Romantic Era in British Literature 1798-1832

What does it mean to call something

Romantic ?

Take one minute and jot down your thoughts on a sheet of notebook paper. Brainstorm a list of your ideas about the word Romantic.

Give a definition or examples of Romantic.

For each statement, write down A if you agree or D if you disagree

1. The answers to lifes most puzzling questions can be found through discussions with a simple person who lives in the country close to naturenot with a sophisticated, well-educated person from the city.

2. The answer to lifes most puzzling questions can be found through a connection with nature.

3. The use of ones imagination is more important than rational (based on reason or fact) thought.

4. Subjectivity (personally biased) is more important than objectivity (unbiased).

5. Knowledge is gained through gut reactions and subjective hunches rather than level-headed, objective, rational thought.

6. Nature is more important than art.

7. Experimental trial and error is a better process than the conventional scientific method.

8. Poetry should be spontaneous and full of emotion, not planned and straightforward.

9. Sensitivity, feelings, and spontaneity are more important than intellectualism.

10. Dare to be is a better motto than dare to know.

Are you Romantic? Tally up your number of As:

3 or fewer As = not romantic

4 or 5 As = sort of romantic

6 or 7 As = highly romantic

8-10 As = extremely romantic

Has your idea of the word Romantic changed in

any way? If so, how?

Romanticism

Romantic or Romance originally referred to Medieval tales of knights written in the original Roman language - Latin. These tales often included love stories between a

knight and his lady - resulting in the modern meaning of romance.

The Romantic Era in literature is when we are

actually referring to romantic.

Romantic is freely imaginative fiction not romantic as in romantic love

Lets take a step back to the Age of Reason to better

understand the Romantic Era

Age of Reason vs. Romantic Era

In the Age of Reason, Writers stressed:

Reason and Judgment

Concern with the universal experience

The value of society as a whole

The value of rules

In the Romantic Era, Writers stressed:

Imagination and Emotion

Concern with the particular experience

The value of the individual human being

The value of freedom

Characteristics of the Romantic Era

1. Common Man and Childhood over Urban Sophistication

Romantics believed in the natural goodness of humans, which is hindered by urban life.

They believed that the savage is noble, childhood is good and the emotions inspired by both beliefs causes the heart to soar.

2. Emotions over Reason

Romantics believed that knowledge is gained through intuition rather than deduction, summed up by Wordsworth who stated that all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.

3. Nature over Artificial

Romantics stressed the awe of nature in art and language and the experience of sublimity through a connection with nature.

Romantics rejected the ideas of the industrial revolution .

4. The Individual over Society

Romantics often elevated the achievements of the misunderstood, heroic individual outcast.

5. Imagination over Logic

Romantics legitimized the individual imagination as a critical authority.

Characteristics of the Romantic Era cont.

Which characteristics of the Romantic Era does this painting suggest?

William Turner. Arundel Castle, with Rainbow, 1824

Which characteristics of

the Romantic Era does this

painting suggest?

William Blake, Jacobs Ladder, 1799-1806 (English)

Which characteristics of the Romantic Era does this painting suggest?

John Constable, The White Horse, 1819 (English)

The Romantics watched as cities grew, industry prospered and farming life declined. In an effort to reclaim nature, the Romantics made it a central force in their lives and their literature. Nature was celebrated as a source of delight, an image of love, and a model of moral perfection.

To the Romantics, nature provided the pattern on which to base their creative lives.

Five Major Romantic Era Poets

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

William Wordsworth

William Blake

Lord Byron

Percy Shelley

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Considered the father of the Romantic movement

Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan are his most known works

His style dictates more of a storytelling aspect compared to previous poets

Several Romantics, particularly Wordsworth, mirrored their poems after Coleridge and sought him out for his critique of their work.

William Wordsworth

Helped to launch the Romantic Age

His most famous work is The Prelude chronicles the spiritual life of the poet

Has an interest and sympathy for the life and troubles of the common man

He is considered the nature poet by focusing ordinary people in country settings

William Blake

Started writing poetry when he was twelve

Blake was a nonconformist who associated with some of the leading radical thinkers of his day

He rebelled against traditional poetic forms and techniques

He valued imagination over reason

Lord Byron

He indulged in excesses and had huge debts and many love affairs

His most famous creations are his dark heroes, called Byronic heroes, who, in fact, were not heroes at all, but stood out from ordinary humans as larger than life characters who typically made disastrous choices.

Percy Shelley

Shelley had a very unconventional life and was very idealistic

He was also a radical nonconformist

He did not become famous until after his death

His wife, Mary, was far more successful. She wrote Frankenstein and the success caused issues in their marriage.