American Romanticism

1800-1855Sub-unit A: The Early Romantics and Fireside Poets

The literature of the romantic period was molded by the great events that preceded it. • “___________________”:

Americans felt it was their destiny to ____________ ________ and take control of all of the ___________ west to ___________________ and south to __________.– Desire for _____________

______________ drove the American expansion.

– This meant pushing the ______________________ off of their land and even fighting ____________ for control over ___________ ___________________________________________.

- Some Americans felt this appeared too similar to _____________________.

• As the _______________ _________________ grew out of hand, the once majestic, untouched, magical ____________________ of America began to become a thing of the past, falling behind the burgeoning ___________ of the future.

• The ________________ ___________________:

____________________ _____ and the necessity of _____________ pushed America into the Industrial Revolution.

• This was a time of “business boom” in America where commerce moved from __________________ (farming) to __________________ (manufacturing products by machines).

• Since there were more jobs in industry than in farming, and more factories in cities than in small towns, people flocked from the country and swarmed into the cities.– Cities began to ________________

(thus leading to more westward expansion)

– Workers had __________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ (including VERY small children).

– This showed a lack of ____________ in the industry. America became wrapped up in money and possessions.

America became torn over ____________________ and people began to cry out for ______________________. • Tension over

_______________ began to rise: the industrial revolution led to a need for more cotton, thus more slaves to work the farms. Every new territory added to the country through the expansion added to the tug-of-war between the north and the south over _______________ _________________________________________________________.

• The rights of ______________ and ___________________ became an important issue: – Women were little more than a

man’s possession and weren’t allowed to vote, serve on juries, or get a real education. Women even lacked control over their own children. Many fought at this time for equality.

– Workers suffered in poor conditions in the vastly expanding Industrial Revolution. Advocates fought to create workers’ unions to gain more rights.

___________________ vs. ____________________:• ______________________:

the belief that __________ ______________________ should be placed ahead of regional concerns.

• Because of the “nationalism” movement, writers began to abandon the old English ways of doing things and ________ ____________________________________________.

• This was the beginning of what we consider today to be distinctively _________ ______________________. – This was our chance to

have American writing and to not just copy Britain’s achievements.

• However, the differences which ___________________ ________________________ became more potent than ever.

• The south had to buy products from the north which were overpriced, making southerners feel they were ___________________ ________________________ by the northerners.

• The north felt the south’s use of ___________________________.

• _____________________, or the placing of interests of one’s own region ahead of the nation as a whole, began to become more powerful than our still young “nationalism.”

The Early Romantics – A Response to All of This History• Emphasized __________________ and the

_______________________ over _______________– ____________________ was the most important means of

finding the truth• Youthful _________________ was more respected than a

high ____________________– Embraced emotions and imagination in their writing, even

showing a fascination with seeing the world as ________________ and ________________________.

– This was a revolt against the _________________ of the Age of Reason and the _____________ doctrines of Puritanism• Romanticism distrusts __________________• Has an important basis in faith and _____________

______________ over _______________________.

Elements of Romanticism (cont.)• Were inspired by the beauty of _________________– The untamed American _________________ was

perfect for inspiring the imagination. – Direct reaction to the “taming” of the once wild

American landscape which was occurring in the westward expansion and the overcrowding occurring in the urban industrial areas. • A Romantic story/character would __________

the __________________________________ _____________________________________.

• Celebrated the ________________________ spirit– Supports the importance of the individual and

people’s ______________________.– Led to the moral writings of the Romantic

authors/poets.

The Fireside Poets• These were New England poets

whose work was ____________________ uplifting and _____________________ engaging.

• Their work: – Emphasized ____________

themes– Stressed _______________

and an appreciation of nature – Was viewed as ___________

to that of British poets of the day

– Was committed to __________________• Specifically,

_______________, _______________, and improvement of ______________ conditions.

• The poets of this unit we’ll be reading are William Cullen Bryant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Homework:

• Study for your Stems Quiz 2 (NEXT CLASS!).• Optional Extra Credit Homework: Find “Rip

Van Winkle” by Washington Irving. Read it and prepare for a reading check quiz. – Take the quiz next week (on your own time) and

earn a test point for each question you get correct.

– Use these points to boost your test scores • Note: this can help your grades, but NOT get you out of

the 2nd chance summer reading.