ipl-logo

American Romanticism And Anti Transcendentalism

825 Words4 Pages

The American Romanticism period was an influential time for American literature that took place between 1820 and 1865. This time period shaped the way that many people wrote for years since then. There are two different types on literature from the American Romanticism period, Transcendentalism and Anti-Transcendentalism literature. Transcendentalism literature emphasized living a simple life, celebrating the truth found in nature, personal evolution, and the imagination. Anti- Transcendentalism also had the theme of nature rooted in it, but also individualism, mysterious forces, the deep and dark abilities of humans, and sin. The Anti- Transcendentalist movement emerged in response to not all romantics being optimistic or having faith …show more content…

“Freebird” as a song is about a man who leaves a woman out of not wanting to settle down just yet. The lyrics “But if I stay with you girl, thing just couldn’t be the same” captures this meaning by showing that by staying with the girl, he could not be himself. The line “And this bird you cannot change” shows that the man would not be able to change himself to settle down and is therefore needs his freedom. “Freebird” relates to American Romanticism due to the theme of freedom and self-reliance, as seen in not wanting to settle down and losing themselves in the process. This is like Emerson’s essay Friendship. Friendship talks about the need for space for oneself and being sincere. The lyrics of “Freebird” are similar because the man needs his space, and he is being honest on why he cannot stay with the woman. Through the meanings of the lyrics in “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, the listener can be a connection to the American Romanticism period of …show more content…

Aerosmith wrote “Dream On” to have the meaning to continue to live one’s life to the fullest even if you do not have control over everything. The listener can inference this from the phrase “Dream on until your dream comes true”, which has the connotation of doing what you want to feel success in life. The line “Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away” shows the unpredictability of death and not having control, but it is worded in a way that has acceptance. “Dream On” relates to American Romanticism due to the theme of optimism, freedom to do what makes you feel good, and the self-reliance to make your dream come true. It specifically can relate to Emerson’s essay of Self-Reliance through the idea of doing what you do to make yourself happy, being your own personal and writing your own story. The song “Dream On” by Aerosmith portrays the American Romanticism period by using the theme of doing what makes you happy and

Show More
Related
495 Words | 2 Pages

The “American Dream” in this case is symbolic for self-advancement and materialism. He chooses to use this phrasing instead of elaborately describing the climb of the corporate latter or the effects of spending more time at work than with family. Rector’s bridge says, “Are we just running in the dark or living,” which is one of the most evident examples of symbolism in this song. This is his way of saying live with purpose, don’t just conform to society, create your own opinions, and do not be afraid to be different. Unlike prose, he does not have a paragraph to describe his opinions, so he has to be deliberately with every word choice and concise.

Read More
668 Words | 3 Pages

Chapter 1: American Renaissance The term "American Renaissance" comes from a 1941 book, American Renaissance: Art and Expression in the Age of Emerson and Whitman by F. O. Matthiessen. Matthiessen's study of the period did not question its Romantic aspects but shifted the focus to the development of a distinctly American literature. American Renaissance, additionally called New England Renaissance, period from the 1830s generally until the end of the American Civil War in which American writing, in the wake of the Romantic development, came of age as an outflow of a national soul. Regarding writing or style, the American Renaissance is the "Romantic Period in American Literature."

Read More
468 Words | 2 Pages

Transcendentalism was a 19th-century philosophical and literary movement that emphasized individualism, nature, and spirituality. Although the movement itself was relatively short-lived, its ideas continue to influence American culture in a variety of ways. In this essay, we will explore specific examples of how transcendentalism has had a modern impact. One of the most significant ways in which transcendentalism continues to influence American culture is through literature.

Read More
491 Words | 2 Pages

Nature plays an important role in the transcendentalists’ writings, since they believe nature has a sort of magic to it. As mentioned before, in the essay Nature, Emerson talks about an “occult relation” he has with nature. He says that when he is in nature he “casts off his years” and he uses a metaphor to compare himself to a “transparent eyeball”. In Walden, nature is seen as a place one can escape from materialistic society. On the other hand, in the anti-transcendentalists’ writings, there is by no means an idea that nature is a divine, magical place.

Read More
538 Words | 3 Pages

Transcendentalism and Romanticism are indubitably related to one another in numerous ways. However, the things that give each singularity are the deciding points as to which of the two someone may think of either as more viable. I propose that, although Romanticism’s ideas may be viewed as less practical than those offered by Transcendentalism, they are more capable of bringing one personal happiness. If I had to ground any aspect of my life on either, I think Romanticism would be the more reasonable choice. I am not exceptionally religious nor do I definitely believe in a god; but I do believe in good and evil, and some elements of the supernatural.

Read More
678 Words | 3 Pages

Transcendentalist Era In the 1830’s, a group called the transcendentalist arose. It lasted from 1836 to just about 1861. Some people were upset about how the Unitarian church was running things so instead people turned to nature. Basically they believed that any individual was more powerful than any institution.

Read More
840 Words | 4 Pages

Anti-transcendentalists also argued against the transcendentalist belief on individualism serving a good purpose in the world. Dr. Meg Brulatour states, “Anti-transcendentalist feared that people who desired complete individualism would give into the worse angles of man’s nature… Antitranscendentalists were concerned that without external constraints, such as societal mores, people would be motivated only by their immediate need and desire for sensory gratification.” (Brulatour). It is clear that Anti-transcendentalist viewpoints did not hold a hopeful attitude toward the human

Read More
138 Words | 1 Pages

I consider myself to be a transcendentalist, after reading the stories. I try to see the positive in every situation, and I don’t try to conform to society, and have respect for nature. A anti- transcendentalist is very negative and often needs proof in order for things to be true. In the story Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson he talks about the beauty of nature, he says that “nature never wears a mean appearance,” implying that nature is good and you will have to rely on it. An example of an anti- transcendentalist is someone who doesn 't see the positive and that is shown in The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.

Read More
571 Words | 3 Pages

What were transcendentalists’ beliefs on the individual and how the individual fit into the society? One of the key characteristics of transcendentalism was the belief that the purity of individuals was corrupted by the society and other social institutions such as political parties and organized religion. Hence, the central guiding theory in transcendentalism is the idea that people are at their best when they are independent and self reliant. Transcendentalists held the belief that intuitions surpassed reason as a guide to the truth this led them to their “conception of the sanctity of the individual and that individual’s freedom to make choices guided by intuitional knowledge” (p.1278). Whereas transcendentalists believed in the necessity of individuality, they also held the view that every human being possessed an element or piece of the Over-Soul enabling him or her to communicate with his or her creator through nature that united all people since the Over-Soul is one; hence, making all people a united entity.

Read More
807 Words | 4 Pages

In the 18th century a major writing style was the Romantic period. The two main styles of thinking throughout that period were Transcendentalist and Dark Romantics. Transcendentalist writers believed that there was a direct connection between the world and the inner self. Dark Romantics had some completely different beliefs.

Read More
1333 Words | 6 Pages

It is hard to accurately describe Transcendentalism, as “many authors and philosophers affiliated with the movement did not agree on how to define transcendentalism, this very division reflected the individual nature of the movement and proponents' shared belief that people were responsible for their own choices” (Transcendentalism). Though both Romanticism and Transcendentalism share important traits like individualism, religion played a larger role in Transcendentalism. Nonetheless, the movement still made an impact on the literature of the American Renaissance. It “showed that Americans could be the literary and intellectual equals of their peers in Great Britain and Europe, capable of developing an original philosophy”

Read More
624 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the late 1800s, New England was swept with advanced ideals which developed into an era known as Transcendentalism. This movement was based on the belief that human nature is inherently good, but inevitably becomes corrupted by society. Thus, nature, individualism, and self-governorship became the main principles of Transcendentalism. Similar to previous movements, literature was the main driving force in spreading these ideals. Authors such as Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau all produced influential works that significantly encouraged the Transcendentalism Era.

Read More
1375 Words | 6 Pages

American Transcendentalism was highly inspired by Romanticism, and therefore they have many similarities. However, there are some differences, especially in their ideas of religion and God. The American Transcendentalist period took place in the mid 19th century. It began around 1836 and lasted to roughly 1860. Romanticism occurred much earlier, around the end of the 18th century, but was mostly dominant around 1840.

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

Lines one through seven define the free bird as one that “floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun rays” (Angelou) this is a representation of freedom and joy. The second and third stanza lines, eight through fourteen defines the caged bird that “stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage” (Angelou) where these words reference isolation and despair compared to the freedom in stanza one. These lines create a visual response of the bird’s environments. The third stanza is repeated at the end of the poem for prominence as it reflects the two birds are so different.

Read More
1215 Words | 5 Pages

The free bird has the freedom to be exposed new experience and to see the beauty of life. These are all experiences that a caged bird will never experience. It has been free its whole life it , so it doesn't know the struggles of being

Read More

More about American Romanticism And Anti Transcendentalism

Related Topics

Open Document