What did the Romantics turn to for wisdom?

• A. The wisdom of the ages: legend, folklore, and the history of America, while distrusting technological progress.
• B. Rational philosophy and classical geometry.
• C. Industrial progress and urban life.
• D. Sacred scripture alone.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that Romantics sought wisdom in legends, folklore, and the nation’s past rather than in science or modern industry. They believed these age-old stories and the textures of local history could awaken imagination, moral insight, and a sense of authentic national identity in a world growing businesslike and mechanized. Imagination, nature, and the emotional truth found in folk tales offered a deeper guide to life than rational philosophy or geometric proof, and far more than relying on sacred scripture alone. While some religious feeling existed, the Romantic quest for wisdom prioritized myth, folklore, and historical memory as living sources of meaning, especially in the American landscape and its stories.