Transcendentalism is an American literary, philosophical, religious, and political movement of the early nineteenth century, centered around Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Transcendentalism and romanticism placed a huge emphasis on the individual as well as inspiration from nature. Similarly, transcendentalism was a reaction against overpowering religious traditions and dogma. Explanation: So, eventually people stopped learning about them, so people lost interest.

However, while the idea of Transcendentalism is great, there are many methods of execution in which it can not only be ineffectual, but also quite harmful, if taken too far. Especially harmful is an acute sense of nihilism, cultural degradation, and a disillusioned sense of perfection when it comes to life in general.

Transcendentalism, 19th-century movement of writers and philosophers in New England who were loosely bound together by adherence to an idealistic system of thought based on a belief in the essential unity of all creation, the innate goodness of humanity, and the supremacy of insight over logic and experience for the …

Transcendentalism, which lasted from about 1830 to 1860, was a vital part of the Romantic movement. Ralph Waldo Emerson was its putative leader. The Transcendentalists believed there is a divine spirit in nature and in every living soul. Through individualism and self-reliance human beings could reunite with God.

Dark Romanticism is distinguished from Romanticism in its emphasis on human fallibility and sin (they are pessimists), whereas Romantics believe in human goodness (they are optimists). The genre of “Dark Romanticism” is thought to have emerged from the Transcendental Movement in 19th century America.

Dark Romanticism is a subcategory of Romanticism. There are many similarities between Romanticism and Transcendentalism. One of the similarities between the groups is the incorporation of nature. Writings by authors of both types seem to tie nature into many of their works.

Transcendentalism and Romanticism appealed to Americans in a similar fashion; both privileged feeling over reason and individual freedom of expression over the restraints of tradition and custom. Romanticism often involved a rapturous response to nature and promised a new blossoming of American culture.

The five “i’s” of Romanticism are imagination, individualism, inspiration, intuition/instinct, and innocence.

Writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson – a man credited to have paved the way for American Romanticism – encouraged other artists to examine their national identity and leave European form, structure, and tradition behind. In turn, America began to develop its own voice filled with spirit and the birth of the human self.

Like the British Romantics, their work emphasized emotion, a love of nature, and imagination. The American Romantics were preoccupied with questions of democracy and freedom, which were rooted in the American Revolution that had led to independence from Britain back in 1776.

Summary of Romanticism The artists emphasized that sense and emotions – not simply reason and order – were equally important means of understanding and experiencing the world. Romanticism celebrated the individual imagination and intuition in the enduring search for individual rights and liberty.