The "Noble Savage" and Enlightenment Ideals

Enlightenment thinkers firmly believed in the intrinsic goodness of humanity. Dive into the concept of the "noble savage" to explore its connections to Enlightenment philosophies. Craft a well-structured essay detailing your discoveries, enriched with examples drawn from literature and history. Don't forget to address any elements of the "noble savage" that challenge or diverge from Enlightenment ideals.

Literary Movements: Sturm und Drang and Romanticism

Sturm und Drang and Romanticism are literary currents that emerged, in part, as counterpoints to Enlightenment ideals. Select one of these fascinating movements and create a web page that summarizes its essence alongside the Enlightenment, highlighting their similarities and differences. Delve into why scholars regard your chosen movement as a response against Enlightenment thought.

Artistic Expressions of Enlightenment and Beyond

In the late eighteenth century, literature became a vessel for Enlightenment ideas, while Neoclassicism reigned supreme in the art world. As the nineteenth century dawned, Romanticism took its place. Explore these artistic movements and their iconic works. Examine the paintings of Jacques-Louis David, a paragon of Neoclassicism, and uncover their stylistic or thematic connections to Romantic artist Eugene Delacroix, whose masterpiece Liberty Leading the People stands as a resounding symbol of freedom.

Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" and Enlightenment Influence

Immerse yourself in Victor Hugo’s timeless tale of the French Revolution, Les Misérables, or experience its dramatic retelling through a stage or screen adaptation. Choose a principal character and craft a character sketch that reveals how Enlightenment principles may have shaped—or failed to influence—the character’s personality, emotional depth, and choices.