...American Romanticism Defining American Romanticism: * Literature written between 1830s and 1865 (Civil War). * Considered the first illustration of American literary genius. * Birth of the American novel * Gothic Lit Frankenstein, Supernatural, Grotesque * Romanticism: Nature over the city , Individual over society ,Emotion over Reality * Jacksonian democracy * Andrew Jackson * ‘democracy’ as defined today comes from Jackson. * Triumph of the ‘common man’ was seen as a challenge to the aristocracy and beginning of an egalitarian society. * Romantic Writers See the World as an organic and interrelated. * Whitman invents free verse (practiced by other Romantic poets * He believed that everything is alive and interrelated. * Disregarded meter, rhyme schemes, and traditional forms. Romantic Hero: * Youthful * Innocent and pure of purpose * Idealistic with a sense of honor based on some higher principle – onot on society’s rules. * Possesses unique/remarkable skills * Quests for some higher truth in the natural world * Has knowledge of people and life based on deep, intuitive understanding – not on formal learning. * Rejects conformity * Loves nature and avoids the masses Elements of Romanticism: * Nature inspiring wisdom * Exotic setting * Emotion and feeling over reason * Distrust of civilization and progress * Supernatural * Intuition...
Words: 278 - Pages: 2
...I felt the battle within my own heart between human nature and the holy nature of God. These two paradigms- the paganistic focus on one's self within the world and the dogmatic observance of faith that is "in but not of" this world is the very root conflict of romanticism. Romanticism says to follow your heart and say yes to your desires. Religion, particularly Christianity, says to follow the law and deny your desires. So, therein lies the conundrum. The famous poets, artists, musicians, and politicians who followed their hearts towards greatness found that, in greatness, there is not always righteousness, for one can be both terrible and great. The gray area found within Christianity, the mystery of the spirit and the beauty of nature- this is where I believe we find Romanticism. It resides between greatness and humility and in the places where we are left to fill in the blanks with our personal experience and understanding. Those from history who have lived in this mysterious and spiritual place, who shared their experience through the arts and great revolutions so that the world may bear witness- these are the men and women who defined...
Words: 1747 - Pages: 7
...Symbolism The period of romanticism is the period after the Enlightenment era and it deals with many concepts and such as symbolism, individualism, myths and emotion. The literature of this period was not just concentrated on the theory of romantics with the thought of love being the center of romanticism even though some of the works may be about love and affection, plenty of works like those assigned deal with different types of romanticism. Williams Wordsworth shows romanticism with his different uses of symbols in his writings and the same can be seen with works done by Leo Tolstoy. The lines that are taken out of the Tintern Abbey, he speaks about the light and darkness and describes them in certain ways. The “joyless daylight” (Wordsworth, 436) represents the truth and the light helps an individual see the truth. Sometimes the truth may not be what the individual wants to see and the darkness that he mentions represents hiding the truth from people and whoever the individual may be making them feel better. The symbolism he uses shows a grim type of romanticism that the period brings into sight. The next piece of literature would be the works from Leo Tolstoy. Like William Wordsworth, it shows a grim type of symbolism in the piece of The Death of Ivan Ilyich. The story gives symbolism that can be analyzed with the five stages of death developed by Elisabeth Kubler Ross. The different stages can be seen throughout the story showing symbols of him going through the...
Words: 509 - Pages: 3
...to show American Romanticism. Throughout the parable, Hathorne continues to use symbols to create the theme. Hawthorne portrays romanticism by utilizing Mr. Hooper who chooses to wear a veil until death. The most important symbol in “The Minister’s Black Veil,” is the veil itself. The Puritan community feels uncomfortable seeing Mr. Hooper wearing the black veil, but Mr. Hooper believes everyone should wear one, thus creating American Romanticism. Throughout Hawthorne’s parable “The Minister's Black Veil,” he shows romanticism by addressing the reactions of the whole Puritan community and their concern about the wickedness of the black veil. Although the Puritan...
Words: 1147 - Pages: 5
...Running head: IWT1* HUMANITIES ASSIGNMENT RIWT Task 1 Tracy Amerson, RN Western Governors University Abstract This paper will discuss and analyze creativity as the continuation of, or as a reaction to, an earlier historical art period. We will be looking at the Romanticism period and the Neoclassicism period. We will discuss the relationships between the two periods as well as the differences and how one period originated in reaction to the other period. ASSIGNMENT RIWT Task 1 Art has revolved around all different eras and periods of time. Art has been around since the beginning of time and has branched off into many sectors. Works of art vary from genres and time periods to specific types. I chose to compare the Romanticism Period and the Neoclassicism Period. The term Neoclassicism refers to the classical revival in European art, architecture, and interior design that lasted from the mid-eighteenth to the early nineteenth century. This period gave rebirth to the art of ancient Rome and Greece and the Renaissance as an opposition to the ostentatious Baroque and Rococo art that preceded the movement. Neoclassicism emphasized courage, sacrifice, nationalism and tradition. Neoclassical artists incorporated classical styles and subjects, including columns, pediments, friezes, and other ornamental schemes into their work. They were inspired by the works of Homer and Plutarch and John Flaxmann’s illustrations for the Illiad and Odyssey. Also...
Words: 1254 - Pages: 6
...Nancy Blair Robert Long American Intercontinental University For a change, I am going to go out on a limb and talk about a subject that could and will bring out all sorts of things about you to the fore front, romanticism. These topics are all too often eluded because of our vulnerability, but let us examine this further. This movement began as an artistic and intellectual movement, that underscored a disgust against established values (you know social order and religion). This specific style instead exalted individualism, subjectivism, irrationalism, imagination, emotions and nature, this also valued emotion reason and senses over intellect. The Romanticism era was during 1790 – 1850 and during this era, these artists and theorists of the time were in rebellion against the existing social hierarchy and they favored the restoration of potentially unlimited number of artistic styles (basically anything that aroused their senses or imagination). Some of the artists that were of that era were William Blake, Henry Fuseli, Francisco de Goya, and Eugene Delacroix just to name a few of the big names of this time frame. Some of the works of art that were done during this time were; “The Tyger” by William Blake c. 1793, “Abel” also by William Blake of 1825. Another was done by an artist named, Eugene Delacroix, The Death Sardanapal in 1827 – 28. This information was found in the article by Charles Moffat – 2006, updated November 2010 “Romanticism”. Web site information found...
Words: 732 - Pages: 3
...Heidegger's Experiment," Washington Irving's "The Devil and Tom Walker," and Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" show characteristics of the American Romantic Age. All of these stories have an emphasis on emotions rather than intellect and tend to reject realism and accept idealism. In Hawthorne's tale, he writes of an eccentric Dr. Heidegger who invites four of his elderly friends to his study to partake in one of his new experiments. This story exemplifies romanticism because it is highly imaginative and far-fetched. An acquaintance of the doctor discovers the fabled Fountain of Youth and sends him a vase full of its water. He asks his guests, eager to relive their glory days, to drink the magical concoction. Romanticism focuses on human nature and how humans inevitably sin and feel guilty. Each of the four...
Words: 570 - Pages: 3
...30 Jun 2013 The beginning of American literature was when the Puritans came to America. Most of the literature was written on their involvement with the Native Americans and how the settlers worked the new found land. Then the literature works changed to Neoclassical writing and the Age of Enlightenment. Then writing changed to Transcendentalism and Romanticism. This paper will discuss the evolution of writing from weeks 9-weeks 14, differences between Transcendentalism and Romanticism and some of the themes discussed. “Transcendentalism and Romanticism were two literary movements that occurred in America during roughly the same time period (1840—1860). Even though the two have surface similarities, such as their reverence for Nature; however their founding beliefs were quite different. One of the huge differences is their views of God and God’s role in the lives of people. Transcendentalism was set mainly on the proposal that God is an inner might and that, as His creations, each person and everything have within them this divine spark. Furthermore Transcendentalism draws inspiration from the beyond or external to the human perspective even beyond reasoning and normal traditions. Romanticism, then again, had somewhat less to do with God. God, when mentioned, was seen as an external force as opposed to a divine spark contained in human nature. Romanticism was concerned with the grotesque as well as the sublime, and literary works of this genre are often concerned with the...
Words: 840 - Pages: 4
...Neoclassicism and Romanticism are two eras that had a profound impact on art. Two examples of the impact are in The Peale Family by Charles Willson Peale and The Oxbow by Thomas Cole. These american paintings demonstrate the humanistic foundation of Neoclassicism and Romanticism extremely well. The Peale Family by Charles Willson Peale demonstrates many attributes of American Enlightenment/Romanticism era paintings. The painting depicts the painter's family and maid around a table. Many if the children in the painting became famous painters themselves including: Rembrandt Peale, Raphaelle Peale, and Titian Peale. Although the painting could be divided into different camps, all of the family members are connected via hand or shoulder...
Words: 370 - Pages: 2
...When asked to name works of the Romantic Movement, one may mention works such as Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter, or Poe’s, “The Raven.” These works, while both romantic, are American. However, the Romantic Movement actually began in Europe, with books such as Goethe’s, The Sorrows of Young Werther, and others. The American Romantic movement was influenced from the European gothic style of writing; the American writer, Washington Irving acts as a bridge, displaying this style in his works, and essentially sparking the American Romantic movement. Of course, to start a movement so widespread, Irving needed inspiration; fortunately, his trip to Europe included scores of opportunities for such, and played an integral role Irving’s starting of the American Romantic Movement. Specifically, one such inspiration he picked up from Europe was the habit of keeping journals. Irving’s journals became one of his most prized possessions, and in them, he was constantly trying to improve on his writing. (Williams). Another source of inspiration for Irving was the European myths and legends that he learned of. In fact, “Irving's most important friendship in Granada, both now and during his second visit in 1829, was with this Spanish peasant, Mateo Ximénez, who acted as his guide and who told him many tales which later appeared in Irving book. (The Alhambra 1832)” (Williams) (22) “Irving wanders into the town of Sleepy Hollow, New York, and is told of the story of the Headless Horseman, also...
Words: 820 - Pages: 4
...American Realism The Civil War tore the country apart. Once America was reunited in 1865, there was a lot of healing that needed to take place to correct the wounds Americans had suffered at the hands of their kin. In these years there were still a lot of questions to answer and still a lot of truth to be found out about the nation itself. The questions of the place of African-Americans, white Americans, political Americans and every other kind of American out there was a source for constant frustration and violence. This is the background and the huge dust storm that American Realism rose out of. Prior to the Civil War, America was knee deep in the Romantic Movement which included writers such as Hawthorne, Thoreau, Melville, Poe and Whitman. Their writings focused on the puritan aspects of their ancestors or of the dark romance and psychological perspectives writers such as Poe and Melville used. However, after the war, this movement began to fade and Realism increased as the choice reading of the people. This was due to multiple events and changes in culture that led to Americans looking for something better to relate to. The first event was the end of the Civil War. The Civil War showed the violent intentions men had towards each other and also showed the vulnerability of men and the nation and how ungodly man actually was. However, Realism did not begin immediately after the Civil War but rather took off in the 1880’s. So what happened in the 1880’s then? The 1880’s...
Words: 1743 - Pages: 7
...Throughout the Grapes Of Wrath, author John Steinbeck incorporates an adequate amount of Realism as well as Romanticism within his novel. Although these philosophies are brought upon the audience, Steinbeck prominently bases of The Grapes of Wrath upon a substantial use of Artistic Romanticism, through the similarity between the themes as well literally devices. Steinbeck stress the use of literally devices throughout the novel which establishes The Grapes of Wrath philosophy of Artistic Romanticism and Realism. Artistic Romanticism is based upon the romantic viewpoint of a particular outlook on the relations among God, Nature, and the individual manifested meaning. Throughout the novel of “Romanticism and Transcendentalism” the author is capable of unveiling the abstract meaning behind the philosophies of Romanticism. Romanticism was an not just an artistic movement but also, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution (Holman, Hugh M. "Definitions of Romanticism."). In literature, Romanticism has been found through recurrent themes of advocating criticism of the past. As well as in the novel (Phillips, Jerry, Andrew Ladd, and Michael Anesko. Romanticism and Transcendentalism) the author touches base on multiple in-depth examples and meaning of Romanticism and how it has developed throughout the 1800-1860. The author also speaks of the effects it had on literature...
Words: 1306 - Pages: 6
...Romanticism (literature), a movement in the literature of virtually every country of Europe, the United States, and Latin America that lasted from about 1750 to about 1870, characterized by reliance on the imagination and subjectivity of approach, freedom of thought and expression, and an idealization of nature. The term romantic first appeared in 18th-century English and originally meant “romancelike”—that is, resembling the fanciful character of medieval romances. II ORIGINS AND INSPIRATION By the late 18th century in France and Germany, literary taste began to turn from classical and neoclassical conventions (see Classic, Classical, and Classicism). Inspiration for the romantic approach initially came from two great shapers of thought, French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau and German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. A The Romantic Spirit Rousseau established the cult of the individual and championed the freedom of the human spirit; his famous announcement was “I felt before I thought.” Goethe and his compatriots, philosopher and critic Johann Gottfried von Herder and historian Justus Möser, provided more formal precepts and collaborated on a group of essays entitled Von deutscher Art und Kunst (Of German Style and Art, 1773). In this work the authors extolled the romantic spirit as manifested in German folk songs, Gothic architecture, and the plays of English playwright William Shakespeare. Goethe sought to imitate Shakespeare's free and untrammeled style...
Words: 1876 - Pages: 8
...19th Century Romanticism The movement began in England, Germany and France and later spread at a phenomenal speed. There were three main components to Romanticism: Religion, Nationalism, and Literature. According to Romantic Art, 2003, the two movements that fought their way to the top in the 19th century were Classicism and Thriving all over the globe, Romanticism made its mark on the history of art. Romanticism. The major difference between the two movements is the focus on nature and the reason behind it. Classicism focuses on nature and how to understand it with reason and thought. Romanticism however, focuses on nature and how to understand it spiritually. The Romantic Art movement lasted from about 1815-1848 and more specifically focused on individualism, imagination, irrationalism, emotions and the triumph of emotions over reason and senses over intellect. Some artists’ work even focused on the mysterious, the occult, the diseased and even satanic, which ties into the religious component of romanticism. In most paintings, the artists would portray their religious interest in the form of symbols, such as cathedrals or crosses and created the mood or attitude towards religion by conducting the color scheme to elicit an emotional response from the viewer. In artistic terms, to try and elicit an emotional response by the viewer is called Expressionism, which is a movement within a movement; romanticism. During the romantic era, art was not the only idea stirring in...
Words: 944 - Pages: 4
...Romanticism and Realism Cheryl Hert Western Governors University Romanticism vs. Realism The French Revolution brought about enormous change in the world. With the collapse of the absolute monarchy, the rules of society began to shift in favor of the common people. Under the new laws writers and artists were given a considerable amount of freedom to express themselves which did well to pave the way to set a high standard for literature (Gregory, 1915). During the time following the French Revolution, two very different styles of Art were formed; Romanticism emerged in 1820 and lasted until 1865. Realism then took over in 1865 and lasted until 1914. Although the two have very different characteristics, they both share the same beliefs in liberalism and the dignity of the common man. Romanticism evolved at the end of the 18th century as a reaction to the classical, formal compositions of Neoclassicism. Neoclassicism was based on reason, tradition, rules and order. Romantics believed the individual was more important than society, and with the Age of Industrialism upon them, they began to revolt against the conventional beliefs. Romantics viewed industrialization as an attack on humankind as well as Mother Nature. They believed that the industrial revolution was changing the natural order of man, who belonged in the country (Brown, n.d.). Romanticism had no “laws or rules” to follow. Romantic artist preferred emotion over reason,...
Words: 1017 - Pages: 5
