Introduction to his artistic features?
As a remarkable poet and critic, Poe stresses rhythm, defines true poetry as “the rhythmical creation of beauty,”and declares that“music is the perfection of the soul, or idea, of poetry.” As a short-story writer, Poe is fascinating man of imagination. He was the first author in American literature to make the neurotic the heroic figure, in his stories.
Romanticism (1800-1865)
● American Romanticism
American Romanticism which also called “American Renaissance” appeared from the beginning of 19th Century to the break of Civil War (1820~ l 860). It was the most important period in the history of American literature.
The Sketch Book written, by Washington Irving marked the beginning of American Romanticism. Following the rise of romanticism, Transcendentalism, which appeared after 1830, marked the maturity of American Romanticism and the first renaissance in the American literary history.
During the Transcendentalism period, Walden written by Thoreau became the foundation of American Romanticism. In the first half of 19h Century, Western Europe Romanticism has already deeply influenced on American Romanticism.
Besides, American capitalism had a rapid development as well as the national consciousness and patriotic enthusiasm of Americans.
What's more, American writers gradually got rid of the shackles of British Romanticism and became aware of the need of paying attention to the creation of human spirit and Transcendentalism, which aimed at pursuing freedom. From then on, American Romanticism went into the flourishing period.
● The difference between American Romanticism and British romanticism.
Firstly, from the aspect of appearance and of cause, British romanticism appeared at the turn of eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It rose and grew under the impetus of the industrial revolution and the French revolution. American romanticism appeared at the early years of nineteenth century， it rose and grew under Westward expansion and the experience of industrial transformation.
Secondly, British romanticism was the revolt of the English imagination against of the neo- classicial reason, while American romanticism was the revolt against classicism.
Thirdly, the theme and the focus of them are quite different. The theme of a British romanticism was bitterness and melancholy, and it focused on the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings, imagination escapes from society and returns to nature. The themes of American romanticism were a strong sense of optimism and a mood of “ feeling good” of the whole country. It focused on free expression of emotions，imaginative qualities.
Fourthly, the characteristics of them were apparently distinctive. British Americans’ characteristics mostly contained nature images， dream-like atmosphere，
music beauty and gothic elements. American romanticism mostly contained Puritanism, Calvinistic view about original sin and gothic elements.
● The relationship between American transcendentalism and puritanism
① American transcendentalism was the product of a combination of foreign influences and American puritan tradition. American transcendentalism was indebted,
a lot to the dual heritage of American puritanism.
② Transcendentalist’s emphasis on the individual was directly traceable to the Puritan principle of self-made man, self-culture and self-improvement. New England transcendentalism was Romanticism on the Puritan soil.
1. (2015 年 川 师 大 真 题 ) New England Transcendentalism is regarded as the summit of American romanticism. What do you know about Transcendentalism?
Transcendentalism is a literature, philosophical and artistic movement that flourished in New England in the 19th century. It originated from a small group of intellectuals who were reacting against the orthodox of Calvinism and the rationalism of the Unitarian church, developing their own faith centering on the divinity of humanity and the natural world.
The major features of New England Transcendentalism can be summarized as follows:
First, the Transcendentalism placed emphasis on spirit, or the Oversoul, as the
most important thing in the universe.
Second, the Transcendentalism stressed the importance of the individual.
Thirdly, the Transcendentalism offered a fresh perception of nature as symbolic of the spirit or god.
New England Transcendentalism is the product of a combination of native American Puritanism and European Romanticism. The ideas of Transcendentalism were most eloquently expressed by Emerson in such essays as Nature and Self-Reliance and by Thoreau in his book Walden.
● Oversoul:
The Oversoul was an all-pervading power for goodness, omnipresent and omnipotent, from which all things came and of which all were a part. It exist in nature and man alike and constituted the chief element of universe. This represented a new way looking at the world.
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2.
Please introduce Nature and Self-Reliance.
Nature and Self-Reliance are two of Emerson' s best known and most influential essays. They are representative works of New England Transcendentalism.
Nature is regarded as the Bible of New England Transcendentalism. Emerson emphasizes the transcendence of the Oversoul. He holds the universe is composed of Nature and Soul. The spirit of God is operative in the soul of man. And that man is divine. To Emerson, the physical world is vitalistic and evolutionary. He also thinks Nature is emblematic of God. It mediates between man and God. He defines nature as an all-encompassing divine entity.
Self-Reliance is also at the core of Emerson's ideas that potential powers of the self-reliant and individual are significant. The essay provides us sayings as well as builds up new concepts through which the author paves the path for the readers to follow. And furthermore, he tries to force the readers to be self-reliant in order to obtain their self-reliance successfully.