German RomanticismLIT 181Hour 12

Enlightenment

• Logic, reason had dominated for the past eight decades.

• Words like “enthusiasm,” “imagination,” “fantasy,” and others had very different definitions, or were relegated to the realm of the wack-o, bizarre, strange, and not-to-be imitated.

German Classicism

• Goethe and Schiller, Wieland and Herder – in Weimar

• Very few artists participated• A new artistic path for

young blood was needed! • Europe – intellectually

stifling for many.

Art based on the Imagination• Something NEW! – political

landscape of the world• Revolutions: America, France• Major changes in the air• New Philosophy!• With revolutions in politics &

philosophy came new room for new ideas and new ways of looking at the universe

The Word “Romanticism”• Has nothing to do with being

“romantic,” except that a favorite Romantic theme is love

• Refers back to medieval 'romance', a narrative or mythic tale about an individual.

• Emphasizes the power of the imagination, nature, and the value of emotional and subjective ways of experiencing the world.

Jean-JacquesJean-Jacques RousseauRousseau (1712 - (1712 -78)78)

• Essay: (1749) “Has the progress of Essay: (1749) “Has the progress of the sciences and arts contributed the sciences and arts contributed to the corruption or to the to the corruption or to the improvement of human conduct?” improvement of human conduct?”

• "Man is born free, and everywhere "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. One man thinks he is in chains. One man thinks himself the master of others, but himself the master of others, but remains more of a slave than they remains more of a slave than they are."are." ( (The Social Contract, The Social Contract, 1762) 1762)

Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant (1724-(1724-1804)1804)

• Frees knowledge Frees knowledge from perception from perception through senses through senses alone (alone (Critique of Critique of Pure Reason, Pure Reason, 1781)1781)

• Not the objective Not the objective knowledge that knowledge that becomes important, becomes important, but the process of but the process of its acquisition.its acquisition.

Johann Gottlieb Fichte Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-(1762-1814)1814)

• Wissenschaftslehre Wissenschaftslehre (1794-99)(1794-99)

• Takes this one step Takes this one step further in his “Self-further in his “Self-Philosophy” (Ich-Philosophy” (Ich-Philosophie”)Philosophie”)

• Universe = “Ich” Universe = “Ich” and “Nicht-Ich” and “Nicht-Ich” (“Self” and “Non-(“Self” and “Non-Self”)Self”)

• The “Self” dreams The “Self” dreams the universethe universe

Johann Gottlieb Fichte (cont’d)Johann Gottlieb Fichte (cont’d)

• The relationship The relationship between Self and between Self and Non-Self is dynamic, Non-Self is dynamic, and creates a ever and creates a ever larger and more larger and more powerful Self. The powerful Self. The most adept at this = most adept at this = the artist.the artist.

• SUBJECTIVITY!SUBJECTIVITY!

Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling Schelling (1775-1854)(1775-1854)

• NaturphilosophieNaturphilosophie

• World-Spirit inhabits World-Spirit inhabits naturenature

• It creates It creates unconsciously in unconsciously in nature, but consciously nature, but consciously through the artist.through the artist.

Friedrich Daniel Friedrich Daniel SchleiermacherSchleiermacher (1768-1834) (1768-1834)

• Religion is analogous Religion is analogous to art appreciationto art appreciation

• Develop a “sense and Develop a “sense and taste for the eternal”taste for the eternal”

• Active search for the Active search for the infinite within the finiteinfinite within the finite

• Address on Religion to Address on Religion to the Educated among the Educated among its Detractors its Detractors (1799) (1799)

Gotthilf Heinrich SchubertGotthilf Heinrich Schubert (1780-1860)(1780-1860)

• Natural science: not Natural science: not only Enlightenmentonly Enlightenment

• Views of the Views of the Nightside of Natural Nightside of Natural Science Science 18081808

• Distant past – unity Distant past – unity between humans between humans and natureand nature

Gotthilf Heinrich SchubertGotthilf Heinrich Schubert (1780-1860)(1780-1860)

Bizarre psychology, Bizarre psychology, somnambulism, somnambulism, animal magnetism, animal magnetism, vampirism, doubles vampirism, doubles (Doppelgänger),(Doppelgänger), automata, insanity, automata, insanity, etc. – very etc. – very important for important for Hoffmann’s worksHoffmann’s works

Romanticism: a universal movement• Great Britain• Germany• Russia• France • Spain• Latin America• USA• -not always at the same time,

but from the early 19th Century through the present era.

Romantics of Great Britain• Begin in 1797• Wordsworth and Coleridge:

Preface to Lyrical Ballads– Emphasis on “natural” rather than

“cosmopolitan” experience– Rethinking the language of poetry:

more accessible– What is a poet: a genius, someone

extraordinary

• Ballad: genre of lyric that combines all three generic forms:– Lyric (operates on mood,

atmosphere)– Epic (narrator tells a story)– Dramatic (conversation)

Great BritainGreat Britain

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

William Wordsworth

William Blake

Sir Walter Scott

Great Britain (cont’dGreat Britain (cont’d

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly

George Gordon, Lord Byron

Percy Bysshe Shelley

John Keats

Romanticism in France• Land of revolution:

Romanticism is political and social

• Deep debt to Rousseau: nature• Hero = a “natural” person• Challenges social norms,

gender roles (George Sand)• Fascination with the new

democracy in the USA – heroes travel to US

• Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America

Romantics of France

Madame de Stäel George Sand

Romantics of France cont’d

Alphonse de LamartineAlfred de Musset

Alfred de VignyFrançois René de Chateaubriand

Romantics of France cont’d

Alexandre Dumas père

Victor Hugo

Stendhal

Romanticism in the USA• Influence of Rousseau – nature!• Community:

– transcendentalists of New England

– Brook Farm

• Fascination with the land, and those who live off the land

• Nationalism• Emancipation of women, slaves

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau1817-18621817-1862

• On Walden Pond• “Civil Disobedience”• “The mass of men lead

lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats.“

Washington IrvingWashington Irving(1783-1859)(1783-1859)

• Tales of the Alhambra

• “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

• “Rip van Winkle”

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson1803-18821803-1882

• Essayist• “Self-Reliance”• Founder of the

Transcendentalist movement

• “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.”

Margaret FullerMargaret Fuller1810-1850 1810-1850

• foremost literary woman in America in the first half of the nineteenth century

• teacher, writer, editor, critic, social leader, philanthropist, gifted conversationalist, organizer of new literary movements, nurse etc.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1807-18821807-1882

• American epic poetry

• Evangeline• Song of Hiawatha

The Song of HiawathaThe Song of Hiawatha

• “By the shores of Gitche Gumee,By the shining Big-Sea-Water,Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.Dark behind it rose the forest,Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees…”

The Song of HiawathaThe Song of Hiawatha

• “… Rose the firs with cones upon them;Bright before it beat the water.Beat the clear and sunny water,Beat the shining Big-Set-Water.”

James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper(1789-1851) (1789-1851)

• Leatherstocking Novels

• Noble Savage – Natty Bumppo

• The Last of the Mohicans

• The Deerslayer

Edgar Alan PoeEdgar Alan Poe(1809-1849) (1809-1849)

• Brilliant writer of tales and poetry

• “The Raven”• “Anabelle Lee”• “The Tell-Tale

Heart”• “The Pit and the

Pendulum”

The RavenThe Raven• Once upon a midnight dreary,

while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-       Only this, and nothing more."

Nathanael Hawthorne Nathanael Hawthorne (1804-1864)(1804-1864)

• The Scarlet Letter The House of the Seven Gables

• The Blithedale Romance

• The Marble Faun Twice-Told Tales

Herman Melville Herman Melville (1819-1891)(1819-1891)

• Moby Dick• Billy Budd• Typee• "Bartleby the

Scrivener"

Walt Whitman Walt Whitman

• Leaves of Grass 1855

• “Song of Myself”• Defined American

poetry during the 19th century

• The poet of the long line and free verse

Song of Myself Song of Myself 18591859

• “The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me, he complains of my gab and my loitering.

I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable, I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world…

Song of Myself Song of Myself 18591859

• “…I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.

You will hardly know who I am or what I mean, But I shall be good health to you nevertheless, And filter and fibre your blood.

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, Missing me one place search another, I stop somewhere waiting for you.

Romanticism in Germany• Began early, in the same year as

British Romanticism = 1797• Differs from others – less

emphasis on nature, included the urban landscape – less Rousseau

• Less politically progressive – most German Romantics were noblilty

• Social – groups gathered and discussed

• Came in two stages– Stage 1: very philosophical– Stage 2: more entertaining

Beginnings…Beginnings…

Wilhelm Heinrich Wilhelm Heinrich Wackenroder (1773-Wackenroder (1773-1798) & Ludwig Tieck 1798) & Ludwig Tieck (1773-1853)(1773-1853)

University of University of GöttingenGöttingen

Travel – southern Travel – southern Germany, saw Germany, saw renaissance art esp. in renaissance art esp. in Nürnberg & So. Nürnberg & So. Germany, 1793.Germany, 1793.

Especially Dürer & RaphaelEspecially Dürer & Raphael

RaphaelAlbrecht Dürer

Herzensergießungen eines Herzensergießungen eines kunstliebenden Klosterbruders kunstliebenden Klosterbruders

(1797)(1797) The Heartfelt Outpourings of an The Heartfelt Outpourings of an

Art-Loving FriarArt-Loving Friar Praised the art of the Renaissance Praised the art of the Renaissance

but called it art from the “Middle but called it art from the “Middle Ages” – Catholic artAges” – Catholic art

Described the experience of Described the experience of appreciating art as a religious-appreciating art as a religious-emotional oneemotional one

painting = most important art painting = most important art form, although later this would be form, although later this would be music.music.

German Romanticism Pt. 1German Romanticism Pt. 1 Jena & BerlinJena & Berlin

Ludwig Ludwig TieckTieck: “Blond : “Blond Eckbert,” “Puss-In-Eckbert,” “Puss-In-Boots” (1797).Boots” (1797).

Friedrich SchlegelFriedrich Schlegel1772-18291772-1829

The great The great theoretician of theoretician of RomanticismRomanticism

Novel: Novel: LucindeLucinde Athenäum Athenäum (1798-(1798-

1800): 1800): • ““Romantic Romantic

Literature = Literature = progressive, progressive, universal (116th universal (116th AthenäumsAthenäums – – Fragment).Fragment).

August Wilhelm SchlegelAugust Wilhelm Schlegel1767-18451767-1845

Medieval German Medieval German LiteratureLiterature

TranslationsTranslations Philosophy Philosophy Criticism Criticism Aesthetics Aesthetics Lectured Lectured

extensively extensively throughout throughout German speaking German speaking landslands

Friedrich von Hardenberg Friedrich von Hardenberg (Novalis)(Novalis)

1772-18011772-1801 NovalisNovalis Death of fiancée -> Death of fiancée ->

fascination fascination ““Hymns to the Night” Hymns to the Night”

(1799), (1799), Christianity or Europe Christianity or Europe

(1799)(1799), , Heinrich von Heinrich von

OfterdingenOfterdingen (1802) (1802) The Blue FlowerThe Blue Flower

• See the novel by See the novel by Penelope Fitzgerald, Penelope Fitzgerald, The Blue FlowerThe Blue Flower

German Romanticism Pt. 2German Romanticism Pt. 2

Heidelberg & BerlinHeidelberg & Berlin ClemensClemens Brentano Brentano

and Achim von and Achim von ArnimArnim: : Des Des Knaben Knaben Wunderhorn (A Wunderhorn (A Boy’s Cornucopia) Boy’s Cornucopia) (1806/08)(1806/08)

Women Authors in later Women Authors in later German RomanticismGerman Romanticism

Karoline von Karoline von Günderrode (1780-Günderrode (1780-1806)1806)

Bettina von Arnim: Bettina von Arnim: Goethe’s Goethe’s Correspondence with Correspondence with a Child a Child (1835).(1835).

Brothers GrimmBrothers Grimm

The BrothersThe Brothers Grimm Grimm: : Jakob (1785-1863) Jakob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-and Wilhelm (1786-1859); 1859);

Germanic past, Germanic past, chapbooks, fairy chapbooks, fairy tales:tales: • Kinder- und Kinder- und

Hausmärchen Hausmärchen (1812/15); (1812/15);

German Dictionary German Dictionary

Literary Salon in later German Literary Salon in later German RomanticismRomanticism

Rahel (Levin) Rahel (Levin) Varnhagen von Ense Varnhagen von Ense (1771-1833) (1771-1833)

Held one of the most Held one of the most renowned literary renowned literary salons salons

Center of Berlin Center of Berlin cultureculture

Gatherings of most Gatherings of most important important intellectuals of the intellectuals of the dayday

Joseph von Joseph von EichendorffEichendorff1788-18571788-1857

Stories, novel & poetryStories, novel & poetry ““From the Life of a Good-From the Life of a Good-

For-Nothing“For-Nothing“ Poems set by major Poems set by major

composers (Schumann, composers (Schumann, Schubert, etc.)Schubert, etc.)

Melodiousness of Melodiousness of language:language:

E. T. A. E. T. A. HoffmannHoffmann1776-18221776-1822

Fantasy Pieces in Fantasy Pieces in Callot’s MannerCallot’s Manner (1815) (1815)

Elixirs of the Devil Elixirs of the Devil (1815/16)(1815/16)

Night PiecesNight Pieces (1817), (1817), “Der Sandmann” was “Der Sandmann” was the first story in the the first story in the collectioncollection

The Life and Opinions The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr of the Tomcat Murr ((Kater Murr,Kater Murr, 1820-22) 1820-22)

Romanticism: Key Concepts• 1) loss of border and category:

synthesis, expansion; association, connection, unity of opposites, the unreachable (limitless longing –> Nihilism)

• 2) exponentialization / logarithmization of reality (Schlegel’s 116th Athenäum-Frag., Novalis)

• 3) “Romanticism is a lens” (Brentano’s Godwi)

• 4) Fragment (Novalis, Schlegel; Heinrich von Ofterdingen, Kater Murr)

More Key Concepts• 5) Bildungsroman (novel of

education) (Heinrich von Ofterdingen, Franz Sternbald’s Wanderings, Godwi)

• 6) Dream, Psychology especially Insanity, the Unconscious, Intuition, Longing (Hoffmann, Eichendorff) (Novalis: all philosophy longing – one is “always going home.”

• 7) the Middle Ages (Tieck, Novalis, Grimms)

• 8) Folk - literature (the Grimms)

Still More Key Concepts• 9) Inter-esse; - being in between;

the number “three.”• 10) Sickness/ Death – many artists

die young (Novalis, Wackenroder)• Goethe: the classical = the

healthy, the romantic = the sick• Richard Wagner: Tristan and Isolde• Thomas Mann : Death in Venice• 11) the highest form of art = music• 12) emphasis on the Lyrical, and on

the Narrated (not the dramatic)

Yes, More Key Concepts• 13) Rejection of the

Enlightenment• 14) Nihilism (Bonaventura’s

Night Watches)• 15) Symbolism: the Blue

Flower; the Circle (Novalis, Hoffmann)

• 16) Nature = mysterious, a riddle

• 17) Spirit in Nature, awakened via art -> “There sleeps a song in everything”

• 18) Poet = primary

A Few More Key Concepts• 19) Catholic Church = symbol of a

mystical community of believers • 20) politically conservative

espec. late: many noblity, support the status quo (Novalis)

• 21) Emphasis on Unity (Novalis)

There sleeps a song in everything,It’s dreaming on and on,And the world knows how to singIf your words can switch it on.

Joseph von Eichendorff