What was the "romantic impuse" and what did it mean for American culture? Just point me in the right direction please?
Check these two sites:
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa73
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng372/intro-h4.htm
Thank you!!!!
You are entirely welcome... good luck.
The term "romantic impulse" refers to a cultural and intellectual movement in the late 18th and early 19th centuries known as Romanticism. It emerged as a reaction to the rationality and intellectualism of the Enlightenment era and focused on emotion, individualism, and the sublime.
The Romantic impulse had a significant impact on American culture, particularly in the realm of literature, art, and music. It emphasized the importance of feeling, imagination, and the natural world. Romantic writers and artists sought to evoke powerful emotions and capture the beauty and awe-inspiring qualities of nature.
To explore the impact of the Romantic impulse on American culture further, you can start by researching key figures and works associated with American Romanticism. Some prominent figures include Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Walt Whitman. Their writings, such as Emerson's essays, Thoreau's "Walden," Poe's poetry and short stories, Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," and Whitman's "Leaves of Grass," exemplify the themes and ideas of American Romanticism.
To gain a deeper understanding, you can examine their works to identify the recurring motifs, symbols, and philosophical ideas that characterize American Romanticism. Additionally, exploring critical essays or scholarly sources on Romanticism in the context of American culture can provide further insights.
This guidance should help you get started on your exploration of the Romantic impulse and its impact on American culture.