Dark Romanticism Vs Transcendentalism Essay

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The American Romantic Movement started in the late 1800's. It was one of the most important time in the history of American Literature. American Romantic have strong subjective views rather than objective. Washington Owen's “The sketch book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent” signs the beginning of American Romantics. As the development of American Romantics went deep, it branched into two main factions, known as Transcendentalists and the Dark Romantics. While many people enjoy the optimistic view of the Transcendentalists, the Dark Romantics have revealed a more accurate view of humanity and world because mankind is inherently evil and horror is lurking in the nature. Some believe that the Transcendentalists have the more accurate view of the world because of their optimistic thoughts. In the poem, “I could not stop for death”, the author, Dickinson stated, “Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me” (Dickinson, “I could not stop for death”) They view death as a natural process and tell people …show more content…

In the poem, “the Raven”, the author, Poe stated that “And the lamp-light o’er him streaming through his shadow on the floor, and my should from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor shall be lifted nevermore.” (Poe, “the Raven”) The mankind is not the only cause of suffering but also the reality does. The raven keeps telling the protagonist “Nevermore” that just like the cruel truth of the world. In the essay, the “Tell-Tale Heart”, the author Poe stated that “very dreadfully nervous I had been, but why will you say that I am mad? The disease has sharpened my senses not destroyed not dulled them” (Poe, “Tell-Tale Heart) The “disease” is a severe mental problem which caused the narrator to do extreme things. A man cannot be mad for no reason, so it is the nature made the imperfection when the moment he was born. Nature will not only bring happiness; but also pain and