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Romantic Elements

Romantic Elements. Romanticism. When you think “Romantics” DON”T think of “romance”! The literary term “Romanticism” is very different from what “romantic” commonly means today. It’s not hearts and flowers It’s imagination and an emphasis on the individual and nature.

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Romantic Elements

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  1. Romantic Elements

  2. Romanticism • When you think “Romantics” DON”T think of “romance”! • The literary term “Romanticism” is very different from what “romantic” commonly means today. • It’s not hearts and flowers • It’s imagination and an emphasis on the individual and nature

  3. How did the Romantics Begin? • Puritans came to New World in 1620. Remember that Colonial Era literature is written for the purpose of survival • Ex: Letters, legal documents, journals, etc. • By 1776, we were in the Revolutionary War. Writing was linked with forming a national identity. • Ex: brochures, pamphlets, political information, short fiction, etc.

  4. How did the Romantics Begin? • Many historians view the Romantic era as beginning between 1785 and 1798. • During this era, some authors, decided to ignore/avoid the political topics, and focus on different ideas (specifically nature) in their writings. • They were turning away from the values and ideas of the previous era, embracing new ways of expressing their imagination and feelings.

  5. Who were the Romantics? • Instead of a concentration on "head," the intellectual focus of reason, they preferred to rely on the self, in the radical idea of individual freedom. • This was a reaction to the Enlightenment • Instead of striving for perfection, the Romantics preferred "the glory of the imperfect."

  6. Interest in the common man and childhood • The main characters are average, “every man” characters. • People are naturally good; childhood is good • Urban life interferes with human goodness • Picture – In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” the main character is a simple school teacher…

  7. Strong senses, emotions, and feelings • Knowledge is gained through intuition, not deduction • Poetry is the “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” • Picture – Poe often wrote about intense emotions and being driven mad because of them…

  8. Love of Nature • People find meaning in life through a connection with nature • Romantic lit often features nature as a setting • Example: Melville’s adventure tales often take place on the sea

  9. Celebration of the Individual • Admired the achievements of the misunderstood, heroic individual outcast. • Picture – In “The Minister’s Black Veil”, the main character understands a spiritual concept that the rest of the community cannot grasp.

  10. Importance of Imagination • Stories include fantastic elements (things that can’t be true) • Might also involve exotic settings and supernatural elements • Picture – Rip Van Winkle’s adventure…

  11. Gothic Elements • strange and terrifying events • medieval-like settings • distortion of reality • insanity • dark side of human nature • supernatural • Example: Poe

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