Romanticism in American Literature

Evlicia Smith

Mrs. Fyke

English III

16 May 2013

Romanticism in American Literature

     When a person reads literature and studies a particular movement, one can see a direct relation between literature and life.  This understanding could help the reader see life from a different perspective.  Romantic literature is often associated with poems about love, however, one of the main characteristics of Romanticism is emotion (including love), but also includes so much more (fear, horror, anger).  Death intertwining with love was a major theme that was explored in literature in a way that made death seems like pleasantness and not something to be feared or avoided.  Romantic writers Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson lives affected their poems and stories during this period.

        Writers throughout the Romanticism movement focused on life, emotions, and the existence of humans. Even though Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson stories were usually on the subject of death it still retained beauty and kindness, and deepness. They asked many questions about what lies behind death. Romantic writers would trust their emotions and feelings to create their work. Writers during this era were partially made it obvious to the readers that the events that were occurring in their own lives had an effect on poems and stories. The upbringing and events that occurred in their life lead them to becoming popular Romanticism writers.

Poe’s popular poem “Annabel Lee” was assumed to be written about Virginia, cousin/wife of Poe at the age of 13. However some find is unclear to whom the character Annabel Lee is referring to. In the poem he talks about a woman’s death (Virginia perhaps) and a man’s obsession with his loss. The poem focuses on an ideal love but like most of the women in other stories and poems by Poe, she is married young and struck with an illness. “And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride, in her sepulcher there by the sea In her tomb by the sounding sea.” Poe was rather pleasant with the character’s death. Even though the angels did not want them together, he confesses that every night he lies down by her side in her tomb by the sea. By reading the four last stanzas of the poem the narrator considers their two souls are still entwined. The narrator tells the readers that the two will be together again, as not even demons "can ever dissever" their souls. His love for her remained the same even after she passed away.

In many of Edgar Allan Poe’s work, love and death are frequently intertwined. In this case, Poe has had relations with beautiful women he fell in love with but has died young. Poe was traumatized by his young wife Virginia’s unexpected death. From that time on the shocking death of young woman turn out to be a continuous theme in his poem and stories. Romantic writer’s stories usually related to the events that were occurring in their own lives. While death was assumed to play a part in majority of Poe’s life and writings, beauty did as well. Poe's short poem "To Helen" is about the outer and inner beauty. Jane Stith Stanard, the mother of his childhood friend Rob, was the inspiration for the poem. “The role of the female in "To Helen" is multifaceted. In one sense, Helen guards the home hearth in the traditional domestic role of caregiver while displaying a faithful attachment that recalls the idealized love of Annabel Lee in Poe's eponymous 1849 poem.”

Emily Dickinson poetry was highly infatuated with death and religion. In addition, her poems were on the subject of love, beauty and death. Her work occasionally reflected her loneliness. She infrequently stayed in her room and avoided socializing with people, even close friends. Like Edgar Allan Poe, Dickinson was another poet that had experienced broad personal struggles and battles with long-term illnesses and death of loved ones. Dickinson poems are unique. For example the irony, symbolism, imagery and personifications that she uses in her stories. From time to time Dickinson uses real life examples in her stories and poems to give support to her thoughts. Another thing she used to prove her point and give support well was imagery.

Well-known poem “If I Should Die” was published before she died. “If I Should Die” is written from a curious person’s perspective who is assuming what would happen if they were to die. Most common people fear death over everything. But the speaker in the poem shows how death is a natural, peaceful thing through the use of imagery, personification, and real life examples.” To Dickinson death wasn’t anything to fear or avoid. She felt that death should be viewed positively; dying is all a natural process in life. She ends “If I Should Die” with “conduct the pleasing scene” signifying a natural death is a pleasing thing to see since it’s the way of life. She provides actual examples on how life will go on without someone’s death.