The Romantic Period

The Romantic Period

1798-1832

Historical Context Response to the rationalism of

the Enlightenment Response to the French

Revolution (1789) The revolutionaries in France

fought for “liberty, equality, and fraternity”

Ideas of the French Revolution influenced writers in England – they were inspired by the fight for democracy and the common man

Response to industrialism Longing for nature and

simplicity

Literary Context British Romantic writers responded to the political and social

climate of the time Idealized nature, simplicity, and innocence in response to the

ugliness of industrialization Greater emphasis on the imagination

Compare to values of Englightenment-17th/18th Century Writers Influenced by philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Rousseau believed that society was a force that imprisoned human nature

“Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” Most important genres were poetry and novels

Gothic novels (Frankenstein) and Historical Romances (Sir Walter Scott)

Pre-Romantic Poetry

Combination of forms of Neoclassical poetry (think Ben Jonson and his balanced, classical style) with a thematic focus on nature and the life of common folk

Emphasis shifts toward the expression of heightened feeling

William Blake: A Pre-Romantic(1757-1827)

A visionary and genius – he was ahead of his time (and largely unappreciated while he lived)

Known for both poetry and art – made engravings to accompany his writing. His illustrations were called illuminations.

Major books of poetry: Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Explores themes of childhood and innocence Shows darker side of human nature, disillusionment that comes

with age The Marriage of Heaven and Hell America A Prophecy Europe A Prophecy The First Book of Urizen

Blake saw the world in necessary opposites

Blake’s Artwork

Blake’s Artwork

Ancient of Days

Newton

Romantic Poetry 1798 marks the beginning of Romantic

poetry w/ publication of Lyrical Ballads Lyrical Ballads - volume of poetry by

William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge

In the preface, they define good poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”

Poetry also “takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility”

These ideas about poetry were revolutionary and brought about new ways of writing

Characteristics of Romantic Thought and Poetry

Increasing interest in Nature, and in the natural, primitive and uncivilized way of life

Growing interest in wild and untamed scenery (the “sublime”)

Association of human moods with “moods” of Nature

Emphasis on a need for spontaneity in thought and action and expression

Power of imagination Power of the individual

William Wordsworth 1770-1850 Grew up in the Lake

District of England, spent childhood exploring the outdoors – loved nature from an early age

The Lake District

The Lake District

Wordsworth Graduated from Cambridge

in 1787 – spent time afterward traveling in France and embraced the ideals of the French Revolution

Shows these ideals in his poetry by rejecting conventional rules about language and form

Poetry features ordinary people, uses more natural language

“Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey”

Written in 1798 during Wordsworth’s 2nd visit

Expresses a deep joy in returning to Tintern Abbey and how his first visit sustained him over five years

Look for key ideas of romanticism

Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772-1834 Poet of fantasy and the

imagination Co-author of Lyrical Ballads

w/ Wordsworth Coleridge focuses on the

strange and exotic Both poets share same goal –

to express essential truths about the human soul

Samuel Taylor Coleridge As a child was an avid

reader, had a very active imagination

Attended Cambridge Health problems required

him to take painkillers – became addicted to opium

Became friends w/ Wordsworth in 1795

Friendship dissolved in 1810

“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

Considered to be Coleridge’s masterpiece

Published in Lyrical Ballads

Basis of the poem was a friend’s dream

Wordsworth helped him elaborate on the dream – suggested that the poem be centered around a crime that happens at sea

George Gordon, Lord Byron 1788-1824 2nd generation Romantic

poet Family was aristocratic but

poor Inherited his great-uncle’s

title and became Lord Byron Attended Cambridge,

traveled in Europe and Middle East after graduating

Known for being wild and reckless from a young age

George Gordon, Lord Byron First work, the book-length poem Childe Harold’s

Pilgrimage, made him famous overnight Lived the life of a “celebrity poet” Pet bear “Mad, bad, and dangerous to know.” Byronic hero – combination of Byron himself and

his characters A dark, brooding hero Mysterious, passionate, irresistibly attractive

Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792-1822 2nd generation Romantic poet Born into a wealthy family Attended Oxford

got expelled for writing an essay supporting atheism

Saw society as corrupt Married to Mary Wollstonecraft

Shelley (2nd wife) – author of Frankenstein

Was good friends w/ Lord Byron Died in a boating accident at age 29

John Keats 1795-1821 2nd generation

Romantic poet Unlike Byron and

Shelley, born to working-class parents

Studied medicine in London but gave it up to write poetry

John Keats 1818 – brother dies of TB but John meets the love

of his life, Fanny Brawne John and Fanny become engaged in 1819, he

begins to get very sick w/ TB Moves to Italy, dies in Rome in 1821- -he was

only 25 His legacy:

Lyric poetry One of the best poets in the English language Deeply devoted to the art of poetry Very sensitive to beauty, time, and the

contradictions of life (ex: sadness mixed with joy)