Romanticism Characteristics Flashcards

American Journey

• The American journey represents a quest for opportunity.

Goals of Eighteenth Century America

• Independence, prosperity, commerce, and urban civilization were the primary aspirations.

Rationalist View of the City

• Rationalists perceived the city as a space for success and self-realization.

Romantic View of the City

• In contrast, Romantics viewed the city as a site of moral ambiguity, corruption, and death.

Concept of Ambiguity

• Ambiguity refers to the existence of multiple viewpoints; in Romantic thought, this pertains to moral ambiguity in urban settings.

Romantic Journey

• The romantic journey takes place in the countryside, driven by a desire for independence, moral clarity, and healthful living.

Washington Irving

• Washington Irving was the first popular professional writer in America, known for narratives focusing on escape from civilization and responsibilities.

Values of Romanticism

• Key values include imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and appreciation for wild nature.

Origin of Romanticism

• Romanticism originated in Germany during the latter half of the eighteenth century.

Influence of Romantics

• Romantics significantly influenced literature, music, and painting.

Reaction Against Rationalism

• Romanticism emerged as a reaction to rationalism, acknowledging the limitations of reason and emphasizing the value of imagination.

Belief in Imagination

• Romantics believed that imagination could unveil truths inaccessible by rational thought.

Value System of Romantic Sensibility

• Imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wild nature were prioritized over reason and logic.

Poetry in Romanticism

• Poetry was regarded as the "highest and most sublime embodiment of the imagination."

Characteristics of American Romanticism

• Emphasis on feeling over reason, faith in inner experiences, a connection to unspoiled nature, preference for youth over sophistication, advocacy for individual freedom, contemplation of nature for moral growth, nostalgia for the past, appreciation for beauty in exotic settings, and inspiration from myths and folklore.

Rising Above Realities

• Romanticism sought to transcend dull realities through:
  • Searching for exotic settings in a more "natural" past.
  • Contemplating the beauty of the natural world.

Gothic Novel

• The Gothic novel exemplifies the Romantic approach, featuring wild landscapes, supernatural events, and medieval castles.

Roots of the Gothic

• Gothic literature has its origins in French, German, and English literary traditions.

Focus of the Gothic in America

• American Gothic literature emphasized psychological exploration of the human mind.

Second Romantic Approach

• The second Romantic approach is reflected in typical lyric poetry, which deepens the meaning of events or objects.

Themes of a Typical Romantic Poem

• Typical Romantic poems express feelings, intuition, imagination, youthful innocence, appreciation of nature, and a critique of civilization's artificiality.

Explore the key characteristics of Romanticism through these flashcards. Each card presents a fundamental concept or definition that highlights the essence of the American journey and the values of eighteenth-century America. Test your knowledge and deepen your understanding of this influential literary period.