What literary movement is Ralph Waldo Emerson commonly associated with?

Ralph Waldo Emerson is most commonly associated with Transcendentalism, a philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the early 19th century in the United States. Transcendentalism emphasizes the inherent goodness of people and nature, the importance of intuition and individual experience, and the belief in an overarching spiritual presence that connects all living things.

Emerson, as a central figure in this movement, championed ideas of self-reliance, nonconformity, and the pursuit of truth through personal experience rather than through established doctrines or societal conventions. His essays, such as "Nature" and "Self-Reliance," encapsulate these Transcendentalist ideals, promoting a deep connection with nature and the importance of personal intuition over empirical evidence or traditional authority.

While his work is also reflective of some aspects of Romanticism, particularly its focus on individual emotion and the sublime in nature, Transcendentalism is the movement in which he played a pivotal role, shaping its philosophies and spreading its influence through his writings and lectures.