LITR 5535 American Romanticism UHCL 2003 student reading presentation

LITR 5535: American Romanticism

Student Presentation on Reading Selections, fall 2003

The Gothic genre is one of many directions of branches of Romanticism and also contained in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is the Romantiuc Spirit or ideology (Obj. 1a & 1b).This ideology or spirit of Romanticism tends to identify and criticize attitudes associated with Romanticism, such as the disire and loss, rebellion, nostalgia, idealism, "the sublime" the individual in nature separate from the masses. And the Romantic spirit is usually a desire for anything besides the here and now or reality. In the romantic short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow contains a sort of quest or journey that Ichabod Crane, an innocent psalmist trangressed on physical, social, and psychological boundaries. Typically, the boundary in American Romanticism is between the woods and the town. The obvious folklore connection to Sleepy Hollow comes from oral traditions like sitting around a campfire telling ghost stories. This idea reminded me of how Mary Shelley's Frankenstein came about-a generation earlier in European Romanticism.

Sleepy Hollow is a prime example of originating from the folktale. A folk tale is a short narrative that has been orally transmitted through successive generations, and as we see in Sleepy Hollow, the mysterious figure of the Hessian soldier(2094) who is looking for his head. As Irving points out as the narrator of the piece, is that riveting through the whole countryside of the haunted woods since the Revolutionary War. Nostalgia feeds gothicism. The setting has a history that has haunting and dark mysteries in the woods that pervade the town of Sleepy Hollow's conscience. The overactive imagination and tales foreshadow the fate of Ichabod Crane, adding him onto the mystery of the ghostly tales. Also the apparition, is it real or not? Irving leaves you hanging a bit, suspense is good for the soul once in a while!

The boundary between civilization and the dark and creepy woods provide an understanding of Romantic literature, gone gothic. In once sense, the forest and the little villages dotting the area are said to be tranquil and peaceful, and beautiful. Although, there is a mysterious effect nature has in its ability to also create fear or the idea that a stronger unseen force controls both the light and the dark elements. In the Bible, the path of Righteousness is in the light, and path of evil is darkness. Also, Irving was heavily influenced by Puritan history, especially, Cotton Mather's "History of New England Witchcraft" p.2097. Additionally, Jonathan Edwards', "Sinners at the Hands of an Angry God" add to the religious dogma New Englanders were so accustomed to. This quest or journey toward the creation of the gothic novel is heightened upon in Irving's text.

Purpose: To Highlight themes brought up by the discussion reader and class responses.

Nancy; "Characteristics of the Gothic in Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow" Objectives 1a, 1b, and 1c

Nancy read a selection from “Sleepy Hollow” on page 2094. In it, she pointed out features of Romanticism and the Gothic such as the contrast between “good nature” and “bad nature” – The valley is depicted as a “sequestered glen” which would be good for a “retreat” from the “world and its distractions” and a “troubled life” (2094).

But also the inhabitants believe the place to be “bewitched by a high German doctor”, “an old Indian chief”, and of course the Headless Horseman, who is thought to be the “ghost of a Hessian trooper” (2094). These supernatural beings represent the “bad nature” in Gothic literature.

Nancy described how Ichabod Crane exemplifies Puritan thought and beliefs, through his endless perusal of Cotton Mather’s “History of New England Witchcraft”.

Referring to Bedford, Nancy likened “Sleepy Hollow” to the description of folktale – “a short narrative that has been orally transmitted through successive generations within a given community” (Bedford, 171). While “Sleepy Hollow” began as a ‘published literary work” rather than oral, it has since become considered a folk tale (172). Indeed, the implied author insists in the postscript of the tale that the story is “given almost in the precise words in which [he] heard it” (2112).

Nancy’s question: “How does American Romanticism’s view of nature parallel/contrast to that of English romanticism’s view of nature?”

Discussion: English – takes place in old houses or castles; American – happens in the wilderness.

In England, women also wrote Gothic novels (Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein), while in America, only men wrote Gothic narratives. Women wrote romances.

It was commented that Ichabod Crane is not “true” romantic hero. He’s not very likable person, wants Katrina only for her wealth, and his physical appearance is rather comical. Brom Bones has many traits associated with romantic heroes – he is good-looking, brave, and mischievous.

Dr. White mentioned the above comment could be due to the Age of Reason coinciding with Romanticism; that Age of Reason works with satire often.

Another feature of Age of Reason coinciding with Romanticism is seen in the apparition of the Headless Horseman. He is from the Revolutionary War (Age of Reason), and travels path in the wilderness searching for his head ( quest and loss in Romanticism).