Romanticism introduced contradictory values of the rationalistic values. Romantics believed in feeling and intuition while rationalists believed in reason. Two authors that shared these romantic views were Henry Longfellow and Ralph Emerson. Both Longfellow and Emerson used the power of nature and their romantic values to discover truths about life. In Longfellow 's “The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls” and “Cross of Snow” the power of nature is shown through the incorporation of repetition and metaphors, which reveal truths about human life. For example, the repetition of “the tide rises, the tides fall” (5,10,15) at the end of every stanza helps reveal an important truth of life. The truth that is revealed by the use of repetition is that life …show more content…
Throughout Ralph Emerson’s “Nature” and “Self Reliance” Emerson uses the power of nature, imagery and metaphors to convey truths about life. For instance, when Emerson finds himself in the woods he is “standing on the bare ground—[his] head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space—all mean egotism vanishes”(242). The use of imagery portrays a serene place where Emerson is all alone, and that is where all bad thoughts of himself vanish. The truth revealed here by the use of imagery and nature is that you need to ignore all others and be in a peaceful place to have no bad thoughts about yourself. In addition, Emerson states that “no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till”(245). The truth shown by the metaphor is that not everyone is born into the same situation, but you have to make do with what you have. Emerson knows this as he was born into a poor family. Throughout both of these author’s works many truths are revealed by their own experiences, but most of all the power of nature. All in all, both Henry Longfellow and Ralph Emerson use the power or nature and other elements to reveal important truths about life. Many of the truths these two authors helped discover are still used in today 's society. Without the romantic era our society would never have discovered these important truths about