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Puritans, Rationalists, Romantics, Dark Romantics and Transcendentalists Slide 2 What do you think? Slide 3 Puritanism Puritanism. The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy. H.L. Mencken Slide 4 Puritans Vs. Pilgrims Pilgrims: Small group of Puritans who traveled on the Mayflower in 1620 to establish a purified church. Puritans: Settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony about 10 years after Mayflower Pilgrims came over. Also pilgrims, as in seeking a new home because of religious convictions. Reconstruct not only church, but man and mans institutions as well. Slide 5 Puritanism: A New Start in America Persecuted in England for going against the Protestant church/government Religion was an individual, personal, and internal experience. The individuals relationship with God was not determined by a member of the clergy or the governmentit was direct Believed that all humans were damned (depravity), but that some were meant to be saved. Slide 6 Even More Major Ideas: Fate was pre-determined-- one couldnt save oneself, but if one led a good life, one would be able to see the signs that meant one were saved Only Gods grace was an individuals salvation. Dissenters were punished severely: flogging, banishment, death (Salem Witch Trials) Business was an important part of community, as was education Slide 7 Puritan Community/Values: Contract-based (like convenant with God) governmentbeginnings of democracy Valued: self-awareness, industriousness, temperance, and simplicity Slide 8 Puritan Look Slide 9 Salem Witch Trials Slide 10 Salem Witch Trials: 1692 19 men and women (5 men) convicted and hung for witchcraft Daughter and niece of a prominent reverent fell ill. People called witchcraft and the witch hunt began People accused others by calling out names in fits, or sickness=panic Fear of the devil and his workings, paranoia born out of uncertainty and fear, factions in villages, competition with nearby towns, epidemic of smallpox After less than a year, the court disbanded, all those in prison for witchcraft were pardoned and the witch hunt was over Families were eventually given apologies and restitution Slide 11 Puritan Writing Bible=model as people searched for connections between their lives and biblical events Each individuals life was a spiritual journey, so recorded in diaries and historical documents describing the workings of God. Known for plain style of writing emphasizing clarity and avoiding complicated figures of speech Slide 12 Puritan Writers Anne Bradstreet William Bradford Mary Rowlandson Reverend Jonathan Edwards Slide 13 Anne Bradstreet Born in England in 1612 Well-educated Married Simon Bradstreet at 16, emigrated to Colonies in 1630 Wrote of her family, love for her husband, and love for God Wrote privately, but brother- in-law brought some poems to England where they were published Unusual for her to write poetry in this fashion as women were in more traditional roles in this society, but Bradstreet blended depravity with hope and didnt challenge authority with her writing Slide 14 Image Analysis: Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky What do you notice about Franklin in this painting? What is the viewer supposed to think about him? What is he doing? What subjects or ideas are highlighted in this painting? What do you notice in the background? How does this image contrast with the ideals of Puritanism that we discussed? Based on this image (and its title), what can you glean or infer about the time period this painting is meant to represent? Slide 15 The Age of Reason: Rationalism The belief that human beings can arrive at truth by using reason Response to Puritanism starting around the end of the 17 th century Influenced by European Enlightenment (17 th and 18 th centuries) New ideas about God: clockmaker who gave humans the gift of reason which allows them to discover scientific and spiritual truth Slide 16 Changing Trends Puritans God=actively and mysteriously involved in the workings of the universe Everyones fate is pre- determined. Humans are inherently sinners. Bible contains all truth. Rationalists God=clockmaker of the universe God=gave humans the gift of reason aka the ability to think in an ordered, logical manner that allows them to discover both scientific and spiritual truth. Everyone has the capacity to regulate and improve his or her own life Deismhumanitys goodness, God desires human happiness, basis for social welfare Scientific growth in order to discover natural law/improve lives Slide 17 Slide 18 Franklin: Rationalist Henry Steele Commager: "In Franklin could be merged the virtues of Puritanism without its defects, the illumination of the Enlightenment without its heat. Poor Richards Almanac, The Autobiography (self- made American, progress) Slide 19 Famous Tinkers, Rationalist Writers, and Rationalist Literature: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry Declaration of Independence and related writings (Iroquois Constitution, Declaration of Sentiments) Persuasive political writings/speeches: ethos, logos, pathos Instruct upon values for self- improvement (Poor Richards Almanac) Slide 20 Declarations Slide 21 The American Dream We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak with our own minds. --Ralph Waldo Emerson In what ways does this quote epitomize the idea of the American Dream during this time period? What is your definition of the American Dream? Slide 22 American Romanticism: 1800-1860 Developed as a reaction to Rationalism/Industrial Revolution Influenced by German Romantic movements beginning in the second half of 18 th century Romantics saw the negative sides of progress (poverty, over-crowding, child labor, disease, dangerous living conditions) and responded with a call for intuition, freedom, imagination, individuality, nature, and poetry. Slide 23 The Downsides of Progress Over-crowded Living Conditions Sickness/Poverty Slide 24 Industrial Revolution Slide 25 Rationalism Vs. Romanticism Slide 26 ROMANTICISM Belief that through imagination, one can discover truths that the rational mind couldnt Imagination, individual feelings, and wild nature were > reason and logic Poetry=highest embodiment of imagination. Often contrasts science with nature. Escaping the dull realities to a realm of higher truth. Slide 27 Romanticisms Siblings: Transcendentalism Everything in the physical world is a reflection of the Divine Soul. Valued intuition over logic, and the ideas of self-reliance and self-improvement Nature is path to transcend the dull realitiessigns and symbols in events/nature Optimistic/Utopian ideas about improving society (Brook Farm/Fruitlands) Dark Romanticism Valued intuition over logic and reason Saw signs and symbols in all events Made the connection between the spiritual existing in natures appearance Thought that Tran. ignored the dark side of Puritanism: original sin, good vs. evil, psychological effects of guilt/sin, madness. Slide 28 Romantic Writers Romantics: Fireside poetsHenry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowe Ralph Waldo Emerson, H.D. Thoreau and other Ts James Fenimore Cooper Washington Irving Dark Romantics: Edgar Allen Poe Nathaniel Hawthorne Herman Melville Slide 29 Poes Quote Corner: Edgar Allen Poe: Sonnet To Science Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes. Why preyest thou thus upon the poet's heart, Vulture, whose wings are dull realities? How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise? They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. Slide 30 Romantic Poetry Vs. Romantic Fiction Borrowed European style in order to show that Americans werent hicks. Sonnet form Reflected on natural world until the dull realities fell away to reveal underlying beauty or truth Developed a new hero for American Literature and explored the America unknown to Europe Borrowed some ideas/archetypes/folklore from Europe, but created an American voice in exploring them It has been a marvel to my European readers, that a man from the wilds of America should express himself in tolerable English. I was looked upon as something new and strange [] Washington Irving Slide 31 The Romantic Hero Youthful or possesses youthful qualities Innocent and pure of purpose Has a sense of honor based not on societys rules but on some higher principle Has knowledge of people and life based on deep, intuitive understanding not on formal learning Loves nature and avoids town life Quests for some higher truth in the natural world Reaction to stereotypes about Americans from European lens Development of American Romantic hero coincided with westward expansion Virtue in American innocence rather than European sophistication Still creating these heroes today: Luke Skywalker, Indiana Jones, Superman, etc. Slide 32 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: The Cross of Snow Isolates nature to understand a truth Written about his wife, Fanny, who died after a tragic accident (fire) Written 18 years after her death, not published until after his Petrarchan Sonnet: Italian (iambic pentameter, octave, volta, sestet) Slide 33 The Cross of Snow: Mt. Holy Cross, CO Slide 34 Nathaniel Hawthorne: Dark Romantic That blue-eyed darling Nathaniel knew disagreeable things in his inner soul. He was careful to send them out in disguise. D.H. Lawrence Slide 35 Transcendentalism: Developed in the 1830s both in connection with, and in opposition to Romanticism Transcendentalism refers to the idea that in finding God, the universe, and the self/soul, one must transcend typical human experience in the physical world Marked by a return to nature, and trust in intuition rather than deliberate rationality and intellectualism Slide 36 Transcendentalism Believed that self-reliance and individualism must outweigh external authority, and self- improvement leads to social improvement Worked to find the permanent reality that underlies physical appearance Optimism about the potential of individual lives and the universe Slide 37 Transcendentalist Humor Slide 38 Famous Transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson AKA Lead Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau AKA neighbor and friend to L.T. Margret Fuller AKA one of the first major feminist writers in the US Amos Bronson Alcott AKA father to Louisa May Alcott Slide 39 Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862, born in Concord, MA. Went to Harvard, very well-read, but many felt he squandered his talents and connections (including Emerson) Influenced by Emerson Went into the woods to journey inwards in a T. fashion. Built a small cabin on Emersons land two miles from town. Lived there for three years, writing, thinking, and studying life Slide 40 Thoreau Wrote Resistance to Civil Government while on Walden Pond after being arrested for not paying poll tax (supported Mexican- American War) because he felt it extended slavery. Died in 1862. Apparently asked on his deathbed if hes made peace with God (by his aunt). His reply: I didnt know that we had ever quarreled. Slide 41 Walden Pond Slide 42 Thoreau Slide 43 Resistance to Civil Government Response to being jailed for one night for not paying poll tax Discusses the role of the individual in society and to his/her government Employs rhetoric devices of: ethos, logos, pathos Inspired authors and thinkers like MLK and Gandhi around passive/non-violent resistance Slide 44 Ethos, Logos, Pathos Ethos is appeal based on the character of the speaker or moral or widely accepted values and/or standards Logos is appeal based on logic or reason; it uses facts, examples, and well-reasoned arguments. Pathos: is an appeal based on emotion and language and anecdotes that arouse strong feelings. http://www.rpi.edu/dept/llc/webclass/web/project1/group4/