Transcript TRANSCENDENTALISM

ROMANTICISM
1800-1860S
OBJECTIVES AND GOALS FOR THE UNIT



RL 11.2: Determine two or more themes or ideas central to the
text and analyze the development; summarize text
RL11.4: Determine meaning of words/phrases used in text –
figurative lang., connotative meanings – how words affect tone
and meaning, symbolism, motif.
RL 11.9: Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth, nineteenth,
and early twentieth century foundational works of American
literature, including how two or more texts from the same
period treat similar themes or topics
LIT TERMS TO KNOW IN THIS UNIT


Tone
Motif

The attitude (emotion) of
the author or narrator.
Then tone is an emotion
word.

is an event or image that is
repeatedly used, to
reinforce the theme of a
work and to the draw the
reader's attention to a
particular event or idea.
LITERATURE TERMS TO KNOW IN THIS UNIT

Symbol

A thing that represents or
stands for something
else, esp. a material
object representing
something abstract.

Symbolism

Use of symbols to help
develop the theme

Figurative Language

Imagery, sensory details,
symbolism, metaphor,
motif, simile,
personification,
onomatopoeia

Theme

The central idea(s) or
purpose(s) of a text, seen
through motif, symbolism,
tone, plot, and
characterization
CHARACTERISTICS

Characteristics of the
Romantic Era (Major
Themes/Motifs in the
literature)





- Distrust of “Civilization”
- Nostalgia for the past
- Concern with the
Individual Freedom
- Interest in the
Supernatural
- Profound love for
beauties of natural
landscape.

More Characteristics of
Romanticism




- Innocence
- Anti-Industrialism
- Spontaneous overflow
of emotion recollected in
tranquility
- Imagination
HISTORY

Rationalism vs.
Romanticism



- Reaction to rationalism
and the Age of Reason
- Imagination able to
discover truths that
Reason could not reach
- Truths accompanied by
powerful emotion and
associated with beauty
SUB-GENRE OF ROMANTICISM: TRANSCENDENTALISM

Definition

In order to understand
the ultimate reality of
God, the universe, the
self, and other important
matters, one must
transcend, or go beyond
everyday human
experience in the
physical world using
intuition and
imagination.

Intuition

The chief aim is to become
fully aware not only of what
our senses record, but also to
recognize the ability of our
inner voice—our intuition—to
wisely and correctly interpret
the sensory input.

Individualism

One aspect of individualism is
the value of the individual over
society. To "transcend" society
one must first be able to look
past and beyond it. One must
follow his instincts and not
conform to what society
dictates. Although society will
influence an individual towards
conformity, it is important to
remain true to one's self and to
one's identity. Secondly,
individualism includes being
self-reliant.

Emerson and Nature

In his essay, "Nature," Emerson
explained how every idea has its
source in natural phenomena,
and that the attentive person
can "see" those ideas in nature.
ANTI-TRANSCENDENTALISM



Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, and Herman Melville
Unlike Emerson and transcendentalism, their view of the world
lacked optimism. They saw a dark side to human existence and
recorded this aspect of human nature in their works.
Similarities to transcendentalism: valued intuition over reason,
saw signs and symbols in events, spiritual facts lie behind physical
appearances.
POE



- Poe’s lit. about the workings
of the human mind; master or
suspense/horror
- He most desired to cut free
from reality or actually enter
into the world of the
imagination
- Poe used his stories to show
readers the truth that lies in
the dark and irrational depths
of the human mind




- Poe is the father of Dark
Romanticism
- Poe is a Gothic writer
- Gothic novels feature
mysterious settings and
elements of the bizarre and
supernatural
- Poe wrote the first detective
story – Inspired Doyle to
create Sherlock Holmes
GOTHIC LITERATURE



Include highly charged
emotional states like: terror, a
feeling that one is on the brink
of insanity, anger, agitation, an
exaggerated feeling of some
impending doom, and
obsessive love.
Supernatural events: ghosts,
doors that open themselves,
unexplained sounds, etc.
Damsels in distress are
frequent. Women who are
frightened and confused,
wandering around lost, or
dying due to a slow and
unexplainable ailment.




Settings- include large, drafty
old houses that have "been in
the family for years."
Atmosphere of mystery and
suspense
A ghostly legend, an
unexplainable occurrence, or
a story about a horrible death
or murder .
Omens, foreshadowing, and
dreams usually play a large
role in the mysterious air that
is created within the story.
GOTHIC LITERATURE

Gothic Lit


Words designed to evoke
images of gloom and doom:
dark, foreboding, forbidding,
ghostly, etc.
Romantic themes often
involve the death of a man or
woman in the throes of some
great passion, the obsessive
nature of a man or woman in
love, or excessive grief one
feels upon the loss of a loved
one.
WORKS CITED

Arpin, Gary. “American Romanticism.” Elements of Literature, 5th Course.
Austin: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston, 2000. 138-150.

Brulatour, Meg. “Transcendental Ideas: Definitions.” Virginia
Commonwealth University. Web. 12 October 2011.

“Transcendentalism, Anti-Transcendentalism and the Dark Romantics.”
Arcadia School System. Powerpoint. 12 Ocotober 2011.
teachers.ausd.net/classlink/getfile.ausd?fileid=65679