American Romanticism 4219-SC0017
Topics of classes:
1. The beginning of romanticism in the US in 1805-1820
2. E.A. Poe as poet, fiction writer, and essayist - "Dark Romanticism"
3. The roots of romanticism in New Egland - romanticism and the local religious tradition, European influences
4. Romanticism as an element of the US cultural identity
5. R.W. Emerson's early essays ("Nature," "The American Scholar," "The Divinity School Address")
6. R.W. Emerson's essays (Fiirst and Second Series) ("History," "Circles," "The Poet")
7. N. Hawthorne: romanticism and history (selected tales)
8. M. Fuller in USA and Europe: intellectual emancipation of women, encounter with Europe before and during the Spring of Nations
9. H.D. Thoreau and nature in practice (selected chapters of "Walden," "Walking)
10. The political and social significance of romanticism in USA (abolition of slavery, support of Native Americans, status of women, utopia).
11. The rise of landscape painting (W. Allston, Hudson River School: T. Cole, F.E. Church).
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: A graduate possesses comprehensive knowledge and understanding of:
- the significance of cultural studies and religious studies within the scholarly system, including their specific subjects and methodologies, relationships with other disciplines and fields, and future development directions
- major trends and works of American literature, essential foundations of American literary history that are an integral part of studying North American culture, as well as theoretical and methodological basics of literary studies
Skills: A graduate is able to:
- formulate and solve complex research problems, recognizing, understanding, interpreting, explaining, and analyzing the causes and course of cultural processes and phenomena in the United States using sources and standard research methods and tools within the humanities
- interpret works of American literature in the context of broadly understood American culture
- apply principles of effective communication necessary in the context of exchange between two cultural systems
Social Skills: A graduate is able to:
- utilize interdisciplinary knowledge acquired in American Studies concerning the United States to formulate own opinions and recognize its significance in solving cognitive and practical problems
- develop professionally, continue learning and engage in the development of American Studies
Assessment criteria
Final test - 40 p.
Term paper - 30 p.
Active participation in class discussion - 30 p.
Grading: 100-80/5, 87-75/4, 74-55/3, 54-0/2
Practical placement
None
Bibliography
Selected bibliography
L. Buell, Literary Transcendentalism (2016)
L. Buell, New England Literary Culture (1986)
L. Buell, Emerson (2003)
L. Chai, The Romantic Foundations of the American Renaissance (1987)
P. Gura, American Transcendentalism. A History (2007)
W.R. Hutchison, The Transcendentalist Ministers (1972)
B. Novak, Nature and Culture: American Landscape and Painting (2007)
S. Paul, The Shores of America (1958)
A.C. Rose, Transcendentalism as a Social Movement, 1830-1850 (1981)
S. Rosenheim and S, Rachman (eds), The American Face of E.A. Poe (1995)
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: