Course description: Romanticism is undoubtedly one of the most misunderstood, but also one of the most influential literary movements in the United States. Marked by important shifts in the social history of Western cultures (e.g., the American and the French Revolution, feminism, and abolitionism), the Romantic Movement is often seen as a counter-discourse to the predominance of science and rationality in the Age of Enlightenment. Through its focus on emotions as well as aesthetic and supernatural elements (e.g., the “sublime”), the romance creates a literary realm full of dramatic tensions and unsolved riddles. We will trace the tradition of American romanticism through various subgenres, from the early seduction novel (Susanna Rowson) to the sentimental novel (Maria Susanna Cummins), the later blend of naturalism and romanticism (Kate Chopin), and the 20th- and 21st-century versions of the genre (M. Mitchell). What made romanticism so fascinating to American readers, rendering it the dominant genre from the 1800s far into the 1850s? Why is the genre still so influential today, in the form of romantic comedies (Pretty Woman), melodrama (Titanic), and fantasy romances (the Twilight saga).We will also briefly deal with 19th-century romantic thinking inspired by Transcendentalism (especially Walt Whitman) and this variant's contribution to what is called "helle Romantik," delimiting this approach from the pessimistic outlook of “Negative Romanticism” (Nathaniel Hawthorne). The materials to be discussed will include novels, short stories, poems, and paintings (e.g., the Hudson RiverSchool). To underline our findings, we will also take a look at a few cinematic examples which pick up the romantic tradition.
Grading:
2 CP: active participation in class discussions, expert session plus handout & at least nine entries in the discussion forum before the session;
5 CP: competent & lively participation in class discussions, expert session plus handout & at least ten entries in the discussion forum before the session & a 5-page summary of one important primary or secondary text (to be made accessible to the class);
7 CP: competent & lively participation in class discussions, expert session plus handout & at least ten entries in the discussion forum before the session & final paper of ca. 15 pages on a seminar-related topic with a close reading.
Deadline for Final Papers: Friday, March 31 (Thursday), 2011. Note: There is no (!) extension of this deadline.