What literary movement is represented by works emphasizing individual experience and emotion?

The literary movement that emphasizes individual experience and emotion is Romanticism. This movement emerged in the late 18th century and flourished in the 19th century, reacting against the rationalism and order of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. Romanticism highlights the importance of personal feeling, intuition, and the sublime aspects of nature, often celebrating the individual's subjective experience.

Romantic writers sought to express deep emotions and explore the human condition, often focusing on themes such as beauty, love, nature, and the supernatural. They valued imagination and creativity, often portraying the individual as a unique entity capable of profound introspection and emotional expression. The works of authors such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, and Mary Shelley exemplify these qualities, showcasing how personal experience can shape artistic expression.

In contrast, other movements like Realism focus on depicting everyday life and social issues without embellishment, Modernism emphasizes fragmented experiences and alienation in an increasingly complex world, and Postmodernism often interrogates the very nature of narrative and truth. These contrasting focuses help clarify why Romanticism is the appropriate choice for emphasizing individual experience and emotion.