浪漫主义时期背景介绍

❖ faith in the value of individualism and intuitive perception: display personalities, express feelings and ideas, stress men’s rights for freedom and happiness
❖ showed a profound admiration and love for nature. The beauty and perfection of nature could produce in him unspeakable joy and exaltation.
❖ American Romanticism has distinct features of its own. [TB. P. 41-42]
（Both Imitative and independent）
① the expression of “a real new experience” with “an alien quality” ② American Puritanism as a cultural heritage ③ the “newness” of the Americans as a nation
Part III. Literature of Romanticism
浪漫主义文学 （1815-1865）
I. Background Information
1.Historically: the time of westward expansion 2. Economically, industrialization and social
❖ The literary works of romanticism mostly reflected the fantastic and thrilling stories taking place long ago and far away, rich in mystic color. The romantic had a persistent interest in the primitive literature, in which he found inspiration of various kind.
appeared in England. ❖ Introduced to America in 19th century. ❖ Pluralistic, yet has something in common: stresses
the value of man or individualism and intuitive perception, thinking Nature originates goodness ❖ Concentration on the free expression of emotions, personality, originality and imagination
2. Literature was no longer a servant of politics or religions.
❖ ceased to be didactic
❖ gained its Baidu Nhomakorabeawn personality and features
3. Formation of Nationalism and the New England Renaissance
disorder 3. Politically: two-party system 4. Culturally: changes of way of life;
enhancement of education
II. Literary Characteristics
1. Romanticism [TB. P. 41- 43] ❖ The end of 18th century, Romantic Movement
❖ cherished strong interest in the past, especially the medieval and were attracted by the wild, the irregular, the indefinite, the remote, the mysterious, and the strange.
[4. Transcendentalism 超验主义]
About Romanticism
• Romanticism appeared in England in the 18th century;
• a rebellion against the objectivity of rationalism • the feelings, intuitions and emotions were more
important than reason and common sense; • stressed the close relationship between man and
nature, emphasized individualism and affirmed the inner life of the self;
❖ human nature is of good will; Man can know the world through his own ability/conscience/intuition
❖ nature was a source of goodness and man’s societies a source of corruption