Romantic Poetry in America

1
Romantic Poetry in America

• Through the Dead Poets Society

2
Mr. Keatings Words of Wisdom

• The idea of education learn to think for
  yourself
• The powerful play goes on, and you may
  contribute a verse. What would your verse be?
• You must strive to find your own voice

3
R. W. Emersons Advice to America

• Trust thyself imitation is suicide
  (Self-Reliance)
• We Americans need to interpret our OWN culture,
  not just rely on British ideas (The American
  Scholar 1837)
• We need an American Poet who can sing about OUR
  country. We need to see nature through American
  eyes (The Poet

4
Keating Emerson?
Unorthodox Not conforming to rules or traditions
5
Emerson as Mentor

• Call for an American Voice sparked the New
  England Renaissance 1840-1855
• Many writers finding their voice
• Henry David Thoreau
• Walt Whitman
• Emily Dickinson

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Emerson Inspires Thoreau

• Emerson encouraged Thoreau to do his experiment
  of living in the woods.
• Let Thoreau stay on his land
• Emerson inspiring ideas (Nature
  Self-Reliance)
• Thoreau putting it to practice

7
Emerson Inspires Walt Whitman

• Young Walt tries to be THE American Poet (as
  Emerson described)
• Writes Leaves of Grass
• a collection of poems (fresh, original)
• Mails the collection to Emerson
• Emerson congratulates him for having a fresh new
  voice

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Inspiring the Boys
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Inspiring the Boys
Each Found his OWN voice
10
Emily Dickinson

• Was born and died in the same house
• Didnt get out much (not in contact with Emerson)
• Wrote 1770 poems, published only 10 Anonymously
• Found her OWN voice

11
Emersons Over-soul

• Single soul of entire Universe
• I become a transparent eye-ball I am nothing I
  see all the currents of the Universal Being
  circulate through me I am part or particle of
  God (Nature)
• Whitman Dickinson also wrote about the soul.

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What makes this stanza Romantic? (think of the 5
Is)

• DAREST thou now, O Soul,  
• Walk out with me toward the Unknown Region,
• Where neither ground is for the feet, nor any
  path to follow?