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American Romanticism. Was life after the Revolution boring?. Well…technically. It was surrounded by wars! Seven Year’s War (1756 -1763) French and Indian War (1754-1763) American Revolution (1775-1783) French Revolution (1789-1799). annnnnnd…. It was surrounded by controversy!
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American Romanticism Was life after the Revolution boring?
Well…technically • It was surrounded by wars! • Seven Year’s War (1756 -1763) • French and Indian War (1754-1763) • American Revolution (1775-1783) • French Revolution (1789-1799)
annnnnnd…. • It was surrounded by controversy! • Revolutions • Enlightenment • Rationalism • Deism • Basic changes in thinking! • Ideas were getting thrown around that were never even considered before!
Remember though • This time was about freedom! • Freedom of person! Thought! Religion! etc. • So what did people do with all of this freedom? • Well they didn’t at first • People branched out to new things • Writing how they wanted to write and for who they wanted to write for!
This is where Romanticism comes in… • Journal Entry: Based upon how I led you here through the previous power point slides, what is Romanticism? What do you think Romantics wrote about?
Romanticism • There really is no all-encompassing definition • The main comes from the interest in aestheticism • Aestheticism- the branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, with the creation and appreciation of beauty • Focus away from humans and towards nature
Romanticism part 2 • We start with the natural and we see where that takes us • People were experiencing freeing emotions both good and bad with the newfound freedom • Emotions of Nature – how aesthetically pleasing nature is with regards to human emotion • It can please, frighten, numb, pain, blind, tickle…Nature can influence a lot of human emotion
Romantic Art • John Trumbull - US
Symbols • Alright, so we have aestheticism • Something evoking emotion • Now add symbolic thinking to this as well • Symbol – something that represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it • A symbol communicates a meaning.
Romantic Symbols • Nature = Beauty • Natural reactions = emotion • The interpreting of these natural images, whether through paintings, poetry, books, or other means of entertainment
Romantic Hero • A focus on the individual, rather than the collective: unique…eccentric • One person to break away from the mold and become a valuable or hurtful asset to society. • Stories based upon one person, not a group of people • The Scarlet Letter, The Devil and Tom Walker
Tragic Flaw • Greek: Hamartia • One thing wrong with the individual that ends up being their undoing • Overly ambitious, too happy, too sad, depressed…usually obvious • One defining quality • Undoing does not mean death…perhaps losing of their position in the world
Washington Irving • April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859 • Mostly lived in New York • Considered the first American Romantic • Wrote some stories you know • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow • Rip Van Winkle • All of his stories have a lot to do with the Appalachian area
Irving 2 • Irving was obsessed with the supernatural • Took myths and legends from Dutch and German folklore • Elves, Dwarves, Enchanted forests • Combined with his love for the surrounding New York countryside • He was also interested in writing about the corruption of man
