Natural Supernaturalism

work by Abrams

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July 19, 2026

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M.H. Abrams's Natural Supernaturalism (1971) explores the Romantic sensibility, particularly its religious implications and influence on modern literature. The work delves into how Romanticism, characterized by an appreciation for nature, emotion over reason, and the individual, often engaged with the mysterious and supernatural.12

Naturalism, in philosophy, posits that all existing things are part of the natural world and knowable through scientific investigation. It stands in contrast to supernaturalism, which suggests realities beyond the natural world. Abrams's work examines how Romantic writers integrated natural and supernatural elements, often imbuing the natural world with a sense of the divine or transcendent.3421

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M.H. Abrams
Natural Supernaturalism (1971) explores a broader reach of the Romantic sensibility, including its religious implications and its influence on modern literature. Further critical essays by Abrams on Romantic topics were collected in The Correspondent Breeze (1984).
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Natural Supernaturalism (1971) explores a broader reach of the Romantic sensibility, including its religious implications and its influence on modern literature. Further critical essays by Abrams on Romantic topics were collected in The Correspondent Breeze (1984).
Read More