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The liberation of the human spirit, or romanticism. American Romanticism took a huge role in the beginning of American culture in the sense that is gave America their own place in art and literature. During this time authors began to emerge, they began to create art in the form of music, paintings, writings, and poems. Before this time majority of what made America’s art and literature was from the British or the French and from anywhere that was not America. America was not known for having its own unique culture. The idea that American did not really have a unique culture, sparked America to make things of their own and have people who came from them. From this desire to have its own unique culture came American romanticism, with the idea of creating art, seeing the world and noticing nature for its beauty. Inspiration came from everywhere, the idea of love, nature, and oneself. [4]

The north and south had different taste when it came to creating works, for instance the south came off darker and more gruesome than compared to the north. Which may be expected considering how different the two sides were, the south being about control and slavery, and the north being more about innovation and moving forward. One poet who one may be familiar with is Edgar Allen Poe, as many know his work was considered dark and had many messages within the work. Other well-known authors and poets from this time include James Fenimore Cooper, Walt Whitman, and Herman Melville. Their work includes things about oneself, about nature, about romance, and about the world.

James Fenimore cooper was born September 15, 1789 in Burlington, New Jersey [3]. Cooper contributed to the creation of romanticism through his writing’s. I mention him because his work shows how in that period, things were changing in American culture, he wrote about nature, love, experiences, etc. Some of Coopers most famous works include, The Pioneers, The Prairie: A tale, and The Pathfinder. The Pioneers, is a story about love and is considered one of “America’s first plea for the conservation of natural resources” this book contains romance and a concept of nature, the idea that America is changing. The Prairie: A Tale, contains concepts of wilderness vs. civilization, the story is about two groups fighting in a field of grass that gets destroyed, this potentially symbolizes how its man who destroys the environment. The last book ill mention of his Is, The Pathfinder, this book is about romance and the challenges of life. [2] Cooper’s books bring romanticism to life and help sets a foundation in today’s literature.

Walt Whitman was born May 31, 1819, Whitman was a poet who enjoyed writing at an early age, he found joy in writing poems [5]. Whitman’s work includes concepts of oneself, morals, nature, and time. His work held meaning and brought out the idea of noticing things around oneself. A poem that well reflects his concepts is his poem, Song Of Myself. This poem reflects feelings and positons of someone, they bring themselves to life and relate to others. Whitman is important because he is one of many poets who write about concepts that relate to people and relate to the growth of romanticism.  "The Americans of all nations at any time upon the earth have probably the fullest poetical nature. The United States is essentially the greatest poem" said by Whitman. Through his work, he proved that America could be poetic, “he invented a timeless America of the free imagination, peopled with pioneering spirits of all nations” [4]. Poets that later follow see him as an inspiration, his work is known today because of his ideas, they are unique and meaningful. “His work expressed the country’s democratic spirit” [4].

With a darker contribution to American romanticism, we had the Famous Edgar Allen Poe. Poe is most known for his poems and the stories behind them, I mention Poe because his writings portray darker ideas and show that this period not only brought authors with eye opening tales of love and happiness but it brought concepts of emotion and authors who could write stories that connected with America. Poe who is known for his dark, morbid stories, brought pieces of art to life. Poe influenced many future poets with his ideas. A famous poem of his is, The Raven, is a great example of the tone that most of Poe’s poems gave. The poem includes concepts of broken love, pain, and time. All concepts that relate to the idea of romanticism. Poe takes part in the foundation of what America becomes with its art and literature. [1]

There are so many people and groups who helped create the American culture, the idea of romanticism is important because it gave America the chance to show that it has beliefs and a mind of its own. Romanticism took place around the world and had its own effects in other places, but the effect is had on America is amazing. Giving America its own influential authors and artist. Romanticism relates to today because the authors that came from this period in the beginning are still studied and used as inspiration. They, along with many others set a foundation for American culture, with a foundation things can be improved, without the great minds who came from this period American culture wouldn’t be the same.

[1] Poe's Life." Poe's Life | Edgar Allan Poe Museum. Accessed November 23, 2016. http://www.poemuseum.org/life.php.

[2] MacDougall, Hugh. "What's New, What's Here, and How to Find It." Introduction.html. Accessed November 23, 2016. http://external.oneonta.edu/cooper/introduction.html.

[3] "Biography of James Fenimore Cooper." Biography of James Fenimore Cooper. Accessed November 25, 2016. http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG02/COOPER/cooperbiography.html.

[4] VanSpancke, Kathryn. " The Romantic Period, 1820-1860: Essayists and Poets” | IIP Digital | U.S. Department of State. 2008. Accessed November 25, 2016. http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/english/.

[5] "Walt Whitman." Poets.org. Accessed November 25, 2016. https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/walt-whitman.

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Contributors to American culture and Romanticism: 

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Contributors to American culture and Romanticism: 

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The 3 pictures of men are all contributors to the formation of what makes american literature and art unique. Their works influence others in the future including women, their work is also still related to today, as well as studied to this day.

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Writing about the Raven from Edgar Allen  Poe (1845)

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Writing about the Raven from Edgar Allen  Poe (1845)

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From The New York Times

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From the Library of Congress

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By: Edgar Allen Poe
(From the Richmond Semi-Weekly Examiner, September 25, 1849)
This poem is one of the most famous from Poe, this poem shows a darker side to romanticism. The south was found to be darker compared to the north.

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore-
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;-
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door;-
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"-
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore-
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;-
'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door-
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door-
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore-
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door-
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered-
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "Other friends have flown before-
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore-
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never- nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-
On this home by Horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore-
Is there- is there balm in Gilead?- tell me- tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us- by that God we both adore-
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting-
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted- nevermore! "

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By: Walt  Whitman
(From The Poetry Foundation)
This poem is a great example of how America was changing and how the  liberation of the human spirit was apart of romanticism.

"I celebrate myself, and sing myself,

And what I assume you shall assume,

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

I loafe and invite my soul,

I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air,

Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,

I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,

Hoping to cease not till death.

Creeds and schools in abeyance,

Retiring back a while sufficed at what they are, but never forgotten,

I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,

Nature without check with original energy. "

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From The Library Of Congress

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From The James Fenimore Cooper Society