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Three “Types” of Romanticism

Explore the contrasts between Dark Romanticism and Transcendentalism through the works of Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, Emerson, and Thoreau. Delve into the themes of intuition, symbolism, nature, and the supernatural.

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Three “Types” of Romanticism

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  1. Romanticism Three “Types” of Romanticism

  2. Dark (or Gothic) Romanticism

  3. The three “Dark Romantics” were Poe, Hawthorne, and Herman Melville Both value intuition over reason, see symbols in events, and believe that spirituality is located primarily in nature. What’s the difference?

  4. Believed nature was NOT necessarily good or harmless, and that it could sometimes actually be evil. Were fascinated by the psychological effects of sin, guilt, and even madness. Thought that “duality,” or the good and evil sides, coexist in each of us. DARK Romantics:

  5. For the Romantics, the “supernatural occurrence” might be a fantastic dream Wrote “supernatural” tales like “Paul Bunyon” or even fantasy Think of it this way:

  6. For the DARK or GOTHIC Romantics, the dream is instead a NIGHTMARE! Wrote GHOST STORIES and MONSTER tales But…

  7. Transcendentalism • living close to nature, dignity in manual labor. • Thought that within human nature, there was something intuitive that transcended (existed above and beyond the limits of) the human experience.

  8. Facts About Transcendentalism • Originated from German idealism and philosophy • Based also upon writings of Thomas Carlyle • Centered in New England • Famous Transcendentalists: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Bronson Alcott

  9. Idea that God “transcends being” Emerson’s oversoul Theological Ideas of Transcendentalism

  10. Transcendentalism • Ralph Waldo Emerson 5/25/1803- 4/27/1882 • Father died when he was young • Scholarship to Harvard • Became a schoolmaster

  11. Emerson cont. • Returned to Harvard for divinity degree; became Unitarian minister • Resigned over philosophical quandary about administering communion • Supported self giving lectures; when he couldn’t make it, Frederick Douglass filled in • Friends with Hawthorne, Thoreau • Married twice, but also attracted to men • Later in life Walt Whitman?

  12. Emerson - 3 • Founded Transcendentalism with the anonymous publication of “Nature” in 1846 • Owned the pond that Thoreau lived on (Walden) • Thoreau left Walden to stay at Emerson’s house while he was off on lecture circuit • dementia in later life

  13. Self-Reliance “To be great is to be misunderstood” Ralph Waldo Emerson

  14. Emerson’s Transparent Eyeball

  15. Henry David Thoreau • July 1817 – May 1862 • Harvard educated • Died of bronchitis • Emerson, though they had argued, gave his eulogy • Emerson = ideas, Thoreau = action

  16. Thoreau • “Civil Disobedience” inspired Ghandi, ML King • “Passive Resistance” • Spent night in jail because he refused to pay his poll taxes • Walden: “I went into the woods because I wished to live deliberately”

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