New England Renaissance Review- DAY ONE

Name: ______10 CP New England Renaissance Review- DAY ONE

NER Graphic Organizer 1. What was the worldview of the fireside poets?

2. How did these men all know one another? Be specific.

3. What were the central themes of their poetry?

4. What genre did the Transcendentalists primarily use?

5. What are some key beliefs of Transcendentalism? List and EXPLAIN three.

6. Who are two Anti-transcendentalists? List authors and works.

Fireside Poets Notes 1. What publication did Holmes and Lowell found?

2. How did Longfellow describe poetry?

3. What criticism did much of Longfellow’s poetry receive?

4. What was Longfellow’s most famous (and historic) poem?

“ Minister’s Black Veil” Questions 1. What is the topic of Father Hooper’s initial sermon? How is this significant?

2. Why does Father Hooper wear the black veil?

3. What do the townspeople think the veil symbolizes?

4. What (to Father Hooper) does the veil actually symbolize? Scarlet Letter Worksheet 1. What do the woods symbolize?

2. Why has Hester been forced to wear the red letter?

3. Where is Hester’s husband when the book opens? Why are the townspeople unable to punish Hester’s lover?

4. How is Dimmesdale viewed by his congregation? Why is this ironic?

5. Describe the relationship that develops between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Why has Chillingworth gone to live with the pastor? What does he discover?

6. How does Dimmesdale acknowledge his sin (both in word and action)? What happens shortly thereafter? What does his confession guarantee?

7. What is a worse sin than adultery? Why?

Holmes Reading Worksheet 1. To what does the poem “Old Ironsides” pay tribute?

2. What was the impact of this poem?

3. How is the topic of this poem characteristic of the Romantic movement?

4. What is a chambered nautilus? Describe its life cycle.

5. How is the human experience similar to the growth process of this shell?

6. What do you think the message of “The Chambered Nautilus” is? What might Holmes’ advice to his reader be?

Lowell Reading Worksheet 1. What does the word “auspex” mean? Why then is “Auspex” an appropriate name for this poem? 2. Describe the mood of this poem. Does the poet seem happy or sad? Copy TWO lines which support your answer.

3. How might “Auspex” relate to Lowell’s personal history? What significant event marked his personal life?

4. Refer to “The First Snowfall” in the blue book. What is the poet remembering in this poem?

5. To what are snowdrifts similar? Why might the snow prompt the poet to remember this event?

6. Explain the significance of the kiss at the end of the poem. Who is the poet kissing (both literally and metaphorically)?

Longfellow Reading Worksheet 1. Select TWO lines from “A Psalm of Life” that indicate if Longfellow is an optimistic OR a pessimistic. Explain why these lines are relevant.

2. What lines highlights the difference between Romantic and Puritan ideology? What is Longfellow’s goal?

3. Explain the meaning of the phrase “carpe diem”. How does this apply to “A Psalm of Life”?

4. What are our footprints? How can they inspire “a shipwrecked brother”?

5. What does Longfellow urge the reader to do in the final stanza of “A Psalm of Life”?

6. Consider the title of “The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls”. What might the tide symbolize? How is the ocean applicable to human experience?

7. What happens at night? (Hint: this image was also mentioned in “A Psalm of Life”. What does this metaphorically suggest happens every morning?

8. What might be the theme of this poem? How does its message differ from that of “A Psalm of Life”?