Transcendentalism

Definiion:

Transcendentalism is the summit of the Romantic Movement in the history of American literature in the 19th century. Transcendentalism has been defined philosophically as "the recognition in man of the capacity of knowing truth intuitively”. Transcendentalism place emphasis on the importance of the over-soul, the individual and nature. The most important representatives are Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

The major feature of it:

First the transcendentalism placed emphasis on spirit or the oversoul, as the most important thing in the universe. It existed in nature and man alike and constituted the chief element of the universe.

The Transcendentalism stressed the importance of individual. To them the individual was the most important element of society.

The Transcendentalism offered a fresh perception of nature as symbolic of the spirit or god. Nature was to them, not purely matter. It was alive, filled with god's overwhelming presence. It was the garment of the oversoul.