http://www.ctcd.edu/communications/bcornell/documents/IntroductiontotheRomanticAgeofEnglishLiterature.ppt

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http//www.ctcd.edu/communications/bcornell/docume
nts/IntroductiontotheRomanticAgeofEnglishLiteratur
e.ppt
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Romanticism1770-1832

• An artistic, literary, philosophic, religious,
  and political movement, which began in Europe in
  the late eighteenth century and later moved to
  America. This movement began as a reaction
  against Classicism and Neoclassicism, which
  focused on order, restraint, and rules.

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 The early Romantic period is often called the
age of revolutions due to the influence of the
American, French, and Industrial
Revolutions.The Romantics set out to transform
the theory and practice of poetry as well as the
way we perceive the world.
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Characteristics

• 1.      Focus on imagination over reason and
  rules (Classicism) and realism
• 2.      Focus on the individual and an
  individuals experience

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• 3.  Reverence for Nature
• The Romantics believed that truth and God could
  be revealed through Nature.
• They also believed that Nature is a manifestation
  of the Divine.

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• 4.      Interest in the past, especially
  the Medieval
• 5.      Focus on symbolism
• 6. New definition of poetry the
• spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.
  (Wordsworth)

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• 7.  Language of literature reflects
• the language of the common man.
• 8.  Idealization of rural life
• 9. Children are recognized for the
• first time as individuals.

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• 10.      Interest in the grotesque, the
• strange, and supernatural in
• nature and art
• 11.      Focus on human rights

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William Wordsworth

• Pioneer of the Romantic Movement
• Influenced by the French Revolution, which
  stressed social justice and individual rights.
• Wrote lyric poems
• Spots of time

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Samuel Taylor Coleridge

• His poetry, which showed tremendous imagination,
  was his way to escape poor health and self-doubt.
  
• He believed that literature is a magical blend of
  thought and imagination.

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William Blake

• The first half of his work focused on lyric
  poetry.
• The second half focused on prophetic poetry.

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• He was influenced by what he called mystical
  experiences and visions.
• Some critics of the period thought him eccentric,
  possibly mad.
• He began his career as an engraver, illustrator,
  and drawing teacher.
• Later he would engrave all the illustrations for
  his poetry.

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• Because he insisted on doing all the engravings
  through an original process, the distribution of
  his poetry was limited.
• He was considered financially a failure, and his
  work did not receive positive recognition until
  after his death.
• In 1809, he sank into a depression and withdrew
  from society. He died in 1827.

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Percy Bysshe Shelley

• Believed that humanity was capable of attaining a
  nearly perfect society.
• Became an outcast in England for his radical
  political beliefs, belief in atheism, and
  elopement.

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George Gordon, Lord Byron

• A handsome, irresponsible aristocrat
• A ladies man
• Considered a dark, brooding, passionate
  manByronic Hero
• Mad, bad, and dangerous to know, according to
  Lady Caroline Lamb

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John Keats

• Defender of worthy causes
• Pursuit of beauty is the goal of his poetry.
• Inspired by ancient Greece