Individualism in Early American Literature Essay

Every single American citizen is entitled to freedom, whether it is the freedom to practice and believe in any religion, or an individual’s right to his/her own political philosophies. During the beginning period of American literature there was an immense struggle between the concepts of conformity and individualism. From colonial times all the way to the revolutionary period these two concepts have forced a split in the identity of American literature. The split is not a harmful occurrence, in

On Different Values of Individualism in Chinese and American Cultures 1. Introduction Everyone, every social class and every country have their own unique values. It is the fact that value is the core of cross-culture communication and the differences of culture among countries depend on different values. Value exerts great influence on everyone’s daily life. Scores of people rely on value to obtain knowledge, master the basic skills and foster correct world outlook. China and America are two

period were firm on their identity. Early Romantics drew their inspiration from nature and concentrated individualism, emotional identity, and the basic elements of imagination in their literature. Reflections of the American growth and struggle prevailed through their writing as most Romantics were advocates for human rights. This can be seen in William Cullen Bryant’s 1817 poem “Thanatopsis” as it aided in establishing Romanticism in American literature during the mid-19th century.

The American Renaissance was a revolution for literature and writers in America itself that emphasized cultural authority. The American Renaissance took place throughout the nineteenth century, primarily in the early segment of this era. According to, The Norton Anthology of American Literature, “the idea of American Renaissance has been so influential in part of the literature of this time period, and was crucial to the development of American literary traditions” (4). This created a diverse

is a strong competitor. Similarly, The American Dream is shown through literature before the rationalist era in three ways. Non-fiction from the Pre-colonial and Colonial eras present the Dream in three ways. One element of the American Dream is seeing America as the Garden of Eden. Pre-rationalists’ writings contain a theme of individuality. Another component that the first American literature has is a hope for the future. Three aspects formulate the American Dream that is present in pre-rationalist

America’s national identity, an analyses of these philosophies demonstrates that Transcendental thought is responsible for generating an American ideology of individualism, civil disobedience, and an emphasis on Man 's individual affiliation with God. Within a generation of the revolution, American authors were initiating an exploration of an emergent American sensibility with a neoteric literary conviction. This

Romantic Movement, or the American Renaissance, originated in Germany. This period spread to England, France, and reached America in the early 1800’s. Just as in Europe a new light was shed on the artistic and intellectual circles. However in America romanticism corresponded with national expansion and the discovery of American voice. The foundation of national identity, the rising of idealism, and the passion of Romanticism fostered the “American Renaissance. (Outline of American Lit.) Self-awareness

We study American Literature to remain aware of how the culture chooses to identify itself. Literature reflects the culture it was created in and will often time tell a different story due to the nation’s shifting nature. Early American literature shares similar stories that show how this country struggled with freedom, religion and empowering individualism. One group that laid the foundation still has an influence on modern culture today. Puritan literature is a dominant factor in American life and

The literature of 18th Century America primarily centers on the ideas and discoveries that started in England. According to McMichael, Newton’s discoveries in mathematics “revealed that the universe is not a mystery moving at the whim of an inscrutable God but a mechanism operating by a rational formula that can be understood by an intelligent person,” which challenged the old ideas of supernatural occurrences and superstitions thus “weakening faith in miracles, in holy books, and in the divinity

” he talks about how American citizens cannot agree on who we are because we cannot agree on whom we have been. The American custom, Dionne expresses, points not to be self-sufficient and selfish, but to even out our compassion of individual freedom and our loyalty to the public. Understanding of our nation’s history, Dionne shows an insightful examination of how self-reliance is toxic to our present political ambience. He participates the Tea Party’s involvement with American history, but also shows