19 th Century American Literature

1. 19th Century American Literature 1800-1870

2. Historical background • 16 east coast states • Louisiana Purchase brought about rapid growth of nation • Improved transportation from canals, turnpikes, railroads • More direct control of government with “People’s President” Andrew Jackson • Rails linked east and west • Technological advances—factories, steel plow, reaper, telegraph • Slavery still divided nation

3. Literature of the period • Before 1800, American writers were not widely read • Writers of this period defined the American voice • Primary theme—the quest of the individual to define him or herself

4. romanticism • Don’t be mislead—not the hearts and flowers definition of romantic • Romanticism means the focus on feelings, emotions, and intuition over reason • Romanticism is the opposite of the rationalism of the Revolutionary Period • First great and enduring American fiction grew from the romanticism of this period • 2 paths of American Romanticism—Dark Romantics (or Gothics) and Nature Romantics

5. American Romanticism • Dark Romantics • Focus on the dark, irrational, exotic side of the human mind • Edgar Allen Poe • Nathaniel Hawthorne • Nature Romantics • Focus on the profound love of and appreciation for the natural world • Ralph Waldo Emerson • Henry David Thoreau

6. New england renaissance • Ralph Waldo Emerson called for the intellectual independence from Great Britain • This brought about an “impressive burst of literary activity in and around Boston between 1840-1855…”

7. transcendentalism • Go beyond daily life—literally to transcend—and rely on some higher power or one’s intuition of that which “lies beyond direct experience” • Religion may impact this way of thinking and writing • “The real truths…the most fundamental truths lie outside the experience of the senses…”

8. Fireside poets • Popular group of poets whose works were read and recited around the fire at night as family entertainment • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow • James Russell Lowell • John Greenleaf Whittier • Oliver Wendall Holmes

9. Washington irving • Life • Named after President Washington • Studied law • Travelled New York’s Hudson Valley • His popular stories have become an important art of American literary heritage • Literature • Wrote satirical essays • DiedrichNickerbocker • “legend of Sleepy Hollow” • “Rip Van Winkle” • “Devil and Tom Walker”

10. Edgar allenpoe • Life • Dark and dismal life • Poor, father abandoned him, mother died • Taken in by wealthy Allen family • Gambler, addictions, depression, madness • Literature • Writing did not make him $ or famous • Inventor of detective story • Great mystery writer • Popular among readers • “Fall of the House of Usher”

11. Nathaniel hawthorne • Life • Ancestor’s took part in Salem Witch Trials • Gave him a gloomy view of life and an inherited sense of guilt • Literature • Secluded himself and wrote after college • Scarlet Letter considered his masterpiece • “The Minister’s Black Veil”

12. Ralph waldoemerson • Life • Harvard, then became minister • Lecturer • Mingled with “country’s most important thinkers” • Literature • One of the most quoted writers in American literature • Considered himself more of a poet • From Of Nature • From Self Reliance