53 POE, MELVILLE AND WHITMAN

national literature

A period in American literary history marked by uniquely American themes and a focus on personal expression.

romantic individualism

An emphasis on individual emotion and personal experience as a central theme in literature.

Declaration of Independence

The document in which the American colonies justified their break from Britain, emphasizing self-governance and individual rights.

Treaty of Paris

The agreement that officially ended the American War of Independence in 1783, recognizing the United States as independent.

Jacksonian Democracy

A political movement during the 1820s-1830s that expanded suffrage for white males and redefined democratic participation.

Transcendentalism

A philosophical movement that emphasized individualism, self-reliance, and a deep connection with nature.

Civil War

A significant conflict in the United States (1861-1865) that marked the division between free and slave states.

Edgar Allan Poe

An American writer known for his tales of terror, contributions to the detective genre, and mastery of Gothic literature.

Herman Melville

An American novelist best known for Moby Dick, exploring themes of good versus evil and truth.

Walt Whitman

An American poet celebrated for his work Leaves of Grass, known for his themes of democracy, nationalism, and individualism.

leaves of grass

Walt Whitman's life work, constantly revised, reflecting his poetic development and exploration of self and humanity.

free verse

A poetic form that does not adhere to regular meter or rhyme, prominently used by Walt Whitman.

The Raven

Edgar Allan Poe's best-known poem, notable for its melancholic tone and repeated refrain.

Moby Dick

Herman Melville's epic novel, addressing themes of revenge, obsession, and the nature of good and evil.

the uncanny

A psychological concept denoting the familiar that becomes unsettling, often explored in Poe's work.

calamus poems

A series of poems by Walt Whitman exploring themes of love and sexuality.

Drum-Taps

A collection of poems by Whitman reflecting on the Civil War and its impact on the American spirit.

unity of effect

Edgar Allan Poe's concept where all elements of a story contribute to a single emotional impact.