Romanticism vs. Romanticism vs. NaturalismNaturalism

(Hawthorne and Gilman)(Hawthorne and Gilman)

Mr. David HoldredgeMr. David Holdredge

AP English LectureAP English Lecture

WVHSWVHS

American Romantic LiteratureAmerican Romantic Literature(1810-1865)(1810-1865)

Cooper, Thoreau, Irving, Emerson, Cooper, Thoreau, Irving, Emerson, HawthorneHawthorne

Feeling/emotion over reasonFeeling/emotion over reason Individual expression is more important Individual expression is more important

than law and customthan law and custom Importance of imaginationImportance of imagination Anti-materialismAnti-materialism Philosophical belief of the time: Philosophical belief of the time:

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Five Elements of Romantic Five Elements of Romantic LiteratureLiterature

Writing is no longer didactic; purpose is to Writing is no longer didactic; purpose is to entertain. entertain.

Literature glorifies the land; celebrated Literature glorifies the land; celebrated wilderness.wilderness.

It expressed the desire to escape from It expressed the desire to escape from society and return to unspoiled nature.society and return to unspoiled nature.

Characters are larger than life.Characters are larger than life. Plots=heroic events, passionate love, &/or Plots=heroic events, passionate love, &/or

mysterious/supernatural events.mysterious/supernatural events.

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne(1804-1864)(1804-1864)

Father (a sea captain) died Father (a sea captain) died when N. was fourwhen N. was four

Mom w/ family returned to Mom w/ family returned to her family’s home.her family’s home.

Injured in a childhood Injured in a childhood accident & as a result, he accident & as a result, he was unable to take part in was unable to take part in any outdoor activities.any outdoor activities.

Result: Introverted, avid Result: Introverted, avid reader, fascinated in family reader, fascinated in family heritage, and lonely.heritage, and lonely.

Hawthorne continuedHawthorne continued William HawthorneWilliam Hawthorne Came from England Came from England

(1630) and rose to political power in Salem; (1630) and rose to political power in Salem; infamousinfamous

John HawthorneJohn Hawthorne son of Wm., judge during the son of Wm., judge during the Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials

Family cursed?Family cursed? Attended Bowdon CollegeAttended Bowdon College Buddies with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Buddies with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,

Franklin Pierce, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Franklin Pierce, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.Henry David Thoreau.

Common Themes in Common Themes in Hawthorne’s WritingHawthorne’s Writing

Struggle between Puritan Struggle between Puritan philosophy and basic human philosophy and basic human instincts.instincts.

The problem of sin (psychological)The problem of sin (psychological)

Other notes on HawthorneOther notes on Hawthorne

Spent 12 yrs. writing and revising talesSpent 12 yrs. writing and revising tales Never felt comfortable even with Never felt comfortable even with

friends. Always silent in groups; only friends. Always silent in groups; only spoke with them on an individual spoke with them on an individual basis.basis.

The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter (1850)—Hester (1850)—Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, Pearl, & Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, Pearl, & Arthur DimmesdaleArthur Dimmesdale

The House of Seven GablesThe House of Seven Gables (1851) (1851) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqJJ8B7oxIw&feature=related

““Young Goodman Brown” takes place Young Goodman Brown” takes place during Samhainduring Samhain

Naturalism (1870-1940)Naturalism (1870-1940)

Newer, harsher version of RealismNewer, harsher version of Realism Avoids discussions on moralityAvoids discussions on morality Calls for extreme objectivity & franknessCalls for extreme objectivity & frankness Characters of low social and economical Characters of low social and economical

classclass Portrays lives dominated by environment Portrays lives dominated by environment

& heredity& heredity Portrays an amoral & indifferent world; Portrays an amoral & indifferent world;

pessimism is commonpessimism is common Frank treatment of gender issues & Frank treatment of gender issues &

sexualitysexuality Nature viewed as a blind force.Nature viewed as a blind force.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935)(1860-1935)

Gilman is often studied by social Gilman is often studied by social historians interested in the advocacy historians interested in the advocacy of women’s rights…..horror talesof women’s rights…..horror tales

Harriet Beecher StoweHarriet Beecher Stowe Father left after Charlotte’s birthFather left after Charlotte’s birth Mom left alone to support two kidsMom left alone to support two kids

Gilman continuedGilman continued

Charlotte tried to gain her father’s Charlotte tried to gain her father’s favor, but she was continually favor, but she was continually rejected.rejected.

Experienced poverty & instability Experienced poverty & instability as Mom searched constantly for a as Mom searched constantly for a home they never found.home they never found.

24 yrs. old24 yrs. old spending time as an spending time as an art teacher; married Charles art teacher; married Charles Stetson (artist)Stetson (artist)

Had a child (1885) entered into a Had a child (1885) entered into a depressiondepression

Gilman 3Gilman 3

Became a patient of S. Weir Mitchell Became a patient of S. Weir Mitchell (famous Philadelphia physician)(famous Philadelphia physician)

Treatment: total bed rest and enforced Treatment: total bed rest and enforced isolation from all activities—physical & isolation from all activities—physical & mental.mental.

Result: almost drove Charlotte insane & Result: almost drove Charlotte insane & created “The Yellow Wallpaper” for Dr. created “The Yellow Wallpaper” for Dr. Mitchell.Mitchell.

19351935 committed suicide in order to committed suicide in order to avoid the torments of inoperable avoid the torments of inoperable cancer.cancer.