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. "

            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.