How Does Emerson Use Figurative Language

693 Words3 Pages

The Romantic Period in American Literature was very influential throughout our time. American literature, while closely tied to English literary influences, was found its own voice known as American Romanticism. Romanticism as a literary movement originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The Romantic Period uses a lot of figurative language throughout their writings, stretches the truth to convey some messages, and connects writings to human nature and/or political authority. Writings in the Romantic period experience a lot of figurative language. For example, “Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson is immersed with figurative language. One example of figurative language Emerson uses is a metaphor; he says, “Who looks upon a river in …show more content…

In “Paul Revere’s Ride” Longfellow romanticized Revere by making him seem like an American hero/legend; someone everyone could look up to. An example of this is when Longfellow tells the readers about Paul Revere humping on his steed and like a spark rode into the night. He says, “his cry of defiance and not of fear” as if Revere isn’t afraid of anything, even on the eve of the civil war. However, Revere was not the only rider that night, and he actually never saw the signal lantern, which they also talk about in the story. Longfellow did not fully tell the truth in his story so he could romanticize it more. It makes the story more dramatic and intriguing. Part of the Romantic Period is the state of being impractical or unrealistic, which is what Longfellow did in “Paul Revere’s Ride”. Human nature was also a frequent topic in literature throughout the Romantic Period. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne he talks about the darkness he finds in human nature: people’s youth. In this story Hawthorne writes, “the Water of Youth is all lavished on the ground. Well--I bemoan it not; for if the fountain gushed at my very doorstep, I would not stoop to bathe my lips in it--no, though its delirium were for years instead of moments. Such is the less ye have taught me!” explaining how he has learned his lesson in that he does