Romanticism Transcendentalists Differed Romanticism Irving, Hawthorne, Poe,

¶ … Romanticism Transcendentalists differed Romanticism Irving, Hawthorne, Poe, Melville. Cite specific examples support answer Romanticism has had a great influence over nineteenth century literature, considering the wide range of writers who produced works in accordance with this current. However, as Romanticism progressed, it contributed to creating Transcendentalism. The former primarily focused on the internal aspects of individuals, as Romantics often related to the importance of concepts like sentiments and freedom. In contrast, Transcendentalism concentrated on ideas that dealt with external influences on the individual's mind.

Transcendentalists took on a more revolutionary attitude and expressed great interest in having the public acknowledge American values while also appreciating the importance of progress alongside of these respective values. Herman Melville is probably one of the most ardent supporters of Romanticism in a context involving the current's comparison with Transcendentalism. Even with the fact that the writer believed that Transcendentalism was far less complex than Romanticism, some of his works have been influenced by the former.

It is difficult to determine whether he did this with the purpose of satirizing its importance or whether he simply realized that there actually were concepts in Transcendentalism that he could borrow and use with the purpose of reviving Romanticism. "Less positively, Melville's 1857 novel, The Confidence Man, includes what some scholars see as over caricatures of Emerson, in the character of Mark Winsome, and of Transcendentalism in general" (Wayne 182).

Ralph Waldo Emerson is largely considered to be one of the leading members of the Transcendentalism movement and the person responsible for its creation. The writer's determination to relate to external concepts through his works can be observed by looking at how he "embraced some principles of Christianity, Eastern Religions, and the English Romantics" (Emerson & Thoreau 8). Emerson also related to philosophical topics when discussing in regard to religion, as he appeared to want to discuss religious matters from a logical point-of-view.

While Melville largely focused on the individual and the feelings that he or she experiences, Emerson wanted people to have a more complex understanding of life through having them focus on a series of theories that could provide them with the ability to find their personal identity. One can also say that Melville was more interest in one's individuality while Emerson focused on understanding more regarding the outside world with the purpose of understanding more about identity.

It is probable that Emerson wanted society to continue to appreciate Romanticism, but that he also wanted people to understand that the current needed to experience reform in order for it to effectively reach the hearts of readers.