The Romantic Era Of American Literature Promoted By David...

The Romantic Era of American literature promoted the inspiration that allowed the United States to discover its own individuality and culture. Writers like Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, and Ralph Waldo Emerson began to retreat from European influence and looked inward for creative vision. Emerson, in particular, preached the idea of isolating oneself from society and depending solely on the inner soul. These themes can be found in most of Emerson’s writings, but are most significant in his essay, Self-Reliance. This essay follows the narrator as he delves into the distinct levels of self-reliance. In fact, the steps of the narrator’s journey toward self-reliance simultaneously reveal the path to inner divinity. The beginning of Self Reliance outlines the importance of depending upon oneself, while providing guidance toward the inner soul. In this specific part of the essay, the narrator builds his argument and gathers points of support to introduce the novel topic of self-reliance and allude to inner divinity. He urges people to take the first step to looking internally for guidance. Individuals must first begin to have faith in themselves to become self-reliant. â€Å"Trust Thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string† (Nation of Letters: A Concise Anthology of American Literature, 110). With this quote, the narrator adequately sums up the essence of self-reliance, which is trust in one’s own skill and creativity. Additionally, the dawn of self-discovery in a personShow MoreRelatedThe Romantic Era Of American Literature Promoted Inspiration Essay1109 Words   |  5 Pages The romantic era of American literature promoted inspiration that allowed the United States to discover its own individuality and culture. Writers like Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, and Ralph Waldo Emerson began to retreat from European influence and looked inward for inspiration. Emersion, in particular, preached the idea of isolating oneself from society and depending solely on the inner soul. These themes can be found in most of Emerson’s writings, but is most significant in his essay, Self-RelianceRead MoreWalts Whitmans Vision of America in Leaves of Grass17685 Words   |  71 PagesWalt Whitman’s vision of America in Leaves of Grass Valentine†©Abbet†© TRAVAIL†©DE†©MATURITE†© †© Sous†©la†©direction†©d’Anne†©Roland†Wurzburger†© Gymnase†©du†©Bugnon,†©Lausanne†© 2012†©  «I have sung the body and the soul, war and peace have I sung, and the songs of life and death, And the songs of birth, and shown that there are many births. I have offerd my style to every one, I have journeyd with confident step; While my pleasure is yet at the full I whisper So long! » Walt Whitman, So Long !, Deathbed edition