American Romanticism
American Romanticism
Unit 2: American Romanticism
1800-1860
“Man Thinking” - Emerson
This Unit will employ blended learning strategies. This means, in part, that students are responsible for their own learning in terms of the provided content. The instructor will be a guide, not a “giver of knowledge” in the traditional sense. Students should plan on bringing laptops to school if possible, and have a headset/earbuds for listening to streaming content in class. Students are able to use the classroom N-hub computing systems, and there may be a laptop cart available as well.
Objectives
1. To be able to define the affects/purpose of American Romanticism as a literary time period.
2. To examine the varying texts of the time period and determine how they define this time period.
3. To understand the purpose, content, and message of the writings studied.
4. To understand new terminology such as blank verse, poetic foot, caesuras, ethos, pathos, and logos, transcendentalism, and American Romanticism.
5. To share our new understandings both publicly, and personally.
Colorado State Standards addressed. (Mastery is always expected.)
Primary Required Outcomes – These are required for all students! This reflects how you will show/produce your understanding from this Unit.
Poetry Study:
1. You will work collaboratively to deconstruct and explain the poem, “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant through a series of questions and group discussion.
2. You will independently read Walt Whitman's "A Noiseless Patient Spider" (pdf doc) and answer the questions given.
3. You must also read Whitman's "Song of the Open Road" and answer, in no more than a page, how Whitman's poem reflects the larger themes of the Romantic Period. (Be sure to use evidence in your reflection/analysis.)
4. Choose 3 Emily Dickinson poems to actively read; choose one poem to reflect on and analyze in 1/2-1 pg.
Time Period Content Test:
1. You are required to show your knowledge of the time period and any connections involved on a short, objective test (15 questions/30 points) that covers the introductory material in our textbook: Literature – The Reader’s Choice: American Literature by Glencoe; New York, 2007. Required Reading: pages 163-176
Concept Review:
1. View parts 1 & 2 of Professor Bernstein's American Romanticism review (youtube links below) and take notes.
Reading Log and Noting:
1. You will be expected to read all required listed texts from Emerson and Thoreau and note them through our Purpose, Quote, and Reasons format (see course doc.s) in a journal. Task completion grade given. (min. req 5 pages/"C"; 7 pages/"B"; 10(+) pages/"A")
Socratic Seminar:
We will engage in a seminar to discuss and solidify our understandings of Transcendentalism through the readings of Thoreau and Emerson. (Standard Seminar Rubric Assessment/30 points)
Final Project Choices
Tier 1 Projects show basic understandings...
Idea Cube: You will share your new knowledge, lingering questions, and personal applications of this knowledge with a differentiated project called an Idea Cube. (assignment details in doc section & rubric)
Power Paragraph: This analysis paragraph must follow form and analyze one (1) of the works of Thoreau, Whitman, or Emerson that you have read.
Creative & Reflective Art Piece: You may create a painting, a sculpture, or an "installation" that artistically represents a concept forwarded by the Romantics or Transcendentalists. Please consider size, extent, and scope of this project and plan appropriately. This art piece must be accompanied by a written rationale/artist's statement explaining how your art does reflect the concept(s) studied - 1 page minimum. (no poster boards, crayon drawings, or pencil sketches please! These will not be accepted.)
Tier 2 Projects increase in complexity and depth of understanding
American Romanticism or Transcendentalism Website:
Created through student created Google Site, Wiki Site, or Weebly Site. This website must provide: background information and clear definitions of the American Romantic and/or Transcendentalist movement. It must also provide a minimum of 5 text passages from the required readings with a short analysis for each that illustrates how these passages reflect the ideals of the movement. The web site should also include pictures or illustrations, work towards a pleasing design, and include links to other related websites that might be helpful to others studying this material. All sources of use MUST be documented on the website.
Mini-Research Paper: You may choose to do in-depth research on the life and work of either Thoreau, Emerson, Whitman, or Dickinson. Your paper must include biographical information, documented passages/commentary of professional critics regarding these writings, your own analysis of your favorite text passage, and your own personal reflection on this writer and the movement of American Romanticism. Of course it must follow all MLA standards. (5 page max.)
"My Own Song" - a Free Verse Poem: You will create a free verse poem (research what this is and how it is created!) from your observations of nature that works like an extended metaphor in its commentary about current social, economic, or political issues/ideas or a free verse poem, in the spirit of Whitman, that celebrates or comments on your present world. 2 page max./1 pg. min. (Rubric)
Schedule – calendar and daily expectations
See our course calendar on Mr. Corbo’s class website for daily activities, homework, and due dates. Be prepared for class with the materials needed to be productive and on task. As you are self directed in this Unit, be sure to plan your time well and be prepared for class with any materials you may need.
Controlling Questions (for Seminar and beyond)
What is American Romanticism?
What is Thoreau’s view of nature and its implications for mankind? What is his purpose?
Why is nature a metaphor for the Transcendentalists? What do they compare it to?
What seems to be Emerson’s purpose in his writings?
How are Thoreau’s views consistent with Emerson’s? How are they different?
Explain what Emerson means by “Man thinking”.
Describe the tone of Walt Whitman’s writing/poetry. How does it reflect the theme(s) of Romanticism?
Describe the tone of Emily Dickinson’s writing/poetry. How do they reflect the theme(s) of Romanticism?
Required Reading/Texts:
“Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant (hand-out for collaborative in-class work)
Course Textbook: Literature – The Reader’s Choice: American Literature by Glencoe; New York, 2007.
Required Reading: pages 163-176
From Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau – (found in etext version in Student Resources on course website)
Required Reading: “Where I Lived and What I Lived For”, “Solitude”, and “Civil Disobedience”
From the “Essays” by Ralph Waldo Emerson – (found in etext version in Student Resources on course website)
Required Reading: “Nature” and “Self-Reliance”
Poems of Walt Whitman, (found in etext version in Student Resources on course website)
Required Reading: "Song of the Open Road"
Poems of Emily Dickinson: Choose 3 to read and note. Recommended poems are:
Various Web-based resources listed on the course website, and/or discovered by the student.
Student Resources:
Introduction to American Romanticism with Professor Bernstein - parts 1 & 2
A website that provides more basic information on the movement and the writers of it.
Thoreau Biography and philosophy in 3 parts
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGdreCP6shU
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV4YHOjJLDk
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_66e7ufanX4
Transcendentalism briefly defined:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6UvQ4x9T6Q
Emerson’s Essays (all) for "Self Reliance" and "Nature" readings - search by chapter links on site
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16643/16643-h/16643-h.htm#SELF-RELIANCE
Thoreau's Walden and "Civil Disobedience" - search by chapter links on site
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/205/205-h/205-h.htm
Thoreau’s Walden (complete) read aloud with text
http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=AGdreCP6shU
Walt Whitman Leaves of Grass e-text - Read "Song of the Open Road"
Link to "Song of the Open Road" - in Book 7 (VII) of Leaves of Grass
Defining Transcendentalism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism
http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/4intro.html Great site! Clearly lists assumptions and tenets of the movement
http://womenshistory.about.com/bltranscend.htm Basic definitions of Transcendentalism. Useful for an intro.
http://transcendentalism.tamu.edu/ American Transcendentalism Web – articles and research around this movement
Mark Ruffalo reading parts of "Civil Disobedience"
http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?v=9z0o_MAU0ao
First few pages of "Civil Disobedience" read aloud
http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?v=qjCB6W1TKcc
Emerson quotes over video/music montage – an interesting collection maybe to begin with
http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?v=rXUkh9MYgJs
American transcendentalist ideas – some good quotes by transcendentalist’s who define it in varied ways
http://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/amtrans.htm