Question

In 1842, Emerson called for the emergence of a poet worthy of the new

America - a fresh voice with limitless passion and originality. Two poets who began
writing in the middle of the century arguably met this challenge: Walt Whitman and
Emily Dickinson. Although their lives outwardly were very dissimilar, both Whitman
and Dickinson wrote poems that broke with the traditional conventions of poetic form
and content. In this way they followed the transcendentalist ideals of individuals
discovering the truth through intuition and following their own beliefs.
Not all American Romantics were optimistic or had faith in the innate goodness
of humankind, however. Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville
are what have been called "brooding" romantics or "anti-transcendentalists." Their
stories are characterized by a probing of the inner life of their characters, and
examination of the complex and often mysterious forces that motivate human behavior.
These stories are romantic, however, in their emphasis on emotion, nature, the
individual, and the unusual.
Central Ide
1-2 Sentence Summarrt

Answer 1

Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, through their transcendentalist-inspired poetry, diverged from traditional American literary conventions, advocating for individuality and profound connection with nature, which became seminal to the evolution of American literary expression in the Romantic era.

Step-by-step explanation:

Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman broke from traditional American literary conventions by embracing and expressing transcendental ideals in their poetry. Unlike their predecessors, who often adhered to strict poetic forms, Dickinson and Whitman sought a deeper, more personal expression through their work. Dickinson's seclusion and introverted contemplation of life and death produced uniquely structured and introspective poems, while Whitman's freestyle and celebratory verses mirrored the grandiosity and diversity of the American experience. Both poets moved away from fixed forms and themes, resonating with Ralph Waldo Emerson's transcendentalist vision for an American literature that promoted individuality, emotion, and connection to nature.

While Emerson encouraged self-reliance and profound connection with the universe, which many writers of the period aspired to embody in their works, Dickinson and Whitman realized these ideals through their innovative styles. This shift in American poetry was also part of a broader nineteenth-century Romantic movement, characterized by an emphasis on emotional self-expression, the importance of the individual, and the beauty and exploration of nature.

These thematic rebellions against the rationalism and societal norms of the time established Dickinson and Whitman not simply as late Romantics but as pioneering voices in American literature. Their influence would pave the way for subsequent generations of writers to explore a variety of themes, styles, and the rich tapestry of the American experience in more complex and authentic ways.