ROMANTICISM Romanticism literary period that followed the Age

ROMANTICISM

Romanticism ◦ literary period that followed the Age of Reason in America. ◦ Due to the fact that the country was now established, writers moved their focus away from political matters and governmental ideas, and began to focus on other aspects of life ◦ Which included, emotions, possibilities, imagination

Characteristics of American Romanticism ◦ Values feeling and intuition over reason ◦ Places faith in inner experience and the power of the imagination ◦ Shuns the artificiality of civilization and seeks unspoiled nature ◦ Prefers youthful innocence to educated sophistication ◦ Champions individual freedom and the worth of the individual ◦ Contemplates nature’s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development ◦ Looks backward to the wisdom of the past and distrusts progress ◦ Finds beauty and truth in exotic locals, the supernatural realm, and the inner world of the ◦ imagination

Characteristics ◦ Looks backward to the wisdom of the past and distrusts progress ◦ Finds beauty and truth in exotic locals, the supernatural realm, and the inner world of the imagination

Types of Literature ◦ Short stories ◦ Novels ◦ Poetry ◦ Essays

Big Picture ◦ Romantic VIEW OF MAN: ◦ Focus on the individual and his inner world (imagination and emotions).

Dark Romanticism ◦ “Dark Romantics are much less confident about the notion perfection is an innate quality of mankind, as believed by Transcendentalists. “ ◦ Dark Romantics present individuals as prone to sin and self-destruction, not as inherently possessing divinity and wisdom.

Edgar Allen Poe ◦ Never really knew is parents. Mom died when he was three and dad left the family ◦ n late 1830 s, Poe published Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, a collection of stories. ◦ contained most of Poe’s tales, including "The Fall of the House of Usher, " "Ligeia" and "William Wilson. "

Cont’d ◦ Poe launched the new genre of detective fiction with 1841's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue. " A writer on the rise, he won a literary prize in 1843 for "The Gold Bug, " a suspenseful tale of secret codes and hunting treasure. ◦ became a literary sensation in 1845 with the publication of the poem "The Raven. " It is considered a great American literary work and one of the best of Poe's career. ◦ Poe explored some of his common themes—death and loss. An unknown narrator laments the demise of his great love Lenore.

Herman Melville • Herman Melville, the third child of Allan and Maria Gansevoort Melvill's eight, was born into a socially connected New York family. • mid-1830 s, Melville had already begun writing, but continued financial problems for the family forced Herman to focus primarily on work. • Moby Dick was finally published in London in October 1851 and a month later in America, but it brought its author neither acclaim nor reward. •

The Whale • Moby Dick was finally published in London in October 1851 and a month later in America, but it brought its author neither acclaim nor reward. • After his death, Moby Dick finally earned critical acclaim

Works Cited ◦ "Dark Romanticism. " - New World Encyclopedia. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. ◦ "Melville, Herman. " Melville Biography. Web. 28 Apr. 2016. ◦ "Romanticism. " - New World Encyclopedia. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.