American Romanticism study guide

Age of Enlightenment

• Intellectual and Philosophical Movement

  • Occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries.

• Major Ideas:

  • Renaissance Humanism

  • Scientific Revolution

• Important Members:

  • Rene Descartes: Famous for the statement, “I think therefore I am.”

  • Sir Isaac Newton: Known for laws of motion and universal gravitation.

  • John Locke: Influential in political philosophy, particularly concepts of liberty and government.

  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Advocated for the social contract and popular sovereignty.

Romanticism

• Shift in Ideals:

  • Moved away from Enlightenment ideals of logic and reason toward valuing emotions.

• Art and Literature:

  • Should be felt rather than merely appreciated.

• Concept of Self:

  • Crucial to inspiration—focus on personal ideas and perceptions of the world.

• View of Nature:

  • Seen as perfect, while humanity is viewed as flawed.

• Beliefs:

  • Advocated for idealism and belief in the sublime beauty of existence.

Sublime and Optimism

• Sublime:

  • Represents great or excessive beauty, producing overwhelming awe or high emotion by being vast or grand.

• Romantic Perspective:

  • Romantics are often optimistic, seeing the world “through rose-colored glasses.”

Transcendentalism

• 19th-Century Movement:

  • Emerged in New England among writers and philosophers who adhered to an idealistic philosophy.

• Core Beliefs:

  • Essential unity of all creation

  • Innate goodness of human beings

  • Supremacy of insight over logic and personal experience for discovering profound truths.

Dark Romantics

• Opposition to Transcendentalism:

  • Critiqued unbounded optimism as naïve, emphasizing a more realistic view of humanity.

• Themes:

  • Explored the powers of good and evil, often depicted in dark stories that highlight destruction.

Allegory

• Definition:

  • A literary work in which characters, settings, and events symbolize abstract concepts and moral qualities.

• Purpose:

  • To teach a moral lesson.

• Examples:

  • Animal Farm, Dr. Seuss stories.

Herman Melville

• Biography:

  • Went to sea at age 20—this experience profoundly influenced his writings.

• Notable Work:

  • Moby Dick: Often described as a “prose poem” or epic of the seas.

Gothic Literature

• Characteristics:

  • Comprises novels and short stories that evoke gloomy, foreboding moods, with strong elements of horror, mystery, and the supernatural.

• Examples:

  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

Edgar Allan Poe

• Overview:

  • A Southern writer known for his gothic tales and horror stories.

• Famous Works:

  • The Raven: Although not a financial success, it's one of his best-recognized poems.

  • Known as the first professional man of letters, solely making a living from writing.

  • Regarded as the father of American detective fiction with Murder at the Rue Morgue.

Washington Irving

• Influence:

  • Regarded as the father of the American short story.

• Notable Stories:

  • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

  • Rip Van Winkle

  • Stories often rooted in New York's early colonial history.

Anti-Transcendentalism

• Perspective:

  • Focused on the darker aspects of humanity and moral complexity.

• Common Themes:

  • Guilt, pride, and envy, often reflecting on Puritanical influences.

• Work Example:

  • The Devil and Tom Walker

    • Play with tone, reflecting the author's attitude towards society and moral dilemmas.

    • Tom's interactions with the devil serve as a critique of societal values.

The Devil and Tom Walker

• Characterization:

  • The devil appears ominous, with a mix of attributes, symbolizing evil.

  • Trees symbolize hell, with each tree labeled with a person's name.

• Plot Points:

  • Tom does not initially fear the devil and reveals his beliefs to his wife, which leads to her tragic fate.

  • Themes of greed and moral compromise explored, as Tom becomes wealthy yet remains miserly.

• Ending:

  • Tom's fate leads to eventual downfall, symbolized by fire and ashes, suggesting moral retribution.

Captain Kidd

• Background:

  • Known for his association with buried treasure and piracy.

  • Captured and hanged, his legacy is tied to treasure myths.

Usury

• Definition:

  • Lending money at extremely high-interest rates, often considered exploitative.

• Example:

  • Advertisements such as "GET CASH NOW."

Poetry Analysis

• To Helen:

  • Structure: AABB rhyme scheme.

  • Ode to Helen of Troy, referencing themes from Cupid and Psyche.

• Married El Dorado:

  • Structure: AABCCB rhyme scheme.

  • Stanzas reflect themes of darkness, despair, and mortality.

• Annabel Lee:

  • Focus on a tragic love story, where death separates lovers.

  • Themes include eternal love and loss, with stanzas analyzing the narrator’s emotional turmoil.

The Raven

• Summary:

  • A narrative poem about grief and longing, featuring a raven that symbolizes despair and unfortunate truths.

  • The repeated word “Nevermore” creates an ominous refrain that haunts the narrator.