Novelists focused on the frightening lack of tradition in the US (a history of strife, a vast and imposing wilderness, and a classless/leaderless society)
Trans
Art = truth (as captured by the Hudson River School of landscape painting)
Light
Important writing of the era includes Paine’s Common Sense (Jan 1776), Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence (1776), and Madison’s U.S. Constitution (1787)
Ration
This era’s modern impact includes a fascination with alluring, villainous antagonists and persecuted, suffering young women; inspired 1900s crime noir literature
Dark
Common motifs include repetition/enumeration, ritual beginnings/endings, heavy imagery, a structure of order-chaos-solutions-order, and anthropomorphism
Native
1600-1750; plain style writing (no ornate language, simple/everyday comparisons, non-personal); believed all of life was a test
Purit
Believed human beings and society were perfectible; reason could reveal universal truth
Ration
Offers best example of US poetry/spirit, as well as two of the biggest names in literature
Late
Saw poetry as the highest expression of the imagination and the creative spirit
Light
Heroes can be cultural models of behavior who shape the world or tricksters with more brains than brawn, often creating chaos for change and suffering for pride
Native
Writing was intended to instruct and help enforce God’s will, demystifying His demands and expectations, and glorify His existence
Purit
Intuition/Emotion/Individualism/Intuition/Era of the Common Man/1800-1860
Light
Nature depicted as cruel, unmerciful, destructive, and unexplainable with settings of ruined buildings or castles, dark and overgrown forests, and wind-swept plains
Dark
“Belle of Amherst” and “Good Gray Poet” were the nicknames of this era’s poets
Late
Folktales/Legends/Mythology/Oral Tradition/Prehistory-Today
Native
Inspired by Immanuel Kant; linked to Concord, Mass; the philosophical side of Romanticism; felt contemplating nature leads to spiritual truth
Trans
Factors against aspiring writers included: writers were drawn to politics or could not resist the habit of UK imitation, copyright laws did not exist, and writing did not pay
Ration
Commonly described a journey into nature (for escape or revelation) and away from the corruption and ugliness of cities (which destroyed creativity)
Light
Believed writing and writer are one, writing is not about achievement but self-expression, true poetry comes from experience, success = breaking the collective voice
Late
Emphasized social order, community, connection of all living things, respect for nature
Native
Examined inner and outer lives closely for signs of God’s saving grace
Purit
Religion/Faith/Simplicity/Collectivism/Sermons and Diaries/1600-1750
Purit
Oldest literature in America but the last literature to be recognized by critics as valuable
Native
Ralph Waldo Emerson was a primary force behind this philosophical movement
Trans
Logic/Reason/Politics/Patriotism/Persuasive/Pamphlets/1750-1800
Ration
Writing becomes a legitimate profession as US audiences looked home for their literature; the US literary voice is discovered and writers’ groups emerged
Light
Gothic/Psychological/Sin, Pain, Evil Exist/Symbolic/Supernatural/Troubled Heroes
Dark
Broke poetic traditions in unique but important ways; inspired generations of poets
Late
Stories focus on creation through struggle/theft, moving from a sky to a water world, earth-divers, and emergence or migration
Native
Beliefs focused on the idea of T.U.L.I.P. (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of "saints")
Purit
Writers of this era were against tradition, religion, monarchy; natural rights were believed to be above government/Kings/religion
Ration
Modern day legacy includes expectation of moral leadership, quest for freedom, work ethic, fascination with death, manifest destiny & US divinity, secular marriages
Purit
Heroes of this era were usually young, innocent, noble, and outdoorsy; they were questing for truth with a personal code of ethics that outweighed man’s laws
Light
Provided transition from the 1800’s to the 1900’s; ushered in the next century of poetry
Late
Revealed man’s dark side using dread, terror, and suspense to hold the reader’s attention; explored tales of shame, obsession, revenge, madness
Dark