Romantic Elements Romantic Elements
Dec 30, 2015
RomanticismRomanticism
When you think “Romantics” When you think “Romantics” DON”T think of “romance”!DON”T think of “romance”!
The literary term The literary term “Romanticism” is very different “Romanticism” is very different from what “romantic” from what “romantic” commonly means today.commonly means today.
Romantics often wrote about Romantics often wrote about sad situations (love or death).sad situations (love or death).
Or they wrote about natureOr they wrote about nature Or they wrote fantastic storiesOr they wrote fantastic stories
How did the Romantics How did the Romantics Begin?Begin?
Puritans came to New World in 1620. Puritans came to New World in 1620. Remember that Colonial Era literature Remember that Colonial Era literature is written for the purpose of survivalis written for the purpose of survival
Ex: Letters, legal documents, journals, Ex: Letters, legal documents, journals, etc.etc.
By 1776, we were in the Revolutionary By 1776, we were in the Revolutionary War. Writing was linked with forming a War. Writing was linked with forming a national identity.national identity.
Ex: brochures, pamphlets, political Ex: brochures, pamphlets, political information, etc.information, etc.
How did the Romantics How did the Romantics Begin?Begin?
Many historians view the Romantic era as Many historians view the Romantic era as beginning between 1785 and 1798.beginning between 1785 and 1798.
During this era, some authors, decided to During this era, some authors, decided to ignore/avoid the political topics, and focus ignore/avoid the political topics, and focus on different ideas (specifically nature) in on different ideas (specifically nature) in their writings.their writings.
They were turning away from the values They were turning away from the values and ideas of the previous era, embracing and ideas of the previous era, embracing new ways of expressing their imagination new ways of expressing their imagination and feelings. and feelings.
Who were the Romantics?Who were the Romantics?
Instead of a concentration on "head," Instead of a concentration on "head," the intellectual focus of reason, they the intellectual focus of reason, they preferred to rely on the self, in the preferred to rely on the self, in the radical idea of individual freedom. radical idea of individual freedom.
Instead of striving for perfection, the Instead of striving for perfection, the Romantics preferred "the glory of the Romantics preferred "the glory of the imperfect." imperfect."
RomanticismRomanticism
Fantasy and Fantasy and imaginationimagination
Writing is fictional, Writing is fictional, fanciful and could fanciful and could not be true not be true
Picture – Rip Van Picture – Rip Van Winkle’s Winkle’s adventure…adventure…
RomanticismRomanticism
Love of NatureLove of Nature Nature/outdoors is Nature/outdoors is
showcased. The showcased. The character(s) may character(s) may live outside, the live outside, the majority of the majority of the story takes place story takes place outside, etc.outside, etc.
RomanticismRomanticism Intense EmotionIntense Emotion Characters are Characters are
very dramatic and very dramatic and emotional.emotional.
Picture – Poe often Picture – Poe often wrote about wrote about intense emotions intense emotions and being driven and being driven mad because of mad because of them…them…
RomanticismRomanticism Sympathetic interest Sympathetic interest
in the past, medievalin the past, medieval Characters learn from Characters learn from
their pasts, mention their pasts, mention the past, reflect on the past, reflect on the past, rather than the past, rather than looking forward. This looking forward. This could be through could be through regrets, wishes to regrets, wishes to change former change former decisions/actions, decisions/actions, etc.etc.
Picture – In Picture – In ‘Young Goodman ‘Young Goodman Brown”, the main Brown”, the main character cannot character cannot move on and lets move on and lets the past ruin his the past ruin his future.future.
RomanticismRomanticism Exotic PlacesExotic Places The settings take place The settings take place
outside of the normal, outside of the normal, everyday places. This everyday places. This could be as literal as an could be as literal as an exotic island or more exotic island or more figurative like a dream figurative like a dream world or imagination.world or imagination.
Melville became famous Melville became famous for his stories about for his stories about tropical islands and crazy tropical islands and crazy adventures.adventures.
RomanticismRomanticism Legends and mythsLegends and myths A legend is a story that begins as A legend is a story that begins as
true, but gets told so many times true, but gets told so many times and exaggerated that it becomes and exaggerated that it becomes fiction. (Fish story/Football story)fiction. (Fish story/Football story)
A myth is sacred history. It tells a A myth is sacred history. It tells a specific culture/group of people specific culture/group of people where they came from and where they came from and explains their past.explains their past.
““The Legend of Sleepy The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was based on real events Hollow” was based on real events and real places, but with fictional and real places, but with fictional elements.elements.
RomanticismRomanticism
Death Death Characters die or Characters die or
are obsessed with are obsessed with death. Often death. Often depressing.depressing.
Picture – In many of Picture – In many of the poems/stories the poems/stories written by Poe, the written by Poe, the love of his life has love of his life has died.died.
RomanticismRomanticism
Morbid melancholy; InsanityMorbid melancholy; Insanity Characters are depressed Characters are depressed
and/or insane.and/or insane. The story takes place within The story takes place within
the character’s the character’s mind/depressionmind/depression
Picture – In “The Black Cat” Picture – In “The Black Cat” by Poe, the main character by Poe, the main character literally goes insane…literally goes insane…
RomanticismRomanticism The Supernatural The Supernatural Could be religious, Could be religious,
superstitious, superstitious, involve gods and/or involve gods and/or mystical figures. mystical figures.
Picture –Nathaniel Picture –Nathaniel Hawthorne’s stories Hawthorne’s stories are grounded in are grounded in Puritan culture & Puritan culture & religion & often religion & often involve mystical involve mystical characters.characters.
RomanticismRomanticism
Failed LoveFailed Love Mourning the loss Mourning the loss
of love, a break up, of love, a break up, the death of the death of someone special, someone special, cheating, cheating, unfaithfulness, etc.unfaithfulness, etc.
Picture – “The Picture – “The Raven” by Poe; he Raven” by Poe; he is tormented by the is tormented by the loss of his love.loss of his love.
RomanticismRomanticism Mysticism (spiritual Mysticism (spiritual
intuition beyond intuition beyond ordinary ordinary understanding)understanding)
A sense/prediction of A sense/prediction of the future, and “un-the future, and “un-earthly” understanding, earthly” understanding, spiritual insight, etc.spiritual insight, etc.
Picture – The “The Picture – The “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Minister’s Black Veil”, the main character the main character understands a spiritual understands a spiritual concept that the rest of concept that the rest of the community cannot the community cannot grasp…grasp…
RomanticismRomanticism Rural Life and the Common Man Rural Life and the Common Man
–– The main characters are The main characters are
average, “every man” average, “every man” characters.characters.
The stories are not written about The stories are not written about kings, queens and celebrities, kings, queens and celebrities, but rather common, average, but rather common, average, middle/lower class citizens.middle/lower class citizens.
Picture – In “The Legend of Picture – In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” the main Sleepy Hollow” the main character is a simple school character is a simple school teacher…teacher…