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The American Romantic Hero. Characteristics of the Romantic Hero. Clich é d rather than well rounded The embodiment of ideas A flawed character. Characteristics cont. The American Romantic Hero has qualities that can be found in the beliefs of the Romantics. Characteristics cont.
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Characteristics of the Romantic Hero • Clichéd rather than well rounded • The embodiment of ideas • A flawed character
Characteristics cont. The American Romantic Hero has qualities that can be found in the beliefs of the Romantics.
Characteristics cont. • Individual • Youthful • Instinctive • Utilizes humor based on a higher principal
Characteristics cont. • Nature • Key to the Romantic Hero • Avoids the city • Derives knowledge from experiences and nature • Truth • Finds truth in nature
American Romantic Novel • Different from European Romantic novels • Created a new and unusual American style • American novels ventured into unexplored territories
Birth of Romantic Hero • James Fenimore Cooper • Father of the American Novel • Wrote of the American Frontier • The Leatherstockings Tales • Natty Bumppo http://www.biography.com/articles/James-Fenimore-Cooper-9256602
Natty Bumppo • First American Romantic Hero • Character in many of Cooper’s novels • Leatherstockings • Pioneers • Deerslayer • Has stark integrity http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/COOPER/indian.html
Natty Bumppo cont. • One with nature • Has extraordinary ingenuity • Cooper combines Indian spirit with frontiersman mentality • “Nobel Savage”
Natty as an Indian • Appearance • Deer-skin moccasin • Long unkempt hair • Represents the Indian antithesis who kills in cold blood while celebrating nature
Natty as an Indian cont. • Befriends Delaware Chief Chingachgook • Typical Romance Indian • Natty’s opposite • Eventually takes on characteristics of Chingachgook • With Chingachgook’s death, Natty fleas society escaping its captivity
Natty as the Frontiersman • Natty represents the linguistic switch from the rationalist thinking to the creation of the American dream • Symbol of the natural man • Caught in the adapting American society
runningredskins.blogspot.com Rip Van Winkle • Prolonged sleep sheltered and ostracized him from society • Upon awakening Rip encounters trouble conforming to the new society • Laziness helps cause separation from society • Involved with nature
Modern Romantic Heroes • Today authors still write about the American Romantic Hero • Popular examples are • Superman • Luke Skywalker • Indiana Jones superman-picture.com
Works Cited • Dekker, Geroge G. “James Fenimore Cooper.”Biography Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.biography.com/articles/James-Fenimore- Cooper-9256602>. • Grimes, Geoffrey A. "Basic Concept: Primitivism and the Noble Savage."English 2327: Survey of American Literature. Mountain View Coll, 27 Aug.2004. Web. 29 Mar. 2010.<http://www.distancelearningassociates.com/ eng2327/BC-Primitivism.html>. • Kayden. “How Might Rip Van Winkle Be Seen as a Model American Romantic Hero?”Enotes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/rip-van/q-and-a/how- might-rip-van-winkle-seen-model-american-16475>.
Works Cited • “A New Kind of Hero.”Elements of Literature. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1997. 147-50. Print. • Stevens, Jason. “The American Romantic Hero.”Hoffman Estates High School. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.hehs.d211.org/people/stevensj/classes/E302/ Assignments_Activities/Romanticism/american_romantic_h ero.htm>. • Sullivan. “American Romanticism.” PPT file. • University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences. "Natty Bumppo."JamesFenimore Cooper. U of Virginia, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010.<http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/COOPER/bumppo.html>. • Unknown. “American Romanticism.” PPT file.