山东农业大学：《英美文学史》课程教学资源（PPT讲稿）Unit 10 New England Transcendentalism and Romantic Age（1/2）

Unit 10(1 New England Transcendentalism and romantic Age ■工, 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

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 America s break away from traditional european literature. For the first time writers journeyed to nature. They let their imagination s run free. They created America s 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

◼ Romanticism symbolized America's break away from traditional European literature. For the first time writers journeyed to nature. They let their imagination's run free. They created America's 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

◼ Characteristics of Romanticism ◼ emotions ◼ subjective ◼ original ◼ youth ◼ supernatural ◼ into nature ◼ innocent

■ pure of purpose heavy figurative language ■ 1 maginative ■ American heroes a possibly: arabesque grotesque ■ past subject matter

◼ 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 a 4. Mingling of races: immigrants in large numbers arrive to the Us ■5, Growth of industria|izatⅰon polarization of north and south, north becomes industrialized, south remains agricultural

◼ 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 In historica 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

◼ 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 Nature as revelation of god to the individual

◼ 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. Nature as revelation of God to the individual

Romantic Attitudes a 1. Appeals to imagination; use of the willing suspension of disbelief 2 Stress on emotion rather than reason; optimism geniality 3. Subjectivity: in form and meanIng

◼ Romantic Attitudes ◼ 1. Appeals to imagination; use of the "willing suspension of disbelief." ◼ 2. Stress on emotion rather than reason; optimism, geniality. ◼ 3. Subjectivity: in form and meaning

■ Romantic Techniques a 1. Remoteness of settings in time and space a 2. Improbable plots 3 Inadequate or unlikely characterization a 4. Authorial subjectivity

◼ Romantic Techniques ◼ 1. Remoteness of settings in time and space. ◼ 2. Improbable plots. ◼ 3. Inadequate or unlikely characterization. ◼ 4. Authorial subjectivity

a 5. Socially harmful morality ;a world of lies 6. Organic principle in writing form rises out of content. non formal a7. Experimentation in new forms picking up and using obsolete patterns 8. Cultivation of the individualized subjective form of writing

◼ 5. Socially "harmful morality;" a world of "lies." ◼ 6. Organic principle in writing: form rises out of content, non￾formal. ◼ 7. Experimentation in new forms: picking up and using obsolete patterns. ◼ 8. Cultivation of the individualized, subjective form of writing