Transcendentalism is a philosophical and religious way of thinking that manifested itself in particular, if not necessarily uniform, ways. Though some of its ideas about individualism and nature can be traced to the late eighteenth century and to European thinkers… Read More ›
The terms “Romanticism” and “Romantic” should not be confused with the popular meaning, as pertaining to love. “Romanticism” derives from the genre of the medieval romance, a heroic narrative emphasizing the importance of chivalry and valor in battle. Many Romantic… Read More ›
Biographical narratives typically have been constructed according to a standard format, a chronicle from cradle to grave. In contrast, autobiographical narratives have been less formulaic or more experimental, taking multiple forms. The earliest biographies were intended to glorify the lives… Read More ›
Emerson (1803–1882), the most articulate exponent of American Romanticism, was a poet; but he was distinguished primarily by his contributions to literary and cultural criticism. He was the leading advocate of American “transcendentalism” with its insistence on the value of… Read More ›
The French Revolution of 1789 marked a watershed for the future of Europe, a fact keenly discerned by writers on both sides of the Atlantic, such as Irving Babbitt and Matthew Arnold. Not only did that Revolution initiate the political… Read More ›