A Quick Overview of Romanticism and Transcendentalism Poe, Irvin, Hawthorn, Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, etc..

Romanticism A literary movement originally “invented” by European writers that was then adopted and popularized by American writers in the early 1800s Goes hand in hand with transcendentalism (transcendentalism sprung from romanticism)

Romanticism Romanticism values the imagination over reason and intuition and fact Romantics value nature and its "healing powers" Nature is held up over civilization and popular society and its views

Romanticism Romantic writers often focus on fantastic aspects (i.e. “fantasy” in the sense of unreal) of human experience Some important writers who incorporate romanticism in their writing include Edgar Allan Poe, Nathanial Hawthorne, and Washington Irving

Transcendentalism A philosophy that was centered in Concord, Mass. in the 19th century. Transcendentalists were a generation of well educated people who lived in the decades before the Civil War who attempted to create a uniquely American body of literature. As America itself had become independent in the late 1700s, they believed that we should have literary independence - writings that were clearly different and unique from anything English, France, or any other European nation. But this philosophy involved more than literature - it also marked a dramatic shift in the American style of thinking as well as in the American (further away from the Puritanical ways). Most transcendentalists became involved in social reform as well, especially anti-slavery and women’s rights.

Transcendentalism Important characteristics of transcendentalism: Individuals must rely on their own intuition and feelings Based on free-thinking and stresses that in order to gain knowledge you must rely on experience Anti-establishment - a transcendentalist disregards external authority and tradition through non-violent ways (civil disobedience) Anti-scientific rationalism - believe instead in "spiritual truths“ Rather than practice organized religion, transcendentalists believed in a more individual experience and the concept of an “Oversoul” (not necessarily a specific “God”) "Trust Thyself" - Emerson's motto

Transcendentalism Transcendentalism in a nutshell Be self-reliant, act according to your personal beliefs rather than blindly following rules/laws of society, don’t be afraid of being an outcast or seen as "abnormal", etc…

Transcendentalism Two most important transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson ("father of transcendentalism") and Henry David Thoreau

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) American poet, essayist, and philosopher Like many writers, Emerson had a rather rocky childhood and overall life   In 1832, Emerson began to formulate his own philosophy - transcendentalism - which caught on with many artists and writers and signaled a shift in American thinking/writing Emerson wrote based on feelings and intuition rather than logical form Very much of an optimist (unlike the Puritans, Hawthorne, Poe, etc…) Emerson believed that each person possesses, within him or herself, the means to all knowledge

Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862) American essayist, poet, and naturalist Thoreau originally was a teacher then later became friends with Emerson in Concord and became part of the transcendental movement Thoreau was always thought of as an outcast, an "oddball" or "weirdo" Thoreau was the most active and politically minded transcendentalist. For instance, he dropped out of society and lived completely off the land for over two years (at Walden Pond). His writing about this experience is his most lasting work - Walden