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Compare and contrast Romanticism and Transcendentalism

Sadman Shaid Saad

Department of English, Jahangirnagar University

E304: 19th Century American Literature

Dr Raihan M. Sharif

January 12, 2022

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Compare and contrast romanticism and transcendentalism.

Romanticism and Transcendentalism were two important spiritual, philosophical and

literary movements that took place in America simultaneously nearly at the mid-nineteenth
century having common surface similarities, such as their reverence for nature, however their
founding beliefs were quite different despite having both movements arose as a reaction to strict
traditions, laws and religious rules of the period. Transcendentalism and romanticism put a
strong focus on the individual as well as spontaneous inspiration. Romanticism was a response to
realism and objective thinking in part. Consequently, transcendentalism was a reaction to
overbearing religious dogma and practices. Both persuaded people to find their own true
meaning and be guided by it rather than following the strict rules of the period.

A significant difference between the two was their perspectives on God and God's role in
people's lives. Transcendentalism was founded on the belief that God is an interior force,
therefore every individual and entity, as His creations, contains a spark of life. As a result, the
ultimate purpose of the human experience was to connect with that spark of life. On the contrary.
Romanticism was less concerned with God. When God was acknowledged, it was viewed as an
outside force rather than a divine spark within human psychology. Romanticism was concerned
with both the absurd and the sublime, and works of literature in this genre frequently deal with
the internal conflict between the two. Numerous Romantics felt that human nature had both
intrinsic darkness and innate light. Most Romantic authors did not share the optimism of their
Transcendentalist colleagues because of their differing views on God.

Romanticism and Transcendentalism further taught to identify the reason for one's being, to
think and locate that inner light, and then to choose between two options: good or evil in life.
Transcendentalism highlighted both good and evil as a component of personal progress, whereas
Romanticism emphasized positivity. Transcendentalism emerges from Romanticism, and
Romanticism would already have perished alone and neglected if it hadn't been for the
manifestation of some of the core beliefs of the Transcendentalist movement. Even if two things
are completely contradictory, they might nevertheless be very important to each other.
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Transcendentalism stresses inspirations beyond human standpoint, regular traditions, and

rationality, whereas Romanticism emphasizes passion and feelings over personal and intellectual
advancement. Romanticism is heavily reliant on natural senses, sentiments, and emotions for its
findings. Transcendentalism is heavily reliant on inner light and intuition for guidance.

The physical world was indeed a real issue of Romanticism. The text relates to the sensory
experiences of the reader. The writings of Transcendentalists are more concerned with the
spiritual journey than with the physical journey.

Another distinction between Romanticism and Transcendentalism is the belief in human

beings' intrinsic goodness or dark side, which is strongly linked to the two movements'
perspectives on God. Romanticism was preoccupied with the "spirit of perversity" in human
nature, as well as the "grand fault in the universe" on a larger scale. Many other Romantic
writings are predicated on the idea that everything might not be alright, as Nathaniel Hawthorne
studied the repercussions of guilt, sin, and unhappiness on the human spirit. This is in direct
opposition to the Transcendentalist notion of people's and the universe's ultimate goodness.
Because of the "inner light," profound goodness in the human soul is a given, an evident reality,
according to Transcendentalism. Henceforth, as we are all God, everyone carries a piece of God
within their spirit. As a result, intrinsic goodness is unavoidable. This was stated as "ultimate
goodness beyond description," and it's detailed in more detail in Conversations With God as
"something which the spirit encompasses intimately but the mind can hardly comprehend."
There was no "flaw in the universe" to the Transcendentalists. Only God does exist.

Henceforth, to conclude, the contributing factors of both Romanticism and

Transcendentalism were very comparable. Both movements have been the product of rigid
customs, laws, and religious standards of conduct in place at the time, which served primarily
political and religious goals rather than the growth of a human being and his or her inner self.
Both Romanticism and Transcendentalism inspired individuals to find their own genuine
meaning and embrace it instead of blindly following strict norms.
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Works Cited

Emerson, R. W., & Ericson, E. (1997). Emerson on Transcendentalism. Burns & Oates.

Abrams, M. H., & Harpham, G. (2013). A Glossary of Literary Terms.

Phillips, J., Ladd, A., & Anesko, M. (2005). Romanticism and Transcendentalism.

Spanckeren, K. V. (2009). Outline of American Literature.