in New York, near the Catskill Mountains and Hudson River. The point of view is in 3rd person. There are multiple characters within the story that represent different things, such as Rip who represents childlike freedom and the struggle for America freedom from Britain and Dame Van Winkle who represents Great Britain and the constraints of marriage.

Was Rip Van Winkle a success in his life? What were the most praiseworthy qualities that he possessed? In the portrayal of Dame Van Winkle as a “cultural villain,” what is suggested about the historical role and status of women?

Rip Van Winkle was successful and unsuccessful in different aspects of his life. He was unsuccessful at managing his responsibilities at home and even his children, who were described to be ragged and wild as if they were not his own children. Though he was not successful at home, he does have a few praiseworthy qualities. He was favored among the villagers, often helpful and kind to anyone who needed his help and wouldn’t refuse to do assist his neighbors. He was friendly with kids, assisting and teaching them as well as telling them stories.

Dame Van Winkle is implied to be the villain of the story because she represents domestication and control. She constantly nags him and tries to control him, a quality many men during this period disliked because they believed that wives wanted to take their individual freedom. A wife meant the husband would essentially be tied to her, their family, and their household, leaving no space for freedom to do what they wanted to do.

How are the other women portrayed in the story? From today’s perspective, is “Rip Van Winkle” politically correct? What political role does the Dame Van Winkle play?

The women who were not Rip Van Winkle’s wife were portrayed as wives or mothers who needed help with household activities that their own husbands would not do for them, implying that many of the women’s roles during this period were tending to their homes and children.

Rip Van Winkle is not considered politically correct by today’s standards, as this idea of women’s only roles in society being to nag, control, and tend to the household and kids is problematic and sexist for today’s current political climate.

Dame Van Winkle is portrayed as a source of torment for Rip Van Winkle, often nagging and imploring him to take on his responsibilities at home and on his farm. Politically, Dame Van Winkle represents Great Britain. The entire story is a metaphor for the American Revolution, with Dame Van Winkle being Great Britain, often trying to control Rip and paralleling how Britain taxed the American colonies without representation. Rip represents America’s freedom from Britain; he was relieved find out that Dame Van Winkle had died and he was finally free to live the rest of his life the way he wants to.