Transcendentalism Vs Romanticism

Transcendentalism vs. Romanticism

The 19th century, man, it was a wild time for thinkers and artists. Seriously, it was a period that shook up the cultural world in the West. Two big movements? Well, that's gotta be transcendentalism and romanticism. They had some stuff in common but trust me, they were pretty different too. This essay dives into both of 'em, showing how they overlap and where they split apart. You'll see that while both love individualism and nature, transcendentalism's all about the inner self and spirituality. Romanticism? It's more into the beauty and might of what's outside.

Transcendentalism: The Inner Self and Spirituality

Kicking off in the early 1800s over in the U.S., transcendentalism took some cues from European Romanticism but also got its groove from Eastern ideas like Hinduism and Buddhism. These folks thought humans were naturally good and saw something divine in each person's soul. They pushed for self-reliance, gut feelings, and chasing after truth.

You can't talk about this without mentioning Ralph Waldo Emerson. His piece "Self-Reliance" is like the backbone of transcendentalist thought. Basically, he says people should listen to themselves rather than just going along with what society wants them to do. Be your own person, y'know?

Then there's Henry David Thoreau who decided to live alone out in Massachusetts woods. His book "Walden" is about his life there—it's like a call to everyone to keep it simple and get back in touch with nature. He figured by hanging out alone with nature, you could hit a new level of consciousness or even spiritual enlightenment.

So yeah, transcendentalism pushes back against all that rational stuff going on back then. It's really focused on looking inside yourself to rise above physical limits and maybe connect with something bigger.

Romanticism: The Beauty and Power of the External World

Now onto romanticism—it started in Europe late in the 1700s before making its way to America. It wasn't down with all that Enlightenment reason-and-logic focus; instead, it was all about feelings and imagination. This movement loved celebrating nature's beauty and power.

The "sublime," as they called it—those moments when you're just blown away by nature’s grandeur—that's a huge part of romanticism. Writers captured these epic landscapes or intense natural scenes in their work.

Take William Wordsworth—a poet who wrote tons about nature's beauty uplifting our spirits. In "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey," he talks about how healing being out there can be.

On another note (quite literally), Edgar Allan Poe explored darker emotions through mysterious tales filled with supernatural elements—think madness or death themes!

Unlike transcendentalists focusing inwardly on spirituality though? Romanticists are more into what’s around us externally—the natural world's emotion-stirring power using vivid words creating awe-inspiring visions.

Similarities And Differences

Sure both care deeply for individuals’ roles within society—as well as connecting somehow somewhere alongside Mother Nature herself—but ideologically-speaking? Not so much aligned!

You see Transcendentals preach introspection spiritual growth whereas Romantics opt instead outward appreciation capturing visually-striking environments expressing emotive connections evoked therein… Crazy stuff right?!

Well honestly 'cause responses addressing intellectual societal upheavals seen across decades since giving rise lasting legacies reshaping entire fields creative endeavor historic American culture wide-reaching literary contributions ever-lasting nonetheless.

Ultimately better understanding distinctions between perceptions undoubtedly assists grasping full complexity once-turbulent landscape defining era forever changing course human expression forward thereafter!

Conclusion

To wrap things up then:

Yeah sure —this duo shaped history forevermore doing things entirely different ways yet interrelated objectives aligning core philosophies derived similar foundations initial inception onward eventually culminating modern-day resurgence interest renewal relevance collective consciousness seeking answers deeper truths still today...

Bibliography:
1) Emerson R.W.(1950) ‘Self-Reliance,’ Brooks Atkinson ed., Complete Essays Other Writings NYC Modern Library.
2) Poe E.A.(1978) ‘Fall House Usher,’ Thomas Ollive Mabbott ed., Complete Tales Poems Vintage Books NYC.
3) Thoreau H.D.(1854), Walden Boston Ticknor Fields Publishing House.
4) Wordsworth W.(2018), 'Lines Composed Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey' Stephen Greenblatt et al . eds Norton Anthology English Literature W.W.Norton Company.

5) Baker C.J.,(2015), "American Philosophy Growth Influences" Oxford University Press.