nature as an exemplar and source of vivid physical beauty and as a manifestation of spirit in the universe. With deep love for nature, they saw nature as a revelation of truth, the living garment of God. Therefore, nature was a suitable subject for true art They believed that God was immanent in creation. In other words, when they would look art the finite objects in this world, they would find the presence of an infinite god 4)They emphasized individualism, placing the individual against the group, against authority. They saw the individual at the very center of life and art. They emphasized personal freedom and freedom from formalism, tradition, and conformity. They delighted in self-analysis, intricate examination and full exposure of the soul They cherished no hero-worship, yet believed in the perfectibility of humanity Romantics 2. American Romanticism
nature as an exemplar and source of vivid physical beauty and as a manifestation of spirit in the universe. With deep love for nature, they saw nature as a revelation of truth, the living garment of God. Therefore, nature was a suitable subject for true art. They believed that God was immanent in creation. In other words, when they would look art the finite objects in this world, they would find the presence of an infinite god. 4)They emphasized individualism, placing the individual against the group, against authority. They saw the individual at the very center of life and art. They emphasized personal freedom and freedom from formalism, tradition, and conformity. They delighted in self-analysis, intricate examination and full exposure of the soul. They cherished no hero-worship, yet believed in the perfectibility of humanity. Romantics 2. American Romanticism
Distinct features: Although there was no denying of the strong European influences on American romantic writers, American romanticism had distinct features of its own Different from their European counterparts American romantics tended to moralize, to edify rather than to entertain. American romanticism presented an entirely new experience alien to European culture. The exotic landscape, the frontier life, the westward expansion, the myth of new Garden of Eden in America, and the Puritan heritage were just a few examples of the native material for an ingenious literature. Evidently, American romanticism produced a feeling of “ newness” which inspired the romantic imagination. Early American romanticism was best represented by New England poets William Cullen Bryant(1794-1878), and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow(1807-1851)and James Fenimore Cooper(1789-1851)and Washington Irving(1783-1859) in fiction
Distinct features: Although there was no denying of the strong European influences on American romantic writers, American romanticism had distinct features of its own. Different from their European counterparts, American romantics tended to moralize, to edify rather than to entertain. American romanticism presented an entirely new experience alien to European culture. The exotic landscape, the frontier life, the westward expansion, the myth of new Garden of Eden in America, and the Puritan heritage were just a few examples of the native material for an ingenious literature. Evidently, American romanticism produced a feeling of “newness” which inspired the romantic imagination. Early American romanticism was best represented by New England poets William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878), and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1851) and James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) and Washington Irving (1783-1859) in fiction
3. Washington Irving(1783-1859) 1)Importance (1)He is the father of American Literature He is the first romantic writer to gain international fame which proves to be the sign of independence of American Literature (2) He started writing short story as a genre. The short story genre in American literature began with Irvings The sketch Book 2) Style: (1)Graceful, refined, fluent and dignified, tumorous and vivid imitative (2 Irving also had important theme, the theme of change, of mutability(易变性, 性情不定). He believed that changes upset the natural order of things. 3)Works Rip Van Winkle The Legend of sleep hollow The sketch Book
3. Washington Irving(1783-1859) 1)Importance: (1) He is the father of American Literature. He is the first romantic writer to gain international fame which proves to be the sign of independence of American Literature. (2) He started writing short story as a genre. The short story genre in American literature began with Irving’s The Sketch Book 2)Style: (1) Graceful, refined, fluent and dignified, humorous and vivid, imitative. (2) Irving also had important theme, the theme of change, of mutability（易变性， 性情不定） . He believed that changes upset the natural order of things. 3)Works: Rip Van Winkle The Legend of sleep hollow The Sketch Book
4) Rip Van Winkle (1)It is about man having difficulty facing his advancing age. It shows the conservative attitude towards development (2 Escape from responsibility (3) Loss of identity( hen-pecked) 4. William Cullen Bryant(1794-1878) 1)Life: a representative of early American Romanticism in poetry. Sometimes he is called“ the american goldsmith” 2) Works: Thanatopsis(对于死亡的观察;对死的 观感) To a Waterfowl The yellow violet 3)Themes:(1) The beauty and harmony of nature as a source of solace, joy, and escape. (2) The dignity of humanity (1) The sacredness of human freedom (2) The power and beneficence of God
4)Rip Van Winkle: (1) It is about man having difficulty facing his advancing age. It shows the conservative attitude towards development. (2) Escape from responsibility (3) Loss of identity ( hen-pecked) 4. William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) 1)Life: a representative of early American Romanticism in poetry. Sometimes he is called “the American Goldsmith” 2) Works: Thanatopsis（对于死亡的观察；对死的 观感） To a Waterfowl The Yellow Violet 3)Themes: (1) The beauty and harmony of nature as a source of solace, joy, and escape. (2)The dignity of humanity (1) The sacredness of human freedom (2) The power and beneficence of God
5. American Transcendentalism. DIn 1836 a little book Nature came out. It was written by Emerson. It was considered the Manifesto of Transcendentalism". It started with Emerson's Nature and ended with Whitman's Leaves of Grass(1855)The Transcendentalists set up a club called “ Transcendentalist Club”. They expressed their views published their journal Dial.The center place is New England and concord 2)Features: (1) It can also be called idealism. They placed emphasis on oversoul. Spirit is the most important thing in the world (universe)and believed that nature is a symbol of the great spirit (2) This stressed the individualism and gave much importance self-reliance.t stressed on man's subjective initiative (3) They offered a fresh perception of nature as symbolic of the spirit or god
5. American Transcendentalism: 1)In 1836 a little book Nature came out. It was written by Emerson. It was considered “the Manifesto of Transcendentalism”. It started with Emerson’s Nature and ended with Whitman’s Leaves of Grass (1855) The Transcendentalists set up a club called “Transcendentalist Club”. They expressed their views published their journal Dial. The center place is New England and Concord. 2)Features: (1) It can also be called idealism. They placed emphasis on oversoul. Spirit is the most important thing in the world (universe) and believed that nature is a symbol of the great spirit (2) This stressed the individualism and gave much importance to self-reliance..It stressed on man’s subjective initiative (3) They offered a fresh perception of nature as symbolic of the spirit or god