Romanticism: A Comprehensive Overview
Romanticism
Historical Context
- American Revolution (1776)
- French Revolution (1789)
Romanticism emerged as a reaction to the dramatic social and living conditions of the time. Authors challenged the existing way of thinking, sparking an artistic and philosophical movement.
Who Started the Movement?
- William Wordsworth
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
These poets, known for their ballads, played a pivotal role in the beginning of Romanticism. Civilization during this period flourished in art, culture, literature, and history.
Characteristics
Romantic works are personal, spontaneous, and subjective. Authors express their feelings, actions, and passions, often incorporating fantastical elements.
Style
Neoromanticism encompasses various forms of expression, including drama, war poetry, and music.
Aesthetic Dimension
Romanticism emphasizes imagination and the author’s ability to recreate nature and create new realities. Artistic expression is seen as organic and interconnected.
Ideas of Romanticism
Key themes include imagination, nature, emotions, and individualism. Romantic authors challenged aristocratic rule, pragmatism, and established rules, embracing an idealistic way of thinking.
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was an English poet and one of the first Romantic authors. Born in 1772, he is known for his collection of poems.
Education
- Grammar school
- Cambridge University
Poetic Style
Wordsworth’s style is simple and sincere, reflecting the language of his time. He emphasizes feelings and portrays simple topics with relatable characters.
Influential Events
Wordsworth’s happy childhood and close relationship with his sister Dorothy shaped his worldview. His belief in the power of nature is evident in his famous poem “**I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud**.”
John Keats
John Keats, born in 1795, was a prominent figure in classic literature. Despite facing challenges such as early orphanhood and financial struggles, he pursued his passion for poetry.
Style
Keats was a Romantic poet known for his odes. He incorporated nature into his poems to evoke gentleness and wrote extensively about love and beauty.
Notable Works
- **Fancy**
- **Ode on a Grecian Urn**
- **To Lord Byron**
- **To Sleep**
- **When I Have Fears** (most important poem)
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley, born in 1797, was an English novelist best known for her gothic novel **Frankenstein**.
Style
Shelley’s writing is characterized by heightened language, emphasis on emotions, detailed descriptions, and gloomy settings.
Works
- **Travel narratives:** History of a Six Weeks’ Tour, Rambles in Germany and Italy
- **Children’s literature:** Proserpine, Midas, Maurice
- **Novels:** Frankenstein, Valperga, The Last Man, Lodore
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley was a renowned English poet and essayist. Despite facing initial criticism for his views, he became a prominent figure in the second generation of Romanticism.
Education
Shelley attended a science academy.
Works
Shelley wrote essays, poems (including **Ode to the West Wind**), and novels.
Style
His writing is sensitive and explores themes of love and tranquility.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, born in 1772, was a major English poet of the Romantic era. He studied at Jesus College and Christ’s Hospital, where he developed a passion for poetry.
Coleridge collaborated with Wordsworth on **Lyrical Ballads**, a collection of poems that marked a significant moment in the Romantic movement. He also wrote notable works such as **The Rime of the Ancient Mariner**, **Kubla Khan**, and **Biographia Literaria**.
George Gordon Byron
Lord Byron (1788-1824) was a leading figure in the Romantic movement. His poetry often explored themes of individualism, rebellion, and the beauty of nature. Some of his most famous poems include **She Walks in Beauty**, **When We Two Parted**, and **Darkness**.
Robert Southey
Robert Southey was an English poet and writer known for his diverse works, including dramas, essays, and ballads. While his works were overshadowed by other Romantic writers, his influence can be seen in the works of Shelley, Byron, and Tennyson. His most enduring work is **The Story of the Three Bears** (from the collection The Doctor), also known as **Goldilocks**.
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer known for his gothic horror stories and poems. His works often explored themes of death, loss, and the macabre. Some of his most famous works include **The Tell-Tale Heart**, **The Fall of the House of Usher**, and **The Raven**.
Style
Poe’s writing is characterized by its dark and mysterious atmosphere, its focus on emotion and drama, and its use of gothic elements.
Robert Burns
Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. His poetry is known for its spontaneity, directness, and sincerity. He wrote in both Scots and English, exploring themes of republicanism, Scottish patriotism, and social justice. His most famous work is **Auld Lang Syne**.
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish historical novelist and poet. He is credited with inventing the historical novel genre and is known for his vivid descriptions of Scottish history and culture. Some of his most famous works include **Ivanhoe**, **Rob Roy**, and **Waverley**.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His ideas on education, politics, and society had a profound impact on the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. His most famous works include **Emile, or On Education** and **The Social Contract**.