Romantic Period (1830–1870), Part 7

Question 1: Discuss why the mid to late 1800s was a time ripe for the movement of Romanticism in American literature, and name three famous authors from this era.

Answer 1: Settling into an established government, the mid-1800s allowed time for art and culture to flourish. Lofty ideals of democracy established in the previous century created a window for opportunity, while tension over inequality, particularly that of women and slaves, set the stage for creative release. Rising affluence in the nation led to more people developing and appreciating the skills of reading and writing, while also providing another popular theme of Romanticism: the downside of materialistic values and the inequities within a wealthy society. It was also a time when society looked for paths of spiritual fulfillment other than that of the Puritans, bringing about pantheism, while inspiration and emotion replaced more conventional literary forms, as Romantics believed the heart, not rules, was essential to good literature. The era of Romanticism reflected the political tone, shift in ideals, and healthy economic status of the mid-1800s, providing new opportunities that broke the confines of previous literary works. Three famous authors were Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edgar Allan Poe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

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Question 2: List and explain how the writings of Nathaniel Hawthorne reflected his Puritan background, and give one example of how he differed, judging by themes commonly used in his works.

Answer 2: Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Puritan background was perhaps the greatest influence on his work. Colonel John Hathorne, Nathaniel’s great-grandfather, was the presiding judge in the Salem Witch Trials, and Hawthorne lived out most of his life in Salem. He later added the “w” to his last name to distance himself from the evils of his ancestors. The Puritan setting is utilized by Hawthorne in many of his tales, and Puritanical themes abound as well, such as guilt, isolationism and the idea of fate versus free will. Hawthorne’s belief in the existence of the devil is also indicative of his Puritan background, as is determinism, also known as predestination. His somber outlook on living, his thorough analysis of the mind, and his own tendency to withdraw from society reflected his Puritan beliefs. However, unlike his Puritan ancestors, Hawthorne revealed compassion for sinners, and believed in the concept of “degrees of sin.”

Question 3: Describe how the imagery of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” establishes the overall mood of the story, and list two examples of symbolism incorporated by Poe.

Answer 3: By carefully selecting every word and every phrase, Edgar Allan Poe creates an overall tone of horror in “The Fall of the House of Usher.” “Clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens,” “a singularly dreary tract of country,” and “the melancholy House of Usher” provide vivid imagery that sets the tone as one of dread, mystery, terror and morbidity. The fungus-ridden mansion is one example of how Poe uses symbolism, with the decrepit state of the mansion representing the decline of the Usher family. A second example occurs at the end of the story with the total collapse of the Usher mansion. This collapse, which occurs after the horrific deaths of the mansion’s inhabitants, brother and sister Roderick and Madeline Usher, represents the fall of the Usher family, as their demise ends the Usher lineage.

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