Prior to 1865 could cover a lot of dates. I think that you are specifically referring to Romanticism. Typically, Romanticism covers from 1800 - 1850. It's a wonderful literary period. There is a huge emphasis on nature and the importance of nature. It's essentially a full fledged god that should be worshiped. By attaining a "oneness" with nature, a person can gain special knowledge that has been transcended through communing with nature. There is...
Prior to 1865 could cover a lot of dates. I think that you are specifically referring to Romanticism. Typically, Romanticism covers from 1800 - 1850. It's a wonderful literary period. There is a huge emphasis on nature and the importance of nature. It's essentially a full fledged god that should be worshiped. By attaining a "oneness" with nature, a person can gain special knowledge that has been transcended through communing with nature. There is a large emphasis on emotion (instead of reason). There is an emphasis on the individual, and there is an emphasis on carpe diem.
In modern American media, we see the reflections of Romanticism in something called "the myth of rural simplicity." I teach it in my media class. Basically, what it is saying is that life is better, simpler, etc. in the country. A good example of this kind of thinking can be seen in the TV show The Walking Dead. Zombies are in the city. The good guys find refuge in the country. In normal, "real" life, people go on camping trips to "simplify" things for a bit. I can use Lord of the Rings too for a good example. Everything is perfect and beautiful in the Shire, but in the population centers, everything is starting to go bad. Robin Hood is safe in the forest, but castles are places to avoid. In each of those examples, nature offers a peaceful sanctuary, which is what Romanticism always said.
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