The Raven and Romanticism

517 Words2 Pages

The era of Romanticism spans from the late 1700's to the mid 1800's

following the French Revolution; therefore, "Romanticism" encompasses

characteristics of the human mind in addition to the particular time in

history when these qualities became dominant in culture. Romanticism

depicts an artistic movement which emerged from reaction against dominant

attitudes and approaches of the 18th century. Romanticism established

realism in literature through creativity, innovation, exploration, and

vivid imagery. By expanding beyond the definition of love, Romanticism,

accented by mystery, delves into the strange and fantastic aspects of human

experiences. "To escape from society, the Romantics turned their interests

to remote and faraway places; the medieval past; folklore and legends, and

nature and the common man." Edgar Allen Poe is noted as one of the few

American "Romantic" poets. Poe's poem "The Raven" portrays Romanticism as

characterized by emotion, exotica, and imagination.

A friend of Edgar Allen Poe, R. H. Horne, wrote of "...

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