Romanticism can be best described as: an artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late eighteenth century and characterized by a heightened interest in nature, and emphasis on the individuals' expression of emotion and imagination. Irving, Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, and Cooper, all authors of Romanticism, include these descriptions in their works. These five authors can be considered a "Romanticist" for three reasons: They are all from the "Romantic Period", their works express themselves in some way, and they each have a specific characteristic in their writing.
             Irving, Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, and Cooper are all illustrious authors from the Romanticism Era. This was a period in history in the 1800's in which various rebellions against established social rules were going into effect. Its strange and mysterious tone may have something to do with the way these men wrote. This period is sometimes seen as an "intellectual revolution", and may be seen in their writings.
             Each of these men expresses themselves, in one way or another, in their writings. For example: Poe, best known for his morbid and bizarre writings, had a most unfortunate childhood. His parents both died when he was only three, leaving him to a tobacco merchant in Virginia. His self-destructive attitude and being expelled from college were some of the reasons Poe's adoptive father disowned him. One can see the reason Poe wrote such dark stories was probably because of his early family life and struggles. Moreover, Cooper is well known for his works regarding the American Frontier. As a historian, it was most likely very easy for him to incorporate the information from this profession into his tales. Again, he was able to express himself in his writings.
             Finally, each of these men has a specific characteristic in their works. For Irving, it is very American, like The Knickerbocker Hi...