The American Romantic Hero

List at least 3 modern heroes in American Culture. These

heroes should be from movies, books, etc. They may

not be real people.

Characteristics of the Romantic Hero

n Clichéd rather than well rounded n The embodiment of ideas n A flawed character

Characteristics cont.

The American Romantic Hero has qualities that can be found in the beliefs of the Romantics.

Characteristics cont.

n  Individual n  Youthful n  Instinctive

n Truth n  Finds truth in nature

Characteristics cont.

n Nature n  Key to the Romantic Hero n  Avoids the city n Derives knowledge from experiences and

nature

Birth of Romantic Hero

n  James Fenimore Cooper n  Father of the American Novel n Wrote of the American Frontier n  The Leatherstockings Tales

n Natty Bumppo

http://www.biography.com/articles/James-Fenimore-Cooper-9256602

Modern Romantic Heroes

n Today authors still write about the American Romantic Hero

n Popular examples are n  Superman n  Luke Skywalker n  Indiana Jones

superman-picture.com

Your Assignment

n While you read “Rip Van Winkle” annotate the text to prove that he is an American Romantic Hero.

Works Cited n  Dekker, Geroge G. “James Fenimore Cooper.” Biography

Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.biography.com/articles/James-Fenimore-

Cooper-9256602>. n  Grimes, Geoffrey A. "Basic Concept: Primitivism and the Noble

Savage." English 2327: Survey of American Literature. Mountain View Coll, 27 Aug. 2004. Web. 29 Mar. 2010.<http://www.distancelearningassociates.com/

eng2327/BC-Primitivism.html>. n  Kayden. “How Might Rip Van Winkle Be Seen as a Model

American Romantic Hero?” Enotes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/rip-van/q-and-a/how- might-rip-van-winkle-seen-model-american-16475>.

Works Cited n  “A New Kind of Hero.” Elements of Literature. Austin: Holt, Rinehart

and Winston, 1997. 147-50. Print. n  Stevens, Jason. “The American Romantic Hero.” Hoffman Estates

High School. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://www.hehs.d211.org/people/stevensj/classes/E302/

Assignments_Activities/Romanticism/american_romantic_h ero.htm>.

n  Sullivan. “American Romanticism.” PPT file. n  University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences. "Natty

Bumppo." James Fenimore Cooper. U of Virginia, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010.

<http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/COOPER/bumppo.html>. n  Unknown. “American Romanticism.” PPT file.

Rip Van Winkle

n Prolonged sleep sheltered and ostracized him from society n Upon awakening Rip encounters trouble

conforming to the new society

n Laziness helps cause separation from society

n  Involved with nature

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