山东农业大学精品课程《英美文学史》课件：unit 10.pptVIP

Unit 10 （1）New England Transcendentalism and Romantic Age I. Romanticism Definitions: The essence of romanticism is the ability to wonder and to reflect. In searching the meaning of the known, the human spirit reaches for the unknown; in trying to understand the present, it looks to the past and to the future. ---------- Robert E. Spiller Romanticism symbolized Americas break away from traditional European literature. For the first time writers journeyed to nature. They let their imaginations run free. They created Americas first literary hero Natty Bumpo. Romanticism dared to explore the supernatural. Americans were able to explore beyond rational thought. Romanticism was spontaneous. Writers and readers could explore individual feelings, wild nature and avoid rational thought, logic, planning, and cultivation. Characteristics of Romanticism emotions subjective original youth supernatural into nature innocent pure of purpose heavy figurative language imaginative American heroes possibly: arabesque grotesque past subject matter Elements of Romanticism 1. Frontier: vast expanse, freedom, no geographic limitations. 2. Optimism: greater than in Europe because of the presence of frontier. 3. Experimentation: in science, in institutions. 4. Mingling of races: immigrants in large numbers arrive to the US. 5. Growth of industrialization: polarization of north and south; north becomes industrialized, south remains agricultural. Romantic Subject Matter 1. The quest for beauty: non-didactic, pure beauty. 2. The use of the far-away and non-normal - antique and fanciful: a. In historical perspective: antiquarianism; antiquing or artificially aging; interest in the past. b. Characterization and mood: grotesque, gothicism, sense of terror, fear; use of the odd and queer. 3. Escapism - from American problems. 4. Interest in external nature - for itself, for beauty: a. Nature as source for the knowledge of the primitive. b. Nature as refuge. c.