History
Originally a British genre, Romanticism skyrocketed as the most popular form of literature in the United States an amazing fifty years after the Revolutionary War. Wanting to break free of Enlightenment thought as well as create their own identity, Americans began practicing Romanticism through storytelling, writing, music, and art during the 1830s. As America was growing rapidly due to the Industrial Revolution, overpopulation and disease were common among big cities. Romantic writers used this to enhance their writing through Escapism, a sub-genre in which the narration allowed the reader to escape harsh conditions through the depiction of a journey to a place that was purely beautiful. Some of the most popular Romantics of the period were Washington Irving, William Cullen Bryant, and Emily Dickinson.
Characteristics
Contrary to popular belief, Romanticism is not a genre filled with stories of tortured young lovers. Romanticism is the collection of works that all meet the guidelines of emphasizing imagination, innocence, inner experience, and inspiration. Early Romantics believed in the beauty and purity of nature of which they based most of their works throughout their careers. In order to convey the strong connection between individuals and the environment, Romantic writers use strong imagery alongside poetic syntax to enhance the reader's imagination. Additionally, Romantic literature often showcases a character called the "romantic hero." Romantic heroes are brooding, dark protagonists who are often at odds with society. Characterized as obsessive and self-centered, readers typically do not fall in love with the character until the end, where the ambitious hero transcends the impossible. Some of the most popular Romantic works of the era were Thoreau's Walden, Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans, and Poe's The Raven.
Dark Romanticism
Aside from the solely positive side of Romanticism, a sub-movement called Dark Romanticism was popularized in the late 18th century. Pioneered by leaders like Melville, Poe, and Hawthorne, Dark Romanticism is the much more negative take on the inner experience of man which focuses on evil, hate, and conflict. The psychological aspects of man and his thoughts are usually the subject of Dark Literature. Odd settings with wild landscapes, eerie symbols, and horrific themes are often included in order to showcase the tone Dark Romantics want to convey.
Transcendentalism
Sparked by Thoreau and Emerson, Transcendentalism was another sub-movement that flourished in New England during the early mid-1800s. Drawing on Plato, Pascal, and Buddhism, Transcendentalists believe that the truths about life and death can be reached by going outside the world of the senses and that the stronger the relationship between man and nature, the better the chance of successfully maintaining homeostasis. One of the main focuses of this practice is Individualism, which is the belief that only inner truth matters that often rejects conventional views in society.