reflection 13

The fireside poets are extremely different than the writers of the rational and puritan periods. In the romanticism period the authors like to disregard science and acquire youthful nature, while the rational authors were all about logically approaching everything they did. Just compare Franklin's writing to any fireside poet, and you will see that they have completely different views on everything.

"I concluded at length, that the mere speculative conviction, that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependance on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct" (Franklin 148).

"We watched the first red blaze appear,
Heard the sharp crackle, caught the gleam
On whitewashed wall and sagging beam,
Until the old, rude-furnished room
Burst, flower-like, into rosy bloom;
While radiant with a mimic flame
Outside the sparkling drift became,
And through the bare-boughed lilac-tree
Our own warm hearth seemed blazing free." (Whittier)

Just by looking at these two opposing writing styles you can immediately see the superficial basis of the many differences between rationalism and romticism. For one romanticism is very wordy and drawn out, while rationalism is not as descriptive and more to the point. Romanticism is filled to the brim with reverences and allusions to that devious idea of nature, while rationalism is more of a logical approach to life. Franklin as an example used his rationalistic ways to create a system of virtues to help the common society, while the romanticism have preached about nature in an attempt to in what it seems to me, to restore humanity's humanity. Both are worthy causes and are have been executed well. Another thing I will point out before bringing out the dastardly Puritans is that the rationalism writers all seem to be elderly, while the romanticism give off the sense of youth.

When comparing puritans to the romanticism period one thing comes to mind specifically. And that would be God. The Puritans are more of a God is responsible for every thing that has ever happened ever, and there are no exceptions ever, even for you, while the romanticism period is trying to reinforce the belief in God, they are more or less not holding him responsible for everything that ever happens ever.

A Prise so vast as is unknown,
Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own.
Ther's wealth enough, I need no more;
Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store.
The world no longer let me Love,
My hope and Treasure lyes Above. (Bradstreet)

The puritans spend their entire lives trying to please their god, while the Romanticism writers just want to abandon their responsibility and go frolic in the woods for an eternity. So theres a big difference right there, responsibility, the puritans have more of it than the romantics. The puritans on a different note see a force of nature such as fire, and think that god simply wants his stuff back, no big deal, while the romantic sees a fire and starts writing poems about how wondrous it is and how it warms his heart. It's really just a matter of which one I could stand being in a room with.

"A Brief Guide to the Fireside Poets." Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. .

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Carson, William J. "Upon the Burning of Our House." Fire and Ice: Puritan and Reformed Writings. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. .

Franklin, Benjamin, and Leonard Woods Labaree. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. New Haven: Yale UP, 1964. Print.