THE ROMANTIC PERIOD
1798 - 1832
Beginnings
In 1798, and
published , With a Few Other Poems. This began the Romantic Period.
Six Major Poets: William Blake, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, and George Gordon (also called Lord Byron).
The French Revolution
In 1789, was executed by a democratic faction in the government. In 1792 hundreds of
were executed by the . In 1804 became emperor
of France and was known as a tyrant. England feared that it would fall to
, particularly with the recent lose of the American colonies.
Industrialization
Industrialization, which began in the late 1700’s, continued. Goods that were once were now
in cities increased – living
conditions were used as part of
. – “Let the people do as they
please”
Romantic Period in England
Writers sought to return back to the of Medieval
Literature. Three parts to the definition of “Romantic”: 1) Fascination with youth and innocence –
2) Stage in development of society –
3) People needed to be aware of
Characteristics of Romantic Poets
Embraced Preferred poetry that spoke of Used the Many poems were set in Believed in Thought of nature as
Notes on Poems
Lyric Poetry –
Most romantic poems contain a who is
Romantic poems used . They used the and sought to reveal the
truths of the heart and the imagination.
William Blake
* Blake was both a poet and an .
* Much of his poetry was
* One of his purposes was to
* Blake contrasted innocence and experience
* These were seen as two sides of
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
* Coleridge was a highly imaginative geniuswho once sought to help form a utopian society in
America.
* He was addicted to
* Kubla Khan is the name of a Mongol ruler of China.
* The poem “Kubla Khan” was written during
George Gordon, Lord Byron
Percy Bysshe Shelley
John Keats