Tekst- og litteraturhistorie i de engelsksprogede lande Session Two: Idealism – British Romanticism

Tekst- og litteraturhistorie i Tekst- og litteraturhistorie i de engelsksprogede landede engelsksprogede lande

Session Two: Idealism – British Session Two: Idealism – British RomanticismRomanticism

AgendaAgenda

Idealism and RomanticismIdealism and Romanticism British Romanticism – an outlineBritish Romanticism – an outline Group work: ”I Wandered Lonely as a Group work: ”I Wandered Lonely as a

Cloud”Cloud”

Summary of Session OneSummary of Session One

Romanticism and Neo-Classicism as Romanticism and Neo-Classicism as Wordsworth’s contextsWordsworth’s contexts

Contexts: The dominant, the Contexts: The dominant, the emergent, and the residualemergent, and the residual

Idealism and RomanticismIdealism and Romanticism

The Kantian turn in epistmology:The Kantian turn in epistmology: Difference: The mind shapes the world Difference: The mind shapes the world

(space, time)(space, time) Rupture: Things as they appear to the Rupture: Things as they appear to the

mind, mental impressions, phenomena - mind, mental impressions, phenomena - (things in themselves)(things in themselves)

Idealism and RomanticismIdealism and Romanticism

With KantWith Kant Against pure reasonAgainst pure reason

Beyond KantBeyond Kant The (right) mind shapes and is shaped The (right) mind shapes and is shaped

by the worldby the world Phenomena Phenomena andand things in themselves things in themselves

British Romanticism – an British Romanticism – an OutlineOutline

Key authors, key publications Key authors, key publications (Norton)(Norton)

Man, society, nature, and language Man, society, nature, and language 1785-18301785-1830

The texts: poetry, drama, narrative, The texts: poetry, drama, narrative, painting, music, sculpture.painting, music, sculpture.


Man, society, nature, and language Man, society, nature, and language 1785-18301785-1830

Against conventions: revolutions in Against conventions: revolutions in life and letterslife and letters Reason and rationality rather than Reason and rationality rather than

traditiontradition Emotion, imagination, feeling rather Emotion, imagination, feeling rather

than traditional formthan traditional form


The Poet: Genius - a man of The Poet: Genius - a man of extraordinary feeling, but also a extraordinary feeling, but also a prophet, a visionary, a sage, a seer.prophet, a visionary, a sage, a seer.

The Poem: the lyric - an expression of The Poem: the lyric - an expression of the poet’s feelings, rather than a the poet’s feelings, rather than a mirror of other people’s actions. But mirror of other people’s actions. But also a mode of knowledge, also a mode of knowledge, supplementing science.supplementing science.


Poetry and the literary genresPoetry and the literary genres

Literature and the arts (painting, Literature and the arts (painting, music)music)

Caspar David Friedrich, Caspar David Friedrich, Wanderer above the Wanderer above the Sea of FogSea of Fog (1818) (1818)

J.M.W. Turner, J.M.W. Turner, Rain, Steam and Speed - Rain, Steam and Speed - The Great Western RailwayThe Great Western Railway (painted (painted

1844).1844).

Contrast:Contrast:Thomas Gainsborough, Thomas Gainsborough, Mr and Mr and

Mrs AndrewsMrs Andrews (1748-49) (1748-49)

Romantic Music (19th Romantic Music (19th Century)Century)

BeethovenBeethoven Franz SchubertFranz Schubert Muzio ClementiMuzio Clementi Edward ElgarEdward Elgar John Field – the Irish RomanticJohn Field – the Irish Romantic

Wordsworth’s ”Preface”Wordsworth’s ”Preface”

A manifesto of RomanticismA manifesto of Romanticism

The PrefaceThe Preface

The principal object, then, proposed in these Poems The principal object, then, proposed in these Poems was to choose incidents and situations from common was to choose incidents and situations from common life, and to relate or describe them, throughout, as life, and to relate or describe them, throughout, as far as was possible in a selection of language really far as was possible in a selection of language really used by men, and, at the same time, to throw over used by men, and, at the same time, to throw over them a certain colouring of imagination, whereby them a certain colouring of imagination, whereby ordinary things should be presented to the mind in ordinary things should be presented to the mind in an unusual aspect; and, further, and above all, to an unusual aspect; and, further, and above all, to make these incidents and situations interesting by make these incidents and situations interesting by tracing in them, truly though not ostentatiously, the tracing in them, truly though not ostentatiously, the primary laws of our nature: chiefly, as far as regards primary laws of our nature: chiefly, as far as regards the manner in which we associate ideas in a state of the manner in which we associate ideas in a state of excitement. excitement.


Humble and rustic life was generally chosen, because, Humble and rustic life was generally chosen, because, in that condition, the essential passions of the heart in that condition, the essential passions of the heart find a better soil in which they can attain their find a better soil in which they can attain their maturity, are less under restraint, and speak a plainer maturity, are less under restraint, and speak a plainer and more emphatic language; because in that and more emphatic language; because in that condition of life our elementary feelings coexist in a condition of life our elementary feelings coexist in a state of greater simplicity, and, consequently, may be state of greater simplicity, and, consequently, may be more accurately contemplated, and more forcibly more accurately contemplated, and more forcibly communicated; because the manners of rural life communicated; because the manners of rural life germinate from those elementary feelings, and, from germinate from those elementary feelings, and, from the necessary character of rural occupations, are the necessary character of rural occupations, are more easily comprehended, and are more durable; more easily comprehended, and are more durable; and, lastly, because in that condition the passions of and, lastly, because in that condition the passions of men are incorporated with the beautiful and men are incorporated with the beautiful and permanent forms of nature. permanent forms of nature.


The language, too, of these men has been adopted (purified The language, too, of these men has been adopted (purified indeed from what appear to be its real defects, from all indeed from what appear to be its real defects, from all lasting and rational causes of dislike or disgust) because such lasting and rational causes of dislike or disgust) because such men hourly communicate with the best objects from which men hourly communicate with the best objects from which the best part of language is originally derived; and because, the best part of language is originally derived; and because, from their rank in society and the sameness and narrow circle from their rank in society and the sameness and narrow circle of their intercourse, being less under the influence of social of their intercourse, being less under the influence of social vanity, they convey their feelings and notions in simple and vanity, they convey their feelings and notions in simple and unelaborated expressions. Accordingly, such a language, unelaborated expressions. Accordingly, such a language, arising out of repeated experience and regular feelings, is a arising out of repeated experience and regular feelings, is a more permanent, and a far more philosophical language, more permanent, and a far more philosophical language, than that which is frequently substituted for it by Poets, who than that which is frequently substituted for it by Poets, who think that they are conferring honour upon themselves and think that they are conferring honour upon themselves and their art, in proportion as they separate themselves from the their art, in proportion as they separate themselves from the sympathies of men, and indulge in arbitrary and capricious sympathies of men, and indulge in arbitrary and capricious habits of expression, in order to furnish food for fickle tastes, habits of expression, in order to furnish food for fickle tastes, and fickle appetites, of their own creation. and fickle appetites, of their own creation.


I have said that poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful I have said that poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity: feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of reaction, the the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of reaction, the tranquillity gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that tranquillity gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind. In this mood produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind. In this mood successful composition generally begins, and in a mood similar to successful composition generally begins, and in a mood similar to this it is carried on; but the emotion, of whatever kind, and in this it is carried on; but the emotion, of whatever kind, and in whatever degree, from various causes, is qualified by various whatever degree, from various causes, is qualified by various pleasures, so that in describing any passions whatsoever, which pleasures, so that in describing any passions whatsoever, which are voluntarily described, the mind will, upon the whole, be in a are voluntarily described, the mind will, upon the whole, be in a state of enjoyment. If Nature be thus cautious to preserve in a state of enjoyment. If Nature be thus cautious to preserve in a state of enjoyment a being so employed, the Poet ought to profit state of enjoyment a being so employed, the Poet ought to profit by the lesson held forth to him, and ought especially to take care, by the lesson held forth to him, and ought especially to take care, that, whatever passions he communicates to his Reader, those that, whatever passions he communicates to his Reader, those passions, if his Reader’s mind be sound and vigorous, should passions, if his Reader’s mind be sound and vigorous, should always be accompanied with an overbalance of pleasure. always be accompanied with an overbalance of pleasure.

Group Work: ”I Wandered Group Work: ”I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”Lonely as a Cloud”

I wandered lonely as a cloudI wandered lonely as a cloudThat floats on high o'er vales and That floats on high o'er vales and hills,hills,When all at once I saw a crowd,When all at once I saw a crowd,A host of golden daffodils;A host of golden daffodils;Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.


Continuous as the starsContinuous as the starsthat shine and twinkle on the Milky that shine and twinkle on the Milky Way,Way,They stretched in never-ending lineThey stretched in never-ending linealong the margin of a bay:along the margin of a bay:Ten thousand saw I at a glance,Ten thousand saw I at a glance,tossing their heads in sprightly tossing their heads in sprightly dance.dance.


The waves beside them danced; but The waves beside them danced; but theytheyOut-did the sparkling waves in glee:Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:A poet could not but be gay,A poet could not but be gay,in such a jocund company:in such a jocund company:I gazed - and gazed - but little I gazed - and gazed - but little thoughtthoughtwhat wealth the show to me had what wealth the show to me had brought:brought:


For oft, when on my couch I lieFor oft, when on my couch I lieIn vacant or in pensive mood,In vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eyeThey flash upon that inward eyeWhich is the bliss of solitude;Which is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils. And dances with the daffodils.


What is the poem about?What is the poem about? How is Wordsworth’s poem a How is Wordsworth’s poem a

romantic poem?romantic poem? How does it figure the relationships How does it figure the relationships

betweenbetween Men?Men? Natural entities (organic – inorganic)?Natural entities (organic – inorganic)? Man and nature?Man and nature?

Documents

Tekst- og litteraturhistorie i de engelsksprogede lande Session Two: Idealism – British Romanticism