Matthiessen was influential in determining the canon of American writers from this period: Poe, Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, and Whitman. ... Walt Whitman Whitman's poem, "Song of Myself," from "Leaves of Grass" is often considered the most stunningly original poem ever written by an American. ... " The poem is innovative both in terms of style and content, forever altering the course of American poetry. The poem clearly participates in the invention of a myth of a democratic America. ... Poe's work often explores questions of individual psychology, but can c...

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• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Influenced writers of this time include Washington Irving, author of RIP VAN WINKLE; Edgar Allan Poe, author of many masterpieces, such as THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, ELDORADO, ANNABEL LEE, TO HELEN, and THE RAVEN; Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville, author of the famous MOBY DICK. ... Holmes is known for the poem OLD IRONSIDES. ...

• Word Count: 774
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate