Chapter 2 American Romanticism Section 1 Early Romantic Period What is Romanticism? lAn approach from ancient Greek: Plato IA literary trend: 1 8c in Britain (1798-1832) SChlegel Bros L Preview: Characteristics of romanticism 1. subjectivity (1) feeling and emotions, finding truth (2)emphasis on imagination (3)emphasis on individualism personal freedom, no hero worship, natural goodness of human beings 2. back to medieval, esp medieval folk literature (1) unrestrained by classical rules (2)full of imagination (3)colloquial language (4 ) freedom of imagination (5)genuine in feelings: answer their call for classics 3. back to nature nature is breathing living things (Rousseau I. American Romanticism 1. Background4 Chapter 2 American Romanticism Section 1 Early Romantic Period What is Romanticism? lAn approach from ancient Greek: Plato lA literary trend: 18c in Britain （1798~1832） lSchlegel Bros. I. Preview: Characteristics of romanticism 1.subjectivity （1）feeling and emotions, finding truth （2）emphasis on imagination （3）emphasis on individualism personal freedom, no hero worship, natural goodness of human beings 2.back to medieval, esp medieval folk literature （1）unrestrained by classical rules （2）full of imagination （3）colloquial language （4）freedom of imagination （5）genuine in feelings: answer their call for classics 3.back to nature nature is ※breathing living thing§ （Rousseau） II. American Romanticism 1.Background