Characteristics of American
Romanticism
Feeling and IntuitionMore valuable
than reasonStick to your
guts/conscience over logic/mind
FaithFaith placed in
inner expression
Faith placed in the power of the imagination
A Typical American Romantic belief that reason and logic are limiting and imagination is superior is illustrated in this quote from Albert Einstein
Civilization vs. NatureShuns the
artificiality of civilization
Seeks unspoiled nature
The City (Civilization!)
Corruption Immorality Reason Logic Planning routine
Poor working conditions ConformityNo imagination or freedom
Romantics shun the artificiality of civilization and seek unspoiled nature!
Innocence vs. SophisticationPrefers
youthful innocence over educated sophistication
IndividualsChampions
individual freedom
Promotes the worth of the individual
Nature’s BeautyContemplation
of nature leads to spiritual and moral development
Past vs. ProgressLooks
backwards to the wisdom of the past
Distrusts progress
Beauty and TruthFound in exotic
locales
Found in the supernatural realm
Beauty and Truth
Found in the inner world of the imagination
Poetry
Viewed as the highest expression of the imagination
PoetryUsed English
themes, meter, and imagery
Used American settings and subject matter
InspirationFound in mythFound in
legendFound in folk
culture
American Romantic Hero Is young or
possesses youthful qualities
Innocent and pure of purpose
American Romantic HeroHas a sense of
honor based not on society’s rules but on some higher principle
American Romantic HeroHas a knowledge
of people and of life based on deep, intuitive understanding, not formal learning
American Romantic HeroLoves nature
and avoids town life
Quests for higher truth in natural world
The Romantic
HERO•The classic hero of the time was James Fennimore Cooper’s Natty Bumppo.
There are 21st Century Natty Bumppo descendants all
around us in the guise of pop-culture heroes all around us!
The Man with No Name
Rugged and lives in nature!
Luke Skywalke
rIntuitive and uses
the “force!”
Indiana Jones
Always on a quest for a pure purpose!
Can you make a connection between each image a value of the American Romantics??
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23
4
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1
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Journal 1Journal 1Describe a journey that Describe a journey that you’ve taken. Write at you’ve taken. Write at least half a page.least half a page.
Journal 2Journal 2Describe your favorite Describe your favorite get-away place. Write at get-away place. Write at least half a page.least half a page.