Romanticism, Poe, and The Raven

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 …

…during the Romantic Era. Romanticism doesn't mean that a literary work has to be about love. Ironically, "The Raven" is both "romantic" and from the "Romantic" period. Poe's poem is about a man's "lost love". The man's emotions causes him to become exotic (shouting like a maniac for the bird to take its leave) and finally to imagine all sorts of weird things (a raven that refuses to leave and speaks only one word; "Nevermore").