American Romanticism概要1.pptx

American Romanticism American Literature Chapter one Colonial Period Chapter two Age of Reason and Revolution Chapter three American Romanticism Chapter four American Realism Chapter five Twentieth century Literature American literature Historical background Literature and its characteristics Major writers and their representative works American Romanticism “Also known as the American Renaissance” Time: from the end of the 18th century to the outbreak of the Civil War Romanticism in America coincided with the period of national expansion and the discovery of a distinctive American voice. The solidification of a national identity and the surging idealism and passion of Romanticism nurtured the masterpieces of the American Renaissance. Historical background Why did American Romanticism emerge? Fast development of the new nation Historically: the time of westward expansion; Economically: industrialization, flood of immigrants, pioneers pushing the frontier further west—economic boom; Politically: democracy and political equality The ideals of the new nation -- Culturally: the level of education and literacy had risen significantly Romanticism Appearance of Romanticism Originated in Germany, flourished in Europe Romantic shared certain general characteristics: Moral enthusiasm Faith in the value of individualism and intuitive perception A presumption that the natural world was a source of goodness and man’s societies a source of corruption Features of American Romanticism Rejection of rationalism Transcendentalism, neither logical nor systematized The growth of cultural nationalism Novels, short stories and poems as American’s principal literary forms Imaginative literature became intense, personal, and symbolic Free expression of emotion and increasing attention to the psychic states of characters. A greater literary interest in America’