The RomanticsThe Romantics1798 - 18321798 - 1832

Nature, Imagination & the Common Nature, Imagination & the Common ManMan

Enlightenment v. Romantic ArtEnlightenment v. Romantic Art

The RomanticsThe Romantics1798 - 18321798 - 1832

Reaction against Enlightenment:Reaction against Enlightenment: 3 Revolutions: Industrial, American, French 3 Revolutions: Industrial, American, French

– ““The French Revolution is the master theme of The French Revolution is the master theme of the epoch in which we live.” – Percy Shelleythe epoch in which we live.” – Percy Shelley

The RomanticsThe Romantics1798 - 18321798 - 1832

Romantic writers were influenced by:Romantic writers were influenced by:– First, the promise of the French RevolutionFirst, the promise of the French Revolution– Bible - Bible - The ApocalypseThe Apocalypse – a short period of – a short period of

cleansing violence would usher in an age of cleansing violence would usher in an age of universal peace (paradise on Earth)universal peace (paradise on Earth) ““GodGod will fix the world” will fix the world”

The RomanticsThe Romantics1798 - 18321798 - 1832

Second, by the tragedy of the events in Second, by the tragedy of the events in France.France.

Hope shifts from political revolution to social Hope shifts from political revolution to social revolution.revolution.– Moral and imaginative nature of manMoral and imaginative nature of man– ““WeWe will fix the world.” will fix the world.”– ““The Age of New Beginnings”The Age of New Beginnings”

The RomanticsThe Romantics1798 - 18321798 - 1832

Lyrical Ballads – 1798Lyrical Ballads – 1798 William Wordsworth and Samuel ColeridgeWilliam Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge

– Used more direct speech from folk traditionsUsed more direct speech from folk traditions– Lyric poetry in the first personLyric poetry in the first person

Poet Poet himselfhimself and his own experienceand his own experience are are subject matter.subject matter.

NatureNature

Meditative poems – scene raises an emotional Meditative poems – scene raises an emotional problem or personal crisis.problem or personal crisis.

Endow the landscape with human life, Endow the landscape with human life, passions, and expressiveness.passions, and expressiveness.

See in the created universe direct access to See in the created universe direct access to God.God.

Sense of wonder, even divinity, in the Sense of wonder, even divinity, in the everyday world.everyday world.

ImaginationImagination

Enlightenment:Enlightenment:– ““Held up to nature a mirror”Held up to nature a mirror”– Full of rules and precedentsFull of rules and precedents

Romantics:Romantics:– Saw man’s “Inner Divinity”Saw man’s “Inner Divinity”

Common ManCommon Man

““All things by nature are equally fit subjects All things by nature are equally fit subjects for poetry.”for poetry.”

Incidents and situations from common life.Incidents and situations from common life. Language really spoken by man.Language really spoken by man.

– Some poems went beyond humble menSome poems went beyond humble men– Ignominious or delinquentIgnominious or delinquent– Led to Byronic HeroLed to Byronic Hero

Romantic HeroRomantic Hero

Embodied Romanticism’s ideals of Embodied Romanticism’s ideals of individualism and revolution.individualism and revolution.

Britain’s destructive wars prompted many to Britain’s destructive wars prompted many to reconsider the nature of heroism.reconsider the nature of heroism.

Romantic hero’s self-assertion and love of Romantic hero’s self-assertion and love of power could appear both heroic and power could appear both heroic and demonic.demonic.

Romantic HeroRomantic Hero

Romantic HeroRomantic Hero The Romantic (Byronic) hero was:The Romantic (Byronic) hero was:

– CompulsiveCompulsive– An outcast isolated from societyAn outcast isolated from society– Possessed grandiose, titanic ambitionPossessed grandiose, titanic ambition– Defied both heaven and hellDefied both heaven and hell– Unrepentant by society’s standardsUnrepentant by society’s standards– SatanSatan is the prime example is the prime example

SupernaturalSupernatural ““Outside of natural law”Outside of natural law” Unusual modes of experienceUnusual modes of experience Explored visionary states of consciousness.Explored visionary states of consciousness.

Gothic NovelGothic Novel

Distinctive element of RomanticismDistinctive element of Romanticism Enlightenment promoted order, decorum, Enlightenment promoted order, decorum,

and rational controland rational control Gothic novels include:Gothic novels include:

– Nightmarish terrorNightmarish terror– ViolenceViolence– Aberrant psychological statesAberrant psychological states– Sexual rapacitySexual rapacity