Romanticism’s Impact on America
The period of Romanticism, occurring between the years 1800 and 1860, left a significant impact on not only the literature of that time, but the literature of today as well. Prior to romantic writings, the world focused on society and logic. Romanticism allowed people to start valuing individualism and to appeal to emotional responses. This new way of thinking brought new literary styles, themes, and genres that were never explored before and are still found today. The literature of Romanticism allowed people to escape the harshness of reality and enter a different world.
The establishment of a new nation encouraged the people to alter their philosophical way of thinking. The Enlightenment significantly impacted America due to the stress placed on logic and reason (“Romanticism”). The Enlightenment had a strict order and when combined with Romantic thinking, it created different reactions. Although Romantic writers still wanted to have reason, they wanted to also be in touch with emotions. Abandoning most of the logical thinking also lead the Romantics to discover darker literature that is referred to as gothic. This dark literature was never explored before Romanticism (Robinson). It is said that "[i]t was a revolt against established order, especially that which was established by the enlightenment," which shows the rebellious nature of the people of this time and how badly they wanted to be different ("Romanticism"). Along with the
Romanticism stressed imagination over reason and pushed the core values of emotion, expression, and experimentation. Romanticism emphasized nature over civilization and self over society. Romantic authors celebrate human potential and the heroic genius of individual
Writers in The romantic Period wrote their pieces with emotion, compared to the Colonial Period when it was about information, and politics. Writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne, Washington Irving, Ralph Emerson, and Henry Longfellow are some of the writers of this time. They all help shape and, make a path for the Romantic Period. The Romantic Period took place in the 1800’s, and was at its peak around 1850 or so. It originated in the area of Europe and was all about the spread of art, music, and writing.
The Romantic Period in American Literature was a time period characterized by self-awareness, symbolism, fascination with nature, and interest in supernatural themes. Romanticism began in Europe and quickly spread to the United States. The era peaked from approximately 1800 to 1850. Some of the most noted American authors from this time period were William Cullen Bryant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Washington Irving, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Edgar Allen Poe. These authors had unique writing styles but shared many common themes in their writing styles.
The Romanticism period in the United States was focused mainly on nature which introduced progressiveness as one of the quintessential characteristics of America and its citizens. Romanticism was a movement in which the people believe that nature is at the epicenter of all ideas and inspirations. This sentiment of nature’s greatness only increased amongst Americans after the Louisiana Purchase and the migration of the Americans to the west that came shortly afterward. The Louisiana purchase was a deal made with the French for control over most of the mid-west and other western areas in 1803. The deal was made by Thomas Jefferson during his presidency for only 15 million dollars (May-Beaver). The Louisiana Purchase was one of Jefferson’s best decisions as president due
The period of the late eighteenth century and beginning of the nineteenth was cosidered the Romantic era in Europe and in America. This movement was a large scale rebellion against the Englightment period ideas where science and logic ruled the literary arts. Authors took several approaches on how to convey to the readers social and metaphysical opinions through the tone in a series of novels published. Tone is apparent in much of the American Romantic era writing including that of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe.
Romanticism took place in the early 1800's, it focused on the evolution and the effects nature has upon the universe. This time period helped grasp imagination, emotions, symbolism, and focus on the individual of one's self. I will be evaluating the authors, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne to demonstrate how their works relate to the time era of the 18th century.
American Life today reminiscent more of the age of Romanticism period through many examples, but if we first look at the idea of America life that of the Romanticism period is still reflected. We took our basic ideas and ones that we are still practicing 241 years later from the Romanticism period is that, of the vision of ideas, and historical change. This is something that is still represented every day in American and that we are still are practicing as a country. Is that we are always changing, that we are always developing and that our people are the most important thing to our country. Another way the Romanticism reflects modern American is through art and literature before the Romanticism period books and art were written towards the
Imagine a candle-lit dinner on a starry night in Paris, the Eiffel Tower just in view with dazzling lights shining into the night. This image is probably what you think of when you hear the word “romantic,” correct. However, this image is a stumbling block when people think of the “Romanticism Period” in literature. Where “romantic” means having a lovely time with the person you love the most, “Romanticism” is a piece of literature written with key themes in mind. Those themes tend to be a strong emotion, imagery or worship of nature, and individuality and subjectivity. The peak of inspiration for these pieces was in the years 1800-1850, and there are famous poems that are well loved today from this period. Many of the poets that you enjoy reading and know are, in actuality, Romanticism writers, and instill the themes above in our minds.
American Romanticism is a journey away from the corruption of civilization and the limits of rational thoughts, and toward the integrity of nature and the freedom of imagination. In other words, it is a journey away from industrialism or rationalism, which is working hard and earning money. This movement, originally started in Europe and later reached in America. It can be best defined as a thought that values feeling and intuition over reason. Some of the characteristics include the importance of feeling and intuition over reason, placing faith in inner experience and the power of imagination, preferring youthful innocence over educated sophistication, finding beauty and reality in exotic locales. It encouraged people to enjoy the integrity of nature and freedom of imagination. It also encouraged one to have faith in imagination and inner experience. In addition, romanticists found inspiration in myth, legend, and folk culture and found poetry as the highest expression of imagination. Romanticists believed that the landscape was regarded as an extension of the human personality, capable of sympathy with man 's emotional state, whereas nature was regarded as a vehicle for spirit just as man; the breath of God fills both man and the earth. However, romantics would create chaos when the issues were connected with human rights, individualism, and freedom from oppression (Arpin 138-150).
Romanticism in literature took hold in the U.S from 1830-1865. Romanticism was generally based upon love, optimism or opportunity. Basically, this was a time of growth for the United States, and the literature reflected that. After this time, the country 's immigrant population and working base grew, and changes in industry began to change the way that people lived. During this time period machines were being built, manufacturing became easier, urban areas expanded; cities became the center of the action. Ultimately, this industrialization and urbanization led to changes both socially and economically. All of this, created a divide
The Romantic era began in 1770, with its peak being from 1800 to 1850. With emphasis on the imagination and emotion, Romanticism emerged as a result of the Enlightenment period, which heavily placed values upon reason and order. Thus, Romanticism depends heavily on “the practical accomplishments of the prior un-Romantic era— a relationship between material wealth and scientific knowledge on one hand, and personal, spiritual, or emotional transcendence on the other, that twenty-first century Americans continue to manage.” The simplest explanation for what is Romantic is “‘anything but the here and now’ or whatever is not realistic” (“Romanticism”). The
In the nineteenth century, America accomplished nationhood after a long prehistory of religious and political defiance that started with Puritanism and finished in revolution. In this time America was seeking after both post-frontier freedom and, under its own particular banner, provincial extension by victory, allotment and purchase. With the work of Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper, American writing discovered its own particular subjects before it discovered its own structures; however the European legacy of Romanticism was given an affirmed American incline by the Transcendentalists, prominently in Emerson's freethinking papers and Thoreau's test collection of memoirs. At mid-century, American visitors to Britain were shocked
The Romantic period was from 1800-1860. It seemed to be a much happier time for the people living in it than the Puritan time period was. This time period consisted of many genres, and writing styles. These were much different than they currently are today, but not any less important or interesting, to most people. Although some curriculums do not always talk in full detail about this time period, it was still very important to our history in literature and history in general.
To understand how Romanticism changed the way society thought, you must first understand the meanings and reason behind the movement. The Romantic Movement in the late 18th and early 19th centuries was described as a movement in the history of culture, an aesthetic style, and an attitude of mind. (Fiero) Romanticism provided expression of their thoughts and ideas toward their own societies, which was in effect predominantly in Europe and in the United States. The movement was a reaction to the Enlightenment which provided strict ideology and rationalism. The Church had much to do with the Enlightenment seeing as if religion and the importance of God were incorporated into most aspects of their culture. Thus, Romanticism was a response to
The American romanticism lasted through 1800-1860. They believed everything is a reflection of the Divine soul and self-reliance and individualism must outweigh external authority/tradition. The five characteristics are rapid growth of industrialization, education, transportation, and cities transforms society. Numerous reform movement, centered in new England, seek to improve social conditions. Discontent over slavery