VI. Romanticism, Folk Tales, and the First American Heroes
1800-1840
Romantic Characteristics
Romanticism was a reaction to The Age of Reason or the Enlightenment. It was a philosophical movement, which swept across Europe and North America. Its influence was felt in all forms of art including painting, writing and music. Romanticism also had a profound influence on politics and societal views.
*Strong emotion.
*A celebration of the common man.
*An emphasis on less formal language and subjects.
*A belief in nature as a teacher and life-force connectedness with God (God/Nature/Man).
*A concern w/ the peculiar circumstances in creating; i.e. riding on horseback for 2 days while composing in my head and then writing it all down.
*A belief in the "cult of youth"...aka "I hope I die before I get old."
*Highly imaginative, surrealism, not realism. Think talking ghosts damned to walk the earth.
*Challenging of traditional artistic forms and social norms.
12/5:, Monday: Assigned "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Poe on electronic textbook; the reading must be done by Wednesday.
Tuesday: Complete reading "The Pit and the Pendulum."
Wednesday: informal, group discussion of "The Pit and the Pendulum."
Thursday: Guest speakers, accountants, from Prairie Farms--Kelcey and Callie.
Friday: Played a trivia game.
Monday, 12/12: Assigned "Thanatopsis."
1. Stanza by stanza, explicate it. Divide the explicated stanzas neatly on your page. 2. What is the tone? 3. What are the main themes? 4. Which are the best lines? 5. List 2 connections. 6. Which Romantic characteristics are evident in this poem?
Tuesday: Test on "Thanatopsis."
Wednesday: Assigned the final exam: Write a formal essay answering one of the following questions: which skill did you most develop this semester? how was this integral to you reaching your most-important career goals? what did you learn this semester? which classmate was most impressive? which unit was best? Maximum length is 2 pages; you may combine questions. Bring your essay to the study session. Then, you will have a fishbowl discussion on your essay; half your final exam grade is the writing; the other half is the discussion.
Thursday: Worked on the essay.
Friday: Peer editing of essay.
Nothing below this line is official.