American Romanticism Sample Student Final Exam Answers 2010

Amy Shanks

Romanticism: a Transcending Semester

I am amazed at the scope of an American Romanticism class. While my expectations were simply to broaden my understanding of both American Literature and Romanticism, I was pleasantly surprised to see how the subject matter broadened with the course outline and also correlated with my “Major Authors: Edith Wharton and Jane Austen” course.

          Since this was my first semester in graduate school after a five-year hiatus from education, the correlations between my first two classes were extremely beneficial. As the American Romanticism course advanced, I grew more comfortable with the common themes and terms to the point where I couldn’t help but think of them as I read for my Major Authors course. Though this course focused on American literature, the Romantic themes discussed encompassed broader periods of work.  There were numerous moments in my Major Authors course where the Romantic themes I learned here were evident, especially in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Though I had read the novel before, while re-reading it for my Major Authors class I noticed Byronic hero characteristics in the character Mr. Darcy.  He exemplifies the dark, attractive characteristics of a Byronic Hero with his looks and handsome fortune.  Upon his introduction in the novel, Mr. Darcy receives much attention from women; however, he slights them when dance partners are lacking – insulting Elizabeth Bennet in particular – fully embodying the Byronic characteristic of a cynical man.

Not much time passes before Mr. Darcy changes his opinion of Elizabeth, later resulting in the wandering/searching behavior of a Byronic hero.  He pursues, gets turned down and retreats, only to pursue her once again. His relationship with Elizabeth also has hints of forbidden love when Lady Catherine De Bourgh comes into the picture. Her desires for Mr. Darcy to marry her daughter motivate her attempts to thwart his and Elizabeth Bennet’s courtship. In the end, Mr. Darcy is a Byronic hero for Elizabeth when he saves her from her chaotic home life through his final marriage proposal.   

While I realized graduate-level courses would be interrelated, it was still a thrill to discover how swiftly I was able to see the terms discussed in class within other categories of literature. Recognizing such elements brings another level of understanding and interpretation to texts that I would not have recognized had I not taken this course.  I look forward to applying this new knowledge in future classes.