American Romanticism: The Spirit of Nature and Imagination

American Romanticism from 1800-1860 was a movement that valued intuition and feeling over reason, embracing inner experiences and the power of imagination. It sought to escape the corrupting influence of civilization, embracing unspoiled nature and youthful innocence. The era championed individual freedom, spiritual development, and a deep connection to the natural world. American Romantic novels reflected themes of westward expansion and the frontier, while the Romantic hero embodied qualities of youthfulness, purity of purpose, and a deep reverence for nature.

• American Romanticism
• Nature
• Imagination
• Individualism
• Spiritual Development

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1. AmericanRomanticism 1800-1860

2. The Romantic Journey Away From Toward Corruption of civilization (city) Nature Imagination Limits of rational thought

3. Why? Response to Ben Franklin and other rationalists Reaction to industrialization

4. Understanding Higher Truth Past Contemplation of the natural world Exotic/supernatural realms

5. The 5 Is of Romanticism Intuition (instinctive knowledge or belief ) Imagination Innocence Inspiration from nature Inner Experience (feelings and emotions) Individualistic outlook on life

6. Characteristics of American Romanticism Values feeling and intuition over reason Places faith is inner experience and the power of the imagination Shuns the artificiality of civilization and seeks unspoiled nature Prefers youthful innocence to educated sophistication Champions individual freedom and the worth of the individual Contemplates natures beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development Looks backward to the wisdom of the past and distrusts progress Finds beauty and truth in exotic locals, the supernatural realm, and the inner world of the imagination Sees poetry as the highest form of expression Finds inspiration in myth, legend and folk culture

7. American Romantic Novels Westward expansion and the development of the frontier

8. The American Romantic Hero Young, or possesses youthful qualities Is innocent and pure of purpose Has a sense of honor based NOT on society s rules, but on some higher principle Has knowledge of people and life based on intuitive knowledge NOT formal learning Loves nature and avoids town life Seeks higher truth in nature

9. Remember: literary romanticism has NOTHINGto do with romantic love.

10. But Romantics do Lovenature