The Romanticism Period
What is the Romanticism Period?
Artistic Movement where people prioritized feelings over intellect
True or False: Emily Dickinson is one of the best known American Poets.
True!
What genre of writing is "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass"?
Autobiography
True or False: “Confessions” did not appear in full until more than 100 years after it was written.
True!
What's the name of the poem we examined by Baudelaire and what collection is it apart of?
"To the Reader"
It's the preface (first poem) of "The Flowers of Evil."
Identify two characteristics of the Romanticism Period.
Deepened appreciation of nature
General exaltation of emotion over reason
General exaltation of senses over intellect
Focus on his or her passions and inner struggles
Interest in the Supernatural: Romanticism was characterized by a fascination with the supernatural, the mysterious
Rejection of Rationalism and Industrialization – lamented the loss of traditional values
Identify a universal theme Dickinson explored in her writing(s).
Nature
Death
Family
Isolation
Truth
What's Douglass dilemma at the beginning of "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass"?
He doesn't know his age
Identify the main reason for Rousseau writing "Confessions"
Vindication purposes-- wanted the public to see
that by nature he was “good”
What disease did Baudelaire have?
Syphilis
Identify one key player in the Romanticism Period other than the authors covered in this Unit.
1. Robert Burns
2. William Wordwsorth
3. William Blake
How many poems were published during Dickinson's lifetime?
10
True or False: Douglass introduced the modern autobiography
False
What childhood incident does Rousseau recall with great guilt in "Confessions"?
Stealing
Lying
Rousseau recalls stealing a ribbon and falsely accusing a young girl of the theft, an incident that caused him lasting guilt.
What title was bestowed upon Baudelaire and which American writer did he make famous in France?
Most widely read French poet around the globe -- considered one of the first modern poets (Father of Modern Poetry)
He reviewed and translated the works of Edgar Allan Poe (Into French)
Identify two facts about the Romanticism Period.
-Many writers found inspiration from the French Revolution
-Lots of social change occurred during this time period
- Romanticism was a reaction against this spread of industrialism
-Criticism of the aristocratic social and political norms and a call for more attention to nature.
-Saw more successful women writers
What is Dickinson best known for in terms of her writing?
Tip: Think about a punctuation mark
Introduces the dash
Known for brevity/compression
Identify one of the major themes of "Narrative of the Life of Douglass"
Freedom, Slavery, Education/Knowledge, Injustice, Resistance, Dehumanization, Religion, Truth
How does Rousseau describe his relationship with society in "Confessions"?
Rousseau often describes himself as misunderstood and persecuted by society, feeling alienated and paranoid, particularly in his later years.
What was the purpose of the poem "To the Reader"?
Tip: Baudelaire's intent for writing it.
Intended to scandalize its readers with evocative images of lust, duplicity, and decay. It succeded!
Identify three major themes of the Romanticism Period
Nature
Imagination
Individualism
Symbolism
Myth
Identify the two poems we studied by Dickinson and give a brief summary of each one.
1) "The Soul Selects her Own Society"
"The Soul Selects Her Own Society" by Emily Dickinson explores the theme of individual choice and selective isolation. In the poem, the soul chooses its own companions and shuts out the rest of the world, even ignoring the appeals of powerful figures like an emperor. This act reflects the soul's independence, autonomy, and desire for meaningful, exclusive relationships. The poem emphasizes personal agency and the value of intimate connections over broader social engagement, suggesting that once the soul makes its choice, it remains firm and unyielding in its decision.
2) "Tell all the Truth but tell it Slant"
"Tell All the Truth but Tell It Slant" by Emily Dickinson is a brief yet profound poem that advises delivering the truth indirectly rather than bluntly. Dickinson suggests that truth is powerful, like lightning, and can overwhelm or even harm if revealed too directly. Instead, she encourages a gradual, gentle approach, allowing people to better absorb and comprehend it. The poem underscores the importance of tact in communication and recognizes the limitations of human understanding when faced with harsh realities.
Identify one thing Douglass is known for/achieved.
Recruited Black men to fight in the U.S. Army, including two of his own sons
Met with President Abraham Lincoln to advocate for equal pay and treatment
Held prestigious offices including:
Assistant secretary of the Santo Domingo Commission
Legislative council member of the D.C. Territorial Government
Board member of Howard University
President of the Freedman's Bank
He served under five presidents as U.S. Marshal for D.C.
Recorder of Deeds for D.C.
Minister Resident and Consul General to Haiti
Describe the tone of "Confessions"
Honest and Vulnerable: Rousseau writes with a raw honesty, openly admitting his faults, mistakes, and emotions. This vulnerability is central to the tone, as he seeks to present himself without pretense, revealing both his virtues and flaws.
Defensive and Justifying: While Rousseau admits to many wrongdoings, his tone is often defensive. He frequently justifies his actions, especially when it comes to controversial decisions, indicating his desire to explain or rationalize his behavior to readers and critics.
Emotional and Passionate: The tone is highly emotional, reflecting Rousseau's intense feelings and sensitivities. He writes with passion about his experiences, relationships, and the injustices he feels he faced, making the work intensely personal.
Provide a brief summary of what's happening in "To the Reader"?
"To the Reader" ("Au Lecteur") is the opening poem of Charles Baudelaire's The Flowers of Evil and serves as an introduction to the themes of the collection. In this poem, Baudelaire confronts the reader with humanity's inherent hypocrisy, moral corruption, and indulgence in sin. He describes how humans are complicit in evil, succumbing to vices like laziness, lust, and deceit. Baudelaire presents boredom (referred to as "Ennui") as the worst of these sins, which drives people to seek distraction in immoral behavior. The poem is both a condemnation of society’s decadence and a reflection of Baudelaire’s own struggle with the darker aspects of human nature. Ultimately, he accuses the reader of sharing in these failings, implicating everyone in the corruption he describes.