Williams 1

Marjie Williams
Mrs. Pritchard
English II: American Literature
18 December 2015
Exploring the Connections between Literary Movements
Literary works often reflect the authors time period and the struggles they are going
through by using specific themes, imagery, and tone. Two examples of these movements include
Naturalism and Transcendentalism. In Naturalism, authors are driven to reveal the world in an
honest and straightforward style that resembles a journalistic form of writing. Transcendentalism
targets the connection between the universe and soul. Often, Transcendentalist authors view
society as a corrupted system that affects an individuals thoughts and opinions. These varying
themes found in Transcendentalism and Naturalism are found in An Autumn Sunset by Edith
Wharton and in "A Carol of Harvest" by Walt Whitman. The idea of accepting death reoccurs
throughout the Naturalistic work, "An Autumn Sunset" and Transcendentalist piece, "A Carol of
Harvest," while still focusing on their specific literary movement shown within the tone,
imagery, and themes.
Edith Whartons writing reveals the harsh realities of the world through a harsh tone and
rhyme scheme to convey the overall theme of inescapable death. In An Autumn Sunset,
Wharton portrays life in an honest fashion, "The melancholy, unconsoling fold / Of all things that
go utterly to death / And mix no more, no more" (22-24). Lack of free, a common idea in
Naturalistic writing, can be seen here as Wharton describes the unfortunate end to all life. Also,
the narration of the poem is stated objectively, resembling journalistic writing. The poem begins
with the sun setting above the result of warfare, and the narrator directly reports the image
instead of describing their opinions and emotions towards the battle. Both Wharton and Whitman

Williams 2
address life's inevitable end but interpret this differently because their literary movement
influences several of their ideas.
In contrast to Edith Wharton's writing, Walt Whitman uses vivid imagery and a subjective
narrative that categorizes his piece in the Transcendental movement. Whitmans strong
connection with nature shows his desire to transcend past the physical world, O Earth, that hast
no voice, confide to me a voice! / O harvest of my lands? O boundless summer growths! / O
lavish, brown, parturient earth! O infinite, teeming womb! / A verse to seek, to see, to narrate
thee (11-14). Whitman desires to have a relationship with nature by being their voice and would
go beyond the physical world in doing this. In Transcendentalism, society is considered a
negative influence on the readers' opinions and passions. Whitman states in the poem how he
accepts and understands the dead's memories, but does not let it affect him. Because of Whitman
and Whartons contrasting view and response to the world, their description of death and its
outcome is different.
Through imagery and tone, Wharton and Whitman express their thoughts on death
influenced by their literary movement. The poems differ in their tone and reflect their view of
death. Whitman is grateful and shows a genuine connection with nature while rejecting society
and its attempts to corrupt his judgment. Death does not frighten Whitman, "But most, in the
open air, as now, when my soul is rapt and at peace like pleasing / phantoms, / Your dear
memories, rising, glide silently by me" (71-73). It is clear that he has accepted death because he
acknowledges and respects the dead. Wharton has a more gloomy approach where she sees life
as a hopeless struggle that ends with death no matter the situation. She believes that people forget
the deceased's identity, "Dead to all shames, forgotten of all glories So purged of all
remembrance and sucked back / Into the primal void" (33, 36-37). This idea contrasts how
Whitman remembers the dead's memories and his belief that they have a special place in nature.

Williams 3
While the authors description of death differs, they still have similarities. Both poems have a
strong connection to nature and use it to portray their reaction to death. Whitman seeks a
relationship with nature and believes the dead reside in elements of nature. Wharton begins her
story with the sun rising over the war scene and compares life to a sailless sea (27). Nature, a
key element in both works, helps to express the authors main ideas.
Walt Whitman and Edith Wharton's use of imagery and tone depict their view of death
while conveying their literary movement. Walt Whitman has an optimistic approach to life by
worshiping nature and remembering the deceased while showing Transcendental characteristics.
Edith Wharton shows elements of Naturalism by expressing her thoughts of death realistically
and honestly. The authors have different ideas about the dead's outcome and what happens to
their identity after death, but with these differences in mind, it is clear that Wharton and
Whitman have accepted life's inevitable end.