American Romanticism /"Rappaccini's Daughter"
AMERICAN LITERATURE: AMERICAN ROMANTICISM OVERVIEW
AGENDA:Today we will begin a 2 day lesson on Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Rappaccini's Daughter" and then continue with the other stories you were asked to read over the break.
Our goal is to address the following questions tomorrow.
EQ: After close reading and analysis of the story, explore and evaluate the relevance of the following key ideas represented in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 19c.short story “Rappaccini’s Daughter” have for the modern reader?
1. Ethics and science (responsibility of scientists) Thematic
2. Relationship between creator/inventor and creations/invention Thematic
3. Relationships among families and friends Character analysis
4. Impact of obsessions on self and others Character analysis
5. Allegorical inversion of the “Garden of Eden” Rhetorical strategy
But first, let's take a moment to do a QUICKWRITE on your first reactions to "Rappaccini's Daughter". Post your responses on the blog (or use looseleaf paper period 9). Five minutes, GO!
Now let's take a look at American Romantics who are considered anti-Transcendentalists (or the Dark Romantics) because of their fascination with evil, death and the supernatural.
But first, let's take a moment to do a QUICKWRITE on your first reactions to "Rappaccini's Daughter". Post your responses on the blog (or use looseleaf paper period 9). Five minutes, GO!
Now let's take a look at American Romantics who are considered anti-Transcendentalists (or the Dark Romantics) because of their fascination with evil, death and the supernatural.
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/high-school-english-lessons/6429-notes-on-american-romanticism-class-handout/
- Romanticism in American Literature brought us some of the world's greatest writers. Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Washington Irving and Henry David Thoreau are still studied in classrooms throughout America and in Europe.
Romanticism
Romance describes strange lands and wonderful adventures. It allows the writer greater latitude to include the marvelous with the real. The romance may include the traditional hero with white hat on the white horse; the evil villain with the long black mustache; the lovely young woman in need of rescue, and the hairbreadth rescue itself. Romanticism as a movement began in the late 18th century, moved to England where it developed an emphasis in the glorification of nature, the supernatural, and the rebel—the individual against society. It spread to America in the early to mid 19th century and is represented in such writers as Hawthorne, Poe, and Cooper.American Romanticism
In the 1830’s, America began to experience the impact of the Romantic Movement that was transforming European civilization. Like the European movement of which it was an offshoot, American Romanticism was in a broad sense a new attitude toward nature, humanity, and society that espoused individualism and freedom. Many trends characterized American Romanticism. Among the most important are the following:
- An impulse toward reform (temperance, women’s rights, abolition of slavery)
- A celebration of individualism (Emerson, Thoreau)
- A reverence for nature (Cooper, Emerson, Thoreau)
- A concern with the impact of new technology (locomotive)
- An idealization of women
- A fascination with death and the supernatural (Hawthorne, Poe)
Important Writers
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882): Self-Reliance
- Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862): Walden, Civil Disobedience
- Washington Irving (1783-1859): The Devil and Tom Walker, Rip Van Winkle Tales
- Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849): The Pit and the Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death, The Raven and many many more
- Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables, Doctor Heidegger’s Experiment, Young Goodman Brown
Analysis of "Rappaccini's Daughter"
Discussion Points- American Romanticism: The tenets of American Romanticism include the dangers of technology and a fascination with death and the supernatural. Rappaccini's unprioritized love for science and the supernatural aura surrounding Beatrice satisfy these aspects of American Romanticism.
- Characterization: "Rappaccini's Daughter" is a short story with no hero and no likable characters. Although we sympathize with Giovanni, his obsessive nature and unwillingness to listen to reason make him unlikeable. Beatrice endangers Giovanni's life. Rappaccini is a brilliant scientist but a lousy human. Pietro Baglioni appears to be the the voice of reason but acts treacherously to defeat his rival, as evidenced by his final comment and obvious jealousy.
- Allusions: References to the Garden of Eden, direct and indirect, abound.
- Symbolism: The poisonous plant and deteriorating statue in the center of the garden symbolize physical and moral corruption. The color purple, a hybrid color, symbolizes the mixing of ingredients and the mixing of good and evil in humans. Rappaccini's black clothing represents his diabolical nature.
- Setting and Mood: Hawthorne's physical description of the mansion and Giovanni's apartment help establish an ominous mood and foreshadows the story's tragic ending.
- Paradox: The controlling image of the story, the garden and Beatrice, is a paradox--a poisonous Eve and a poisonous Garden of Eden.
- Theme: Possible themes include the duality of human nature, the corrupting potential of science, lust, and jealousy.
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