Characteristics of Romanticism
Romantics stressed the awe of nature in art and
language and the experience of awe through
a connection with nature. Romantics rejected the
rationalization of nature by the previous thinkers
of the Enlightenment period.
Awe of Nature
In Masque of the Red Death what are the main pieces of symbolism and what do they symbolize?
The clock - time
The strange masquerader - the red death
Romantics believed childhood is good and the emotions (like nostalgia) inspired by childhood/innocence caused the heart to soar.
Innocence, nostalgia from the past
Interest in some force beyond scientific understanding or laws of nature. ghosts, physics, demons, etc...
Interest in Supernatural
In the First Snowfall, what does the snow do to the father?
It helps him stop grieving about his daughter
What was Poe known as?
The father of Dark Romanticism
Romantics believed in the natural goodness of humans which is hindered by the urban life of civilization. They believed that the savage is noble and industrialism/civilization was bad.
Distrust in civilization and anti-industrialism
Romantics often elevated the achievements of the misunderstood, heroic outcast
Celebration of the Individual
In The First Snowfall, what does the snow do to the forest?
The forest becomes quite
Edgar was the master of writing what type of stories?
Suspense and Horror
Romantics legitimized the individual imagination as
a critical authority. Imagination was extremely important to them.
importance of Imagination
Why is it that some people think that in the Masque of the Red Death, the story is just the king's imagination?
He is scared of the Red Death and so he doesn't want to acknowledge it and have fun with his healthy friends.
Romantics believed that knowledge is gained
through intuition rather than deduction. This is
best summed up by Wordsworth who stated that
“all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of
powerful feelings.”
Strong senses, emotions, and feelings
What characteristics did Edgar Allen Poe and Herman Melville share in their writing?
They were Anti-transcendentalists (lacked optimism)