To understand the Romantic Period of literature, think of topics like nature, love, birth, patriotism, honor, and even death. Romantics write about these subjects to create perfect moments for us to reflect on. More specifically, it
As you read these Romantic Period authors, look for these qualities and characteristics in their writings.
Most critics mark the last few years of the 1700s and the first half of the 1800s as the timeline for this Romantic Period and I agree. America now has a constitution and commerce and trade are growing. However, another measure of a prosperous country is whether it can produce meaningful literature. If it is a flourishing country with freedom of expression, a strong economic base, and a respect for education, it will create a desire for and permit people to spend their extra money on books. And it did! |
![]() The sea awoke at midnight from its sleep, -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, excerpt from "The Sound of the Sea" photo taken by Diana Boles |
Below are the Romantic Period authors of short stories, novels, and poems, along with a description and a recommendation for some of their writings.
I recommend reading all of these stories. The Devil and Tom Walker is full of folkloric images common still today in America.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a humorous and scary folktale that possesses all the traditional motifs of horror stories today, and Rip Van Winkle not only has traditional stereotypes from almost 200 years ago, but also possesses historical allusions of how a new nation copes with its new identity.
The protagonist, Natty Bumppo, started out as a rough and coarse wilderness scout, but as the popularity of Cooper's first book increased, Cooper developed Natty (Nathaniel) into America's first Romantic Period hero. Even today, the classic hero possesses qualities of
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Although Cooper wrote many other novels during the Romantic Period, it is this series of novels that made him world famous.
The series of five novels called The Leatherstocking Tales were The Pioneers (1823), The Last of the Mohicans (1827), The Prairie (1827), Pathfinder (1840), and Deerslayer (1841).
Watch the clip below and see how many characteristics of the Romantic hero you can identify in this scene from The Last of the Mohicans?
Poe understood many languages and had a great vocabulary. While many may enjoy his writings for their creativity, his vocabulary and skill with the written word is what give readers their education and appreciation for this man. The link above includes all his works.
Students are often attracted to Poe for his drug use, but it shows a wretchedly limited understanding of his work. As often is the case with highly intelligent creatures, they suffer greatly when trying to grapple with their knowledgeand thoughts. Here's what Poe said about his life: “I have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which I sometimes so madly indulge. It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that I have periled life and reputation and reason. It has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories, from a sense of insupportable loneliness and a dread of some strange impending doom.” - Edgar Allan Poe |
![]() "And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming" excerpt from "The Raven" by E.A. Poe viagra for the mind |
It is impossible to read Poe's work without feeling a sense of awe of his incredible talent. Then, after reading about his sad, and mostly impoverished life, one feels a sense of anger that a life that gave so much beauty and art to the world, received so little in return.
My minimum short story recommendations are "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Tell Tale Heart," "The Masque of the Red Death," and "The Gold Bug."
Of his poems, read "The Raven," "Anabel Lee," "The Bells," and "Sonnet - To Science."
"Sonnet - To Science" is particularly important poem as it helps the reader gain a better understanding of the Romantic Period. Romanticism developed largely as a result of the limitations of Rationalism, which was a movement spurred by the numerous scientific discoveries in the previous decades. Poe understood its limitations.
And finally, your high schooler should read the essay, "The Philosophy of Compositon." If she has difficulty understanding the vocabulary, look up the words and break down Poe's ideas in paragraphs to better understand his concepts. It may be helpful to review some of these reading comprehension techniques.
Not everyone likes to read poetry. So what should one do about that? I do not like poetry that much either, to be honest with you, so I wrote a companion page to help students better understand and appreciate poetry.
This group of poets --John Greenleaf Whittier, Oliver Wendall Holmes, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and James Russell Lowell-- were called Fireside poets because their poems were likely to be read while sitting by the fireside.
While their topics address American themes and places, they imitated the popular style of poetry of England.
Poetry in the Romantic Period not only addressed the beauty of nature, but also personal loss, social and political issues of the time.
"The Cross of Snow" is my favorite of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem. It gets its title from the way the snow has fallen that looks like the shape of a cross near or at where his wife is buried. He loved her very much and reflects on how much he still misses her. Two other poems to read include "Paul Revere's Ride," and "Song of Hiawatha." Visit the link under his photo to read more about this Romantic Period poet. The Cross of Snow In the long, sleepless watches of the night,
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![]() "The Cross of Snow" is written in the same style of an Italian sonnet. You can learn more about its rhyme scheme here. |
John Greenleaf Whittier was another Fireside poet who created his poetry out of his deep commitment from the doctrines of the Quaker religion. He became an avid Abolitionist, and his devotion to God are strongly reflected in his poetry. excerpt from "SnowBound"
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Oliver Wendell Holmes had a long, influential life, but one of the things he is remembered for is saving the USS Constiution. It is a ship that was commissioned in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Evidently, she had developed dry rot, and the Navy was going to sink her in target practice, but Holmes didn't like that, so he wrote this poem. In short, he saved her and she is now residing in Boston Harbor today. She serves as a glorious reminder of America's battle for independence and the power of 24 lines of poetry. Old Ironsides Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
Oh, better that her shattered bulk |
![]() ![]() USS Constitution a.k.a. Old Ironsides Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division |
While James Russell Lowell is part of this Fireside group of poets, he is definitely the most political of the quartet. He wrote political satire and enjoyed writing criticism of his contemporaries.Here is an example of his Romantic Period poetry. A Stanza on Freedom THEY are slaves who fear to speak |
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You can return to other American Literature pages here.
You can visit the Analyzing Poetry page here.
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