American Literature Romanticism Discussion And Analysis

American literature Romanticism was the first full-fledged literary movement in the history of America. American literature celebrated the beauty and identity when Romanticism emerged in the American literature. American literature romanticism isn’t that old; it was in the mid-1850s. Romanticism was shaping and making an identity of its own in the literature.

In this article, we will be learning more about American literature Romanticism; where it started, and how it went. Who were the litterateurs associated with the American Romanticism Movement?

A Short History Of American Literature

American literature has a rich history that spans from pre-colonization to the present day, covering various movements and periods:

• Pre-colonization: Literature was created in what is today the United States for thousands of years. This history began with the many oral traditions of the Indigenous peoples of North America.
• Colonial and Early National Period (17th century–1830): The first colonists of North America wrote about their experiences starting in the 1600s. This literature was practical, straightforward, often derivative of literature in Great Britain, and focused on the future.
• Romanticism (mid-19th century): This movement emerged in response to the nationalist values beginning to develop a distinctly American literary style. It celebrated the unknown and the beauty of the natural landscape.
• Transcendentalism (early to mid-19th century): This philosophical movement developed as a protest against the general state of culture and society, and in particular, the state of intellectualism at Harvard University.
• Realism (late 19th century): This movement was a reaction against romanticism, an interest in the scientific method, the systematizing of the study of documentary history, and the influence of rational philosophy.
• Modernism (early to mid-20th century): This movement was characterized by a self-conscious break with traditional ways of writing, in both poetry and prose fiction.

Each of these movements contributed to the rich tapestry of American literature, shaping the country’s identity within the realm of literature.

The Journey Of American Literature Romanticism

To know more about American Literature Romanticism; you will need to know about the continuous journey of the movement. So, I’ve written a continuous journey of American Literature Romanticism.

Starting in the mid-1850s; the American literature Romanticism movement saw the emergence of writers celebrating American beauty and identity with their unique style of literature. The American Renaissance period saw the publishing of timeless masterpieces, by authors including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson.

American Romanticism emerged in response to the nationalist values beginning to develop a distinctly American literary style. Much like the Italian Renaissance of the 15th century, the emergence of American Romanticism saw the celebration of the common man.

To move away from Puritanism and Calvinism, Romanticism celebrated the unknown. As Americans began to venture westward into newly acquired territories, authors began to write about the beauty of the natural landscape, untouched by humans.

The aesthetic of nature was extremely important to American Romantic writers, and is reflected in works such as the Leatherstocking Tales, The Last of the Mohicans, and even holds in Moby-Dick, a work that epitomizes what Romanticism is all about.

Furthermore, American Romanticism was composed of a couple of different themes, including the theme of nature and the great unknown was told through stories of the frontier. Venturing into this unknown brought forth a newfound spirit of optimism, a well-known American ideal that any person can achieve anything they set their mind to.

Other characteristics included the power of the universe, and exploring how it worked in mysterious, incomprehensible ways. These characteristics thus tied back to the theme of the unknown. The most important aspect, though, of American Romanticism, was that it had its individualistic elements,

apart from its European counterparts. For the first time in history, a movement came about that entirely belonged to the United States, and the American writer’s identity was a result of it.

Most Influential Authors Of American Romanticism

After learning about the continuous journey and the influence of American literature Romanticism; we must need to know who were the most influential litterateurs of that time. And, how their literature was shaping the romanticism movement of American literature. The most influential authors of American Romanticism include:

• Ralph Waldo Emerson: Emerson was a man of many talents who wrote essays and poetry. He was associated not only with American Romanticism but also with its sister movement, Transcendentalism. His work emphasized individualism, which is one of the central themes of American Romanticism.

Depicting the beauty of nature with the presence of a man’s life. Mixing the life of the unknown people with the beauty of nature. Describing the scenic beauty of the untouched American landscape.

• Henry David Thoreau: Thoreau lived a pretty extraordinary life. At one point he spent two years living almost in complete solitude in a cabin in the woods in Massachusetts that he’d built himself. His book Walden embodies many American Romantic themes.

He was a philosopher, naturalist, and lifelong abolitionist who wrote about the natural history of America. Thoreau anticipated the methods and findings of  Ecology and natural history which are the two main sources of environmentalism.

• Edgar Allan Poe: He is one of the famous writers who created fiction during the Romantic Period in the United States. A mad genius who wrote outstanding short stories and poetries. Edgar Allan Poe was a living fictional character who had a mysterious life.

  

• Herman Melville: He is another famous writer from the Romantic Period known for his novel Moby Dick.

  

• Nathaniel Hawthorne: He is known for his works during the Romantic Period in the United States.

  

• Walt Whitman: He is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse.

  

• Emily Dickinson: She is considered one of America’s greatest poets.

These authors played a significant role in shaping the American Romanticism movement with their unique styles and themes. Through this article, I’ve tried to arouse a  full discussion of the topic of American literature Romanticism. Hope you’ve found your answers. If you’re looking for Romantic literature to read, be sure to check out our collection of Books right now!