Romanticism and Transcendentalism in 19th century America

1. Unit 2 American Romanticism Transcendentalism 1800-1860

2. Historical, Social, and Cultural ForcesThe Industrial Revolution • The Industrial Revolution started in Britain and spread to the United States. • Manufacturing shifted from skilled manual labor to large complex machines causing economic growth and change. • The steamboat and railroad revolutionized transportation. • The Industrial Revolution divided the nation into the North and South. The North had large cities and factories. The South had few large cities and one cash crop- cotton.

3. Historical, Social, and Cultural ForcesThe Age of Reform • Idealistic Americans brought about many reforms during the 1820’s and 1830’s. • Many were inspired by the Second Great Awakening. • Americans joined together to end slavery, stop drunkenness, secure women’s rights, provide better care for the mentally ill and improve prisons.

4. Roots of RomanticismOptimism and Individualism • Romantic writers valued imagination and feeling over intellect and reason. • Some were optimists and believed in the basic goodness in people, equality, and the right to self-govern. • Others were pessimists and focused on the dark and bad aspects of human nature and the world. • Author to know—Ralph Waldo Emerson

5. Roots of RomanticismKinship with Nature • Many romantics also believed in the importance of nature. • Instead of being a wilderness to be tamed, Romantics celebrated the beauty, power and wonder of nature. They also stressed the value of nature as a spiritual and moral guide for mankind. • Author to know—Henry David Thoreau

6. Roots of RomanticismThe Power of Darkness • Many Romantics focused on the dark side of human nature such as emotions, evil, and insanity. • They were also fascinated by remote periods and places making these the setting of many works. • Gothic literature emphasizes the unknown and inspires fear. • Author to know – Edgar Allan Poe

7. Works to Remember • “Self-Reliance” –Emerson • “Civil Disobedience” – Thoreau • The Scarlet Letter –Hawthorne • Moby Dick –Melville • Frankenstein –Mary Shelley (woman writer) • “The Raven” and “The Pit and the Pendulum”-- Poe

8. Literary Terms • Theme- the central message of a work of literature that readers can apply to life. • Argument- form of persuasion that uses logic, reasons, and evidence. • Assonance- repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds. • Consonance- repetition of the consonant sounds, typically at the end of non-rhyming words.