The Literature of Romanticism.doc

The Literature of Romanticism (1)Romanticism: a literary trend or movement at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries under the historical background of the Industrial Revolution around 1760 and the French Revolution (1789-1799)Romantic: a school of literature opposed to the Classic, first used by the German critic Friedrich Schlegel at the beginning of the 19th century, carried to England and France from GermanySome Characteristics of Romanticism1. High esteem for man as individuals individual human personality2. Romantic optimism an implicit faith in the innate goodness of human nature3. The Romantic concept of nature man & nature: complementary parts of a whole4. The Romantic appeal to imagination and feelingsgreat importance to imagination and feelingsAmerican Romanticism Two periods:1. The first period of American Romanticism of the Early National Period (1800-1830) 1) the American scene and civilization; their materials in the culture and history, the lore and landscape of their native land 2) Irving, Cooper and Bryant2. The second period of American Romanticism 1) the “American Renaissance” 2) its own culture and literature a great champion: Ralph Waldo Emerson The American Scholar (1837): the American Scholar “Declaration of Independence” “Our day of dependence, our long apprenticeship to the learning of other lands, draws to a close.” “We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds.” 3) “New Englands Golden Age”, “The Flowering of New England”Early Romantics 1. Background 1) from the end of the 18th century to the Civil War 2) radical changes in all aspects of American life 3) a new literary expression 2. Distinct features 1) to moralize, to edify 2) an entirely new experience alien to European culture 3) a feeling of “newness” which inspired the romantic imagination 3. New England poets 1) the ideals of the genteel 19th century culture, the morality the culture admired 2) America legends, Americas past and contemporary events in American life 3) conservative and imitative, using European literary forms and polite literary language 4) traditional meters, stanza forms, stereotyped metaphors and superficial symbolism 5) rated much lower than in their own time language: too refined, not native American language or expression subject matter: the picturesque, just the pretty things, the nice things 4. A leading writer Washington Irving (1783-1859): the first man of letters from the USA to win an international reputation; the pioneer of American literature 1) His life A. born on Wall Street, New York City B. growing up in a fixedly religious household C. writing juvenile poems, essays, and plays D. a great interest in writing E. writing sketches, poems, and essays on a great range of topics 2) His literary achievements A. his first book: A History of New York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty (1809)纽约外史: B. The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent (1819-1820)见闻札记: a. the fascinating wilderness, wide use of its legends and folktales; b. two most outstanding stories: Rip Van Winkle; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow c. on a fictional ground: reality and imagination converge d. a distinct American tone and theme e. his most enduring contributions to American literature C. A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada (1829)征服格拉纳达 The Alhambre (1832)阿尔罕伯拉传奇 D. The Life of Oliver Goldsmith (1849)哥尔斯密传3) His style A. graceful, refined, fluent and dignified B. a particular important theme: the theme of change, of mutability a man of his time provocatively describing and commenting on his own world C. sources not only of literary inspiration but also of popular culture in America4) Comment on him A. the central figure in the American literary world between 1809 and the Civil War B. the first prose stylist of American romanticism C. a very good example of an American romantic D. for pleasure and to produce pleasure E. an impetus both to the American humor and to the urbane wit F. the first American man of letters to support himself as a professional writer G. the first American author to win international recognition, and extremely popular in Europe H. perfected the best classic style I. models of perfect English. J. providing a young nation with humorous, fictional accounts of the colonial past helping create an American mythology The Literature of Romanticism (2)Transcendentalismv 1. Growth and Development 1) the publication of Emersons Nature a new way of intellectual thinking in America; a new and mature period of American Romanticism: the period of New England Transcendentalism 2) the first American intellectual movement 3) romantic idealism on Puritan soil a system of thought from three sources: A. William Ellery Channings Unitarianism a thoughtful revolt against orthodox Puritanism: a. God as one being the doctrine of trinity b. the tolerance of difference in religious opinion c. the free control of each congregations own affairs and its independent authority B. the idealistic philosophy from France and Germany C. oriental mysticismv 2. Major Concepts 1) the definition of Transcendentalism the recognition in man of the capacity of acquiring knowledge transcending the reach of the five senses, or of knowing truth intuitively, or of reaching the divine without the need of an intercessor 2) the leader of Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson: moral law3) the major concepts A. the power of intuition B. essence behind appearance C. unity of humanity and nature D. the significance of the individual E. an emotional communication between an individual soul and the universal “Oversoul” F. less attention to the material worldv 3. Significance 1) a manifestation of romantic movement 2) an ethical guide to life for America 3) important to American literaturev 4. Weakness 1) never a systematic philosophy 2) a rationale for the pressure toward expansionism 3) the result of rampant individualism 4) its denial of its real spiritual origin v 5. A Leading Writer Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) one of the major writers of the mid-19th century, one of the most stimulating American minds, transcendentalisms most seminal force 1) Life A. born in Boston to a clerical tradition B. in 1825, in Harvard: Unitarianism a faith in the saving grace of the divine love and a belief in the eventual brotherhood of man in a kingdom of heaven on earth C. a lecturer, essayist, and poet D. new ideas about German idealism and transcendentalism E. a faith greater in individual moral sentiment F. the moral law G. the most eloquent spokesman of transcendentalism 2) Literary Achievements A. a casual style B. essays and poetry: one of the greatest essayists C. his journals: his masterpieces D. his poems: the core of his philosophy E. the American writer F. a most seminal influence G. his perception of humanity and nature: symbols of universal truth H. the commonplaces of American life: the highest art I. his repudiation of established tradition and institutions J. the organic theory of form 3) The American Scholar A. “Americas Declaration of Intellectual Independence” B. to write about America in an American way C. an influence across America D. totally optimistic E. a perpetual optimist The Literature of Romanticism (3)High Romantics l 1. Overview 1) reaching its peak in poetry: Edgar Allan Poe in fiction: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville 2) new literary personalities 3) well-conceived literary theories and well- structured literary forms 4) dark and brooding pictures of the country 5) their literary fame: on the rise, their works: as classics of American literaturel 2. Some Leading Writers Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) a master of the suspenseful short story; a poet; the first great critic of America 1) Life and Career A. born in Boston B. gifted but tormented C. the most controversial and most misunderstood D. precarious, frequently destitute and completely impoverishedE. a new symbolic poetry, the new short story in the detective and science fiction, an important artistic theory, analytical criticism 2) Reputations A. brilliantly talented, intellectually untrained, and socially displaced B. shaped by the French symbolist poets a. the model for their symbolist school b. his poetic vocabulary c. pure poetry d. a romantic figure e. his themes and his view C. his view: ahead of his time D. not popular in America until the 20th century E. very popular with Freudian psychological critics in the early 20th century F. as a major romantic writer in America in the 20th century3) Literary Theory A. poetry a. short poems: the level of emotion b. the creation of beauty c. the tone of sadness d. the most potential topic: the death of a beautiful woman e. the object of poetry: pleasure f. music: essential g. a poem of almost haunting melody B. fiction a. 70 tales of wonder or horror, wit or humor, reflection or ratiocination b. the deductive skill c. the first to develop the short story as a distinctive art form unity of impression brevity d. the principle of concentration and thematic totality e. the effect first and then the incidents f. the aim of the tale: truth g. the merit of a work of art: its psychological effect upon the reader C. both poetry and fiction a. his subjects and themes: either universal or exotic b. respecting reason ratiocination c. the earliest American detective fiction and science fiction 4) a pioneering aesthetician, psychological investigator, literary technician Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) 1) Life A. a family with a long Puritan tradition B. an ambition to be a writer C. at Bowdoin college: a friend of two very important people the poet Longfellow and Franklin Pierce, the 14th U.S President D. after graduation, pursuing his literary career2) Literary Career A. his first collection of short stories: Twice-Told Tales故事重述 B. his most famous novel: The Scarlet Letter红字a literary sensation the author: the first American romancer C. evoking emotional sympathy for the heroine D. more influence of European literature 3) Significance A. as a romantic writer: subject and setting B. his themes: a. the consequences of pride, selfishness, and secret guilty b. the conflict between lighthearted and somber attitude toward life c. the impingement of past upon the present d. the futility of comprehensive social reforms e. the impossibility of eradicating sin from the human heart f. alienation and solitude; nature and natural impulses; g. unconscious fantasy and drea