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)