American Literature: Romanticism Sample Final Exams 2013 final exam assignment mid-length essay: semester review

Daniel B. Stuart

Romanticism: A Case For The Subjective

          It seems a bit confining to condense historical periods into designated periods and movements, especially when the periods overlap and the themes run together. But studying art and literature of a movement like Romanticism is probably one of the easiest to study because it fits so between the neo-classicism of the proto-rationalists and the more less structured but more scrutinizing Realists. The thing about Romanticism is that it's not just about celebrating individuality and emphasizing emotion through the use of natural themes and elevated language. It's a movement which supports subjectivity and self-representation in a variety of forms. Though widespread, it can be identified fairly simply. The style of the prose, the symbolist poetry and rhetorical structure can all be understood to be from the Romantic period by their attitudinal tone--a celebration of sensation.

          The course on Romanticism was especially comprehensive when it came to identifying the styles of things like Romantic poetry, transcendentalist thought, Gothic components and the American Modernists who somewhat carried the traditions with them. In one of the earlier courses, we briefly discussed the roots of the movement through the German writer Goethe's championing of the Sturm und Drang movement. It would have been nice if we'd taken some more time to discuss the meaning of this phrase which can mean either Storm and Emotion or, more commonly in English, as Storm and Distress. The composite implications of its meaning is what really hits at the heart of the Romanticist ideal.

          Learning to differentiate the Gothic tropes was very informative. Gothic, a subgenre of Romanticism, explores the darker connotations and motifs which are every bit as much a part of Romanticism as lyrical poetry, transcendentalism or personal narratives. Cory Owen, in his essay entitled "The Marriage of Death and the American Gothic: A Study On Poe" writes that "The Gothic provides an Ideal Avenue for Death to Be The Star." This really encompasses a lot of what the Gothic is. Death doesn't necessarily imply mortality in the Gothic. It could indicate decay, mystery, allusions to despair, seasons in nature and other things.

          In my research project, I was able to investigate some of the distinctions between American and European Romanticism. It was interesting to find out not just the differences but the reasons for each movement's particular characteristics. Mainly, much of the differences involved aspects of logistics and simple concepts like "time" and "space". Europe had a history while America had a future; Europe a mythology and America an opportunity to create its own folklore. America and its vast frontier inevitably contributed to the rise of the Transcendentalist movement which saw the chief divergence from the themes and traditions of the European continent.

          Romanticism was a very good learning experience. It's a lot of reading and a good deal of independent research, but it is very well worth the time and effort. The presentations are a good way to learn about writers who matter in the world of literature. In regards to learning American Literature, it is a great survey of the places and people who were instrumental in creating the country--its ideals, principles and values--which we live in. Most of all, Romanticism was good because it allowed us as readers to see the life behind the person who is the author; the life meaning the subjective  inclinations and deep personal convictions relating to the worlds each of us live in.