Irving, Cooper and Bryant are regarded as pioneers of American romanticism. Thus, their works and the works of others constituted what is called “early romanticism.”
In exploring romanticism, we need to remember that its manifestations vary as widely as the individualistic talents and perspectives of romantic writers.
Summary of some general characteristics of romanticism
First, romanticism celebrates the triumph of feeling and intuition over reason. And it is suspicious of the rationalist explanations of the universe and human nature by the Enlightenment writers. A philosophical cornerstone for the romantic resistance to rationalism was laid down by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant in his Critique of Pure Reason. Since romantic writers placed a higher value on the free expression of emotion and on the power of imagination, they showed great interests in the psychic states. As a result, characters in romantic stories sometimes showed extremes of sensitivity, such as fear of the dark and the unknown.
Second, if the Enlightenment had annulled the Middle Ages, romanticism looked back to the Middle Ages with a nostalgic fascination. Also, the “Orient”-especially its “glorious” past-was a source of fascination. Gothic styles, “oriental” styles and other exotic styles were favored by romanticists.
Third, romanticism exalted the individual over society, thus showing a strong disliking for the bondage of convention and customs. As it is sometimes the contradiction, nostalgia for the past traditions is also a romantic strain.
Fourth, nature is believed to be the source of goodness and the antithesis of society as society tends to be corrupt. A related manifestation is the moral enthusiasm exhibited in some romantic writers.
Fifth, cultural romanticism-or the proud belief in one’s own cultural genius and heritage-is also a striking characteristic of romanticism.
American romanticism was influenced by European romanticism, particularly German, English and French. While showing characteristics of European romanticism, American romantic writers differed from their European counterparts in that they did not show the kind of political radicalism as seen in European romanticism. The kind of volk underlining American romanticism took on its characteristics and would eventually found distinct voices in Emerson, Whitman and others. America, being largely agrarian in this period, encouraged idyllic sentiments and humorous treatment of the rustic life. The optimism of the new nation was not free from a “colonial complex”, a sense of cultural inferiority. Thus, we will find a cautious emphasis on stylistic refinement and decorum.。