The Influence of Romanticism on Today's World

Although Romanticism does not typically portray uplifting themes, it can use the themes it does protray (e.g. hypocracy and adultury) to open the eyes people who ignorantly take immoral actions. It can inspire such people to change their behavior and become better people, or realize how messed up society  is and try to make a difference in society themselves. Through Romanticism, Gothic Romanticism, and Southern Gothic Romanticism, authors can influence today's world and make it a better place by encouraging others to become better people.

How did the American culture prompt the dark sides of Romanticism (think Gothic and Southern Gothic)?

Naturally, in American Culture, human fault is present and common. This commonality of fault, whether it be because of decisions that are 

In American culture, human fault is not uncommon. Fault in an American, is based on the interpretation on who ever is seeking fault, and is often found in the fault seeker himself, which thus makes him or her a hypocrite. This fault finding sport fuels Romanticism and Southern Gothic Romanticism by giving the author of such writing style a theme to write about, the dark side of human nature. For example, Mr. Shiftlet in "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" by O'Connor leaves behind his angelic wife, picks up a hitchhiker, and proceeds to lecture the young boy on how sad he felt that he left his angelic mother. This act can be seen as hypocracy because Shiftlet is hinting that the boy should not leave his family behind when he is leaving his own wife behind. Hypocracy is a dark theme that is present in Southern Gothic Romanticism, but the reason it is included in Southern Gothic Romanticism is because it exists in real life.

How is the Southern Gothic movement a response to literary movements that have preceded it as well as a manipulation of Romantic literary conventions?

 How is the Southern Gothic movement a response to literary movements that have preceded it as well as a manipulation of Romantic literary conventions?

Southern Gothic Romanticism is a sub-genre of Romanticism. It is a response to the Romanticism movements and a manipulation of Romantic literary conventions. It shares the basic values of nature, human nature, and past; but it also includes the manipulations of a southern setting, the common grotesque character, and the themes of freakishness, imprisonment, violence, and sense of place.

Differences and Similarities Between Romanticism, Gothic Romanticism, and Southern Gothic Romanticism

Differences
Romanticism-

• Expresses values of Nature, Human Nature, and Past
• Shows interest in escaping reality
• A common belief among romantics is that science is dangerous
• Expresses individuality

Gothic Romanticism-

• Expresses values of dark, gloomy, mysterious, exotic, and supernatural

Southern Gothic Romanticism-

• Ironic Events
• Grotesque
• Southern setting

• Commonly includes themes of violence, imprisonment, freakishness, and sense of place

Similarities

• All express basic values of Nature, Human Nature, Past (Commonly seen as criticism against human nature.)

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

• "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" by Wallis Willis is about escaping the physical conditions of slavery and religious faith and hope. The message within this song is shown through representation that can be taken literally or figuratively; literally, meaning to escape the physical conditions of slavery and figuratively to portray religious hope and faith. In the lyrics of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", Willis writes,"Swing low, sweet chariot,
  Comin' for to carry me home;
  Swing low, sweet chariot,
  Comin' for to carry me home." Home, in this case is referring to heaven, and when the singer asks that the chariot carry him home, he is asking God to take him up to heaven so he no longer has to endure the pains of slavery which he or she has to physically endure.
• This song relates today and is reflective of this time period because although slavery is no longer a relevant issue in America, people throughout this country are still subject pain and suffering. These people, though their life may not be as harsh as the life of the individuals who sang this song during times of slavery, can view this song as a way to look toward God to help them make it through hard times just as the slaves did a long while ago.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow captures the imaginations of readers today by leaving missing pieces of information for their minds to work with and add.
•  When Icabod is faced by the Headless Horseman,Washington Irving describes the phantom as "huge, misshapen, black, and towering" (Irving). He chases Icabod with his horse and carries a head in his saddle. After Icabod's frightening encounter with the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow, the remaining evidence of Icobod's encounter with the headless horseman include Icobod's trampled saddle, borrowed horse, and a shattered pumpkin. This leads the reader to wonder if Icobod imagined the horseman to be headless and carrying a head, or if the incident was a trick played on Icobod by another character. Brom Bones later laughing at the story of Icobod's encounter when the pumpkin is mentioned seems to confirm suspicion that he is guilty of pretending to be the headless horseman because he is the joking type and has the motive of scaring away Icabod so he can marry Katrina.
• The evidences left to the reader by Irving allow the reader to imply and make their own assumptions and inspires the imaginations of the reader as they contemplate what really happened in the story.

Criticism Toward Human Nature in Gothic Romanticism

How do the Gothic fiction writers express—either directly or indirectly—a criticism of human nature. Explain what the writers criticize about human nature, and how they communicate this criticism to the reader. Do the writers have similar attitudes toward human nature? Explain.

• In "The Fall of the House of Usher", Poe expresses criticism toward the human nature of doubt. This criticism is evident when Usher hears Madeline's movement from within her tomb but doesn't tell the narrator of his suspicions until later when Madeline escapes her tomb herself. He was doubted what he did indeed hear, and as a result, dies from the shock and dread of her awakening body.
• In "The Fountain of Youth", Hawthorne expresses criticism toward the human nature of taking youth for granted. This criticism is evident after the four elderly subjects partake of the fountain of youth. After having drunk from the fount, they fall into delirium, believing they are young when they are actually still old. They go crazy and take this youthful feeling for granted by, completely forgetting the feeling of age that they did face and even making fun of the infirmities encountered with age. They even make fun of the elderly in their merriment. Hawthorne writes," The most singular effect of their gayety was an impulse to mock the infirmity and decrepitude of which they had so lately been the victims. They laughed loudly at their old-fashioned attire, the wide-skirted coats and flapped waist-coats of the young men, and the ancient cap and gown of the blooming girl. One limped across the floor like a gouty grandfather; one set a pair of spectacles astride of his nose, and pretended to pore over the black-letter pages of the book of magic; a third seated himself in an arm-chair, and strove to imitate the venerable dignity of Dr. Heidegger..."Because they took the youth they had previously felt for granted, they were faced with a feeling of disappointment at it's departure rather than a feeling of gratitude that they had been able to feel young again for at least a small moment.
• In "Masque of the Red Death", Poe expresses criticism toward the human nature of negligence and the taking of health for granted. This criticism is aimed toward the noble people at Prince Prospero's party. Those at the party shut themselves off from the declining health of the people of the kingdom instead of helping or contributing to the sick's betterment, and even worse-- they throw a party to enjoy while they do so. The Red Death's unexpected arrival at the party and killing off the crowd can be seen as punishment for not realizing just how fortunate the people at the party are for their health and their negligence of the people who don't have good health. If Prince Prospero's friends aren't grateful for their health, they might as well fall ill.
• The authors of these works express similar criticisms toward human nature. In "The Fountain of Youth" and "Masque of the Red Death", Hawthorne and Poe show a common criticism of taking what is given for granted. The elderly men and woman in "The Fountain of Youth" are ungrateful for the small period of youth they are given and don't take the time to fully appreciate the youth they are given, and the friends of Prospero who attend his party don't seem to fully appreciate their health. Both groups of people from both works receive a form of punishment as a result of their ungratefulness-- disappointment and death.