The American
Romantic Hero
List at least 3 modern heroes
in American Culture. These
heroes should be from
movies, books, etc. They may
not be real people.
Characteristics of the Romantic
Hero
n  Clichéd
rather than well rounded
n  The embodiment of ideas
n  A flawed character
Characteristics cont.
The American Romantic Hero has
qualities that can be found in the beliefs
of the Romantics.
Characteristics cont.
n  Individual
n  Youthful
n  Instinctive
n  Truth
n  Finds
truth in nature
Characteristics cont.
n  Nature
n  Key
to the Romantic Hero
n  Avoids the city
n  Derives knowledge from experiences and
nature
Birth of Romantic Hero
n  James
Fenimore Cooper
n  Father
of the American Novel
n  Wrote of the American Frontier
n  The Leatherstockings Tales
n  Natty
Bumppo
http://www.biography.com/articles/James-Fenimore-Cooper-9256602
Modern Romantic Heroes
n  Today
authors still write about the
American Romantic Hero
n  Popular examples are
n  Superman
n  Luke
Skywalker
n  Indiana Jones
superman-picture.com
Your Assignment
n  While
you read “Rip Van Winkle”
annotate the text to prove that he is an
American Romantic Hero.
Works Cited
n 
n 
n 
Dekker, Geroge G. “James Fenimore Cooper.” Biography
Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. <http://
www.biography.com/articles/James-FenimoreCooper-9256602>.
Grimes, Geoffrey A. "Basic Concept: Primitivism and the Noble
Savage." English 2327: Survey of American Literature.
Mountain View Coll, 27 Aug. 2004. Web. 29 Mar.
2010.<http://www.distancelearningassociates.com/
eng2327/BC-Primitivism.html>.
Kayden. “How Might Rip Van Winkle Be Seen as a Model
American Romantic Hero?” Enotes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23
Mar. 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/rip-van/q-and-a/howmight-rip-van-winkle-seen-model-american-16475>.
Works Cited
n 
n 
n 
n 
n 
“A New Kind of Hero.” Elements of Literature. Austin: Holt, Rinehart
and Winston, 1997. 147-50. Print.
Stevens, Jason. “The American Romantic Hero.” Hoffman Estates
High School. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2010.
<http://
www.hehs.d211.org/people/stevensj/classes/E302/
Assignments_Activities/Romanticism/american_romantic_h
ero.htm>.
Sullivan. “American Romanticism.” PPT file.
University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences. "Natty
Bumppo." James Fenimore Cooper. U of Virginia, n.d.
Web. 23 Mar. 2010.
<http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/COOPER/bumppo.html>.
Unknown. “American Romanticism.” PPT file.
runningredskins.blogspot.com
Rip Van Winkle
n  Prolonged
sleep sheltered and
ostracized him from society
n  Upon
awakening Rip encounters trouble
conforming to the new society
n  Laziness
helps cause separation from
society
n  Involved with nature