Anti-Transcendentalism 19 th century (approx. 1840-1860) literary movement that focused on the dark side of humanity and the evilness and guilt of sin

Reasons / Causes Opposed the optimism and naïve idealism of the transcendentalists Dwelt on guilt and remorse over past sins Discontented with current circumstances in America (poverty/unjust and cruel treatment of factory workers, poor educational system, lack of women’s rights, slavery…) so they focused on moral dilemmas and society’s ills

Opposed the optimism and naïve idealism of the transcendentalists

Dwelt on guilt and remorse over past sins

Discontented with current circumstances in America (poverty/unjust and cruel treatment of factory workers, poor educational system, lack of women’s rights, slavery…) so they focused on moral dilemmas and society’s ills

Literary Works Prose (short stories and novels) allegory

Prose (short stories and novels)

allegory

Key ideas / Philosophies Belief in the potential destructiveness of the human spirit Belief in individual truths, but no universal truths, and the truths of existence are deceitful and disturbing Human nature is inherently sinful (original sin) and evil is an active force in the universe Focus on the man’s uncertainty and limitations in the universe

Belief in the potential destructiveness of the human spirit

Belief in individual truths, but no universal truths, and the truths of existence are deceitful and disturbing

Human nature is inherently sinful (original sin) and evil is an active force in the universe

Focus on the man’s uncertainty and limitations in the universe

View of Nature Nature is vast and incomprehensible, a reflection of the struggle between good and evil Nature is the creation and possession of God and it cannot be understood by human beings

Nature is vast and incomprehensible, a reflection of the struggle between good and evil

Nature is the creation and possession of God and it cannot be understood by human beings

Writing Style Man vs. Nature conflicts bring out the evil in humanity Raw and morbid diction Focus on the protagonist’s inner struggles Typical protagonists are haunted outsiders who are alienated from society Prevalent use of symbolism

Man vs. Nature conflicts bring out the evil in humanity

Raw and morbid diction

Focus on the protagonist’s inner struggles

Typical protagonists are haunted outsiders who are alienated from society

Prevalent use of symbolism

Nathaniel Hawthorne “ As the moral gloom of the world overpowers all systematic gaiety, even so was their home of wild mirth made desolate amid the sad forest.” “ The Maypole of Merrymount “(1836)

“ As the moral gloom of the world overpowers all systematic gaiety, even so was their home of wild mirth made desolate amid the sad forest.”

“ The Maypole of Merrymount “(1836)

Herman Melville “ All men live enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life.” -- Moby Dick

“ All men live enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life.” -- Moby Dick

Melville harshly criticizes capitalism, slavery, war and imperialism, but he shows passionate empathy for “classes of men who bear the same relation to society at large that the wheels do to a coach.”

but he shows passionate empathy for “classes of men who bear the same relation to society at large that the wheels do to a coach.”

A final quote from Melville “ If, at my death, my executors, or more properly my creditors, find any precious manuscripts in my desk, then here I prospectively ascribe all the honor and glory to whaling; for the whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.”

“ If, at my death, my executors, or more properly my creditors, find any precious manuscripts in my desk, then here I prospectively ascribe all the honor and glory to whaling; for the whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.”

One Last Dark Soul… We can’t forget Edgar Allan Poe! Movie: Great books… Take NOTES

We can’t forget Edgar Allan Poe!

Movie: Great books… Take NOTES