American Romanticism and Its Subgenres: A Comprehensive Overview
American Romanticism and Its Subgenres
Bundling/Tarrying
This curious custom allowed a courting couple to share a bed, separated by a board. Three key beginnings marked this era:
- Geographical: Columbus’s voyage of 1492.
- Textual: The invention of the printing press in 1456, making the Bible accessible to all.
- Spiritual: The Protestant Reformation, a response to perceived Catholic persecution.
Homiletic Theory (Sermon Construction)
This theory outlines the art of crafting a sermon:
- Reading and explaining a biblical text.
- Stating a doctrine derived from the text.
- Providing reasons to support the doctrine.
- Offering practical applications for daily life.
Three types of guides aided sermon creation:
- Inspiration from the Bible and various textbooks.
- Tailoring sermons to specific occasions.
- Simplifying complex theological concepts for understanding.
Emphasis was placed on persuading the mind before the heart, drawing upon psychology and the teachings of Jesus. Sermons held immense importance in Puritan life, alongside hagiographies (like the life of Christ) and autobiographies (such as Benjamin Franklin’s).
Critical Approaches to Literature
1. Intrinsic (Formalist)
This approach analyzes literature based solely on its inherent elements: form, style, structure, tone, and point of view. The goal is to understand how these elements interact with the content to create meaning.
2. Extrinsic (Biographical)
This approach considers external factors, such as the author’s life, historical context, and social influences, to gain a deeper understanding of the text.
Nautical Drama
Popular in the 19th century, this genre often depicted sailors lost at sea, mirroring themes of isolation and vulnerability. A notable example is the poem “Enoch Arden“.
Transcendentalism (1830-1850s)
This movement emphasized intuition, individualism, and the inherent goodness of humanity. It often explored the connection between nature and spirituality.
Dark Romanticism (Subgenre of Romanticism)
Characterized by a darker, more pessimistic view of human nature, Dark Romanticism explored themes of sin, self-destruction, and the macabre. Notable authors include Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Key Characteristics:
- Formal writing style with rhetorical devices and satire.
- Non-imaginative prose.
- Influence of Neoclassicism and Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau.
- Reaction against Rationalism (or Positivism).
Rationalism vs. Romanticism
| Rationalism | Romanticism |
|---|---|
| Reason | Emotion |
| Reality | Fantasy |
| Mundane | Exotic |
| Conservative | Revolutionary |
Washington Irving and the Romantic Journey
Irving, a prominent early Romantic, often depicted the countryside as an idyllic escape, reflecting the Romantic ideals of independence, moral clarity, and purity. In contrast, Gothic Romantics like Poe viewed nature as a more sinister and phantasmagoric realm.
Romantic Escapism
Romanticism celebrated the beauty of nature, finding in it a connection to the divine. It also sought inspiration in exotic settings and the past, embracing myth, legend, and folk culture. While appreciating nature, some Romantics held problematic views towards Native Americans, often generalizing and overlooking their diverse cultures.
Key Authors of American Romanticism
- Washington Irving (1783-1859)
- James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851)
- Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
Romanticism: Core Values
- Prioritizes feelings over reason.
- Champions the power of imagination.
- Appreciates the beauty of unspoiled nature.
- Values youthful innocence and individual freedom.
- Learns from the lessons of the past.
- Finds beauty in exotic locales, the supernatural, and the imagination.
- Embraces myth, legend, and folk culture.
Dark Romanticism: A Deeper Dive
Often intertwined with Gothicism, Dark Romanticism portrays individuals as susceptible to sin and self-destruction, challenging the Transcendentalist view of inherent goodness. Nature, in this perspective, is dark, decaying, and mysterious, revealing truths that are often evil and disturbing. Unlike Transcendentalists who advocate for social reform, Dark Romanticism often depicts the futility of such efforts.
Gothic Tradition
Emerging in the 18th century as a reaction against Enlightenment rationalism, the Gothic tradition features elements of the fantastic, irrational, and supernatural. Gothic novels often utilize settings like haunted castles, gloomy mansions, and eerie landscapes to evoke a sense of mystery and dread.