Lesson 1/Activity 1.1 - Background and Rationale- Romanticism

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“The primary feature of American Romanticism--the obsession with and celebration of individualism--takes on particular social relevance because U.S. culture has always prized individualism and egalitarianism. Democracy elevates everyone (white males in this time period, that is) to the same status.” - Dr. Brad Strickland, Department of English, Gainesville College^[6]

Summary: This period in American history challenged the rational thinking of the Age of Reason. The growth and expansion in the United States fueled intuition, imagination, individualism and the role of nature as a source of spirituality in literature This period produced fewer instructional texts and more stories, novels, and poetry. Major authors are pictured above.

Benchmark:

11.4.3.3 Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).

Learning Target:

I can explain the relationship between the author and his/her role of the Romantic Period in American Literature, and why he or she did not align within the Age of Reason literature

Essential Question:

Why does an author and his/her work fit the Romantic Period in American Literature, and not the Age of Reason?

You will need: 1 class period

                Internet Access

Complete Activity 1.1 by completing the following:

STEP 1:

View the brief Introduction to the Romantic Period. Also watch the video, The Romantic Period in American Literature and Art ^[7]. Review/research definition of the Age of Reason.

STEP 2: 

Choose an author from slide 6 or 7 and read either a short story, poem or excerpt of text. Be prepared to answer questions about the text. Also discuss which authors match which type of writing ( this is called prior knowledge) It may come from music, TV, movies, are there references to these authors and different styles that you may have heard about before class?

STEP 3:  

In your e-Portfolio journal:

1. Write down the author and the title of what you chose to read.
2. Explain why you think this author’s work does not fit in the Age of Reason literature.
3. Provide a 2-3 sentence summary of the work you read.
4. Explain how/why this author’s work fits the Romantic Period in American Literature.

STEP 4:

Post your responses online in the classroom discussion. Read the class responses and post feedback to at least two other classmates.

STEP 5:

Submit responses from Step 3 - 1 through 4.