Romanticism is an influential literary movement in America that permanently changed literature from the drastically modest and structured ideals of Puritanism. Two contrasting types of authors, Romantics and Dark Romantics, introduce new and significant literature to America; while romantics see the light, airy side of the world, dark romantics see the darker, more horrific side. This drastically changed literary period is influenced by Europe and was revolutionary for America from the moment it arrived. American romanticism rejects normal, rational thought and praises the unpredictability and complexity of emotions. Romanticism changed American literature forever. Despite its name, the Romantic literary period has little or nothing to do with love and the romance that often accompanies love; instead it focuses on the expression of feelings and imagination. Romanticism originally originated in Europe, first seen in Germany in the eighteenth century, and began to influence American writers in the 1800s. The movement lasts sixty years and is a rejection of the rationalist period of logic and reason. Gary Arpin, author of multiple selections in Elements of Literature: Fifth Course, Literature of The United States, presents the idea that, “For the Romantic sensibility, imagination, spontaneity, individual feelings, and wildness were of greater value of reason, logic, planning and cultivation" (143). The Romantic author rejects logic and writes wild, spontaneous stories and poems inspired by myths, folktales, and even the supernatural. Romantics not only reject logic and reasoning, but praise innocence, youth, and creativity, as well as the beauty and refuge they so often find in nature. An important feature... middle of the paper... 997. Print.Davey, Michael J. "The Romance". American History Through Literature 1820-1870. Ed. Janet Gabler-Hover and Robert Sattelmeyer. vol. 3. Detroit: Sons of Charles Scribner, 2006. 994-1000. Student resources in context. Network. April 28, 2014. "Overview of Edgar Allan Poe." Discovering the authors. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context. Network. April 14, 2014."Romanticism." Gale Student Resources in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Student Resources in Context. Network. April 27, 2014. Robinson, David M. “Romanticism.” American History Through Literature 1820-1870. Ed. Janet Gabler-Hover and Robert Sattelmeyer. vol. 3. Detroit: Sons of Charles Scribner, 2006. 1000-1007. Student resources in context. Network. April 27, 2014. Turner, Arlin and Benjamin Franklin, V. “Nathaniel Hawthorne.” Discovering the authors. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context. Network. April 27. 2014.