The The Romantic Romantic

PeriodPeriod

1798-18321798-1832

Turbulent Times, Bitter Turbulent Times, Bitter RealitiesRealities

• 1789: French Revolution1789: French Revolution– Storming of Bastille July 14, 1789Storming of Bastille July 14, 1789

• Overthrow of anointed kingOverthrow of anointed king

• Triumph of radical principalsTriumph of radical principals

• Democratic idealists (like Wordsworth) Democratic idealists (like Wordsworth)

exhilarated by eventsexhilarated by events– Became disillusioned—1792 “September massacre”Became disillusioned—1792 “September massacre”– Guillotine used indiscriminately (eponym)Guillotine used indiscriminately (eponym)

– NapoleonNapoleon

• 1832: Parliamentary Reforms of 18321832: Parliamentary Reforms of 1832

After Napoleon’s DefeatAfter Napoleon’s Defeat

• Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution– FactoriesFactories

– Increase in urban populationsIncrease in urban populations– Communal land (held by small farmers) becomes Communal land (held by small farmers) becomes

private (vast private parks/privately held farms)private (vast private parks/privately held farms)– Lots of landless peopleLots of landless people

Laissez FaireLaissez Faire

• Let People Do as they PleaseLet People Do as they Please– Economic forces allowed to operate Economic forces allowed to operate

freely without government interference.freely without government interference.– Rich grew richer, poor suffered even Rich grew richer, poor suffered even

moremore•Children suffered the mostChildren suffered the most

•Child Labor Laws

London, 1802London, 1802

Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour;Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour;England hath need of thee: she is a fenEngland hath need of thee: she is a fenOf stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,Have forfeited their ancient English dowerHave forfeited their ancient English dowerOf inward happiness. We are selfish men;Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;Oh! raise us up, return to us again;Oh! raise us up, return to us again;And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart;Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart;Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,So didst thou travel on life's common way,So didst thou travel on life's common way,In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heartIn cheerful godliness; and yet thy heartThe lowliest duties on herself did layThe lowliest duties on herself did lay. . --William Wordsworth--William Wordsworth

Rebellion of the Romantic Rebellion of the Romantic PoetsPoets

• Dedicated to bringing about ChangeDedicated to bringing about Change

• Believed in the force of literatureBelieved in the force of literature

• Turned from the formal, public verse Turned from the formal, public verse of 18of 18thth century to more private, century to more private, spontaneous, lyric poetry.spontaneous, lyric poetry.– Imagination, rather than mere reason, Imagination, rather than mere reason,

the best response to the forces of the best response to the forces of change.change.

What Does Romantic Mean?What Does Romantic Mean?

• A child’s Sense of A child’s Sense of Wonder Wonder (youth/innocence)(youth/innocence)– Human nature being Human nature being

born againborn again

• Social IdealismSocial Idealism– Question tradition and Question tradition and

authorityauthority– Imagine better ways to Imagine better ways to

livelive

• Adaptation to changeAdaptation to change– Acceptance rather than Acceptance rather than

rigid rejectionrigid rejection

• New Kind of PoetryNew Kind of PoetryLyrical BalladsLyrical BalladsMind Poets: sought deeper Mind Poets: sought deeper

understanding of the understanding of the bond between human bond between human beings and the world of beings and the world of the sensesthe senses

(creative power that (creative power that makes things happen: makes things happen: imagination—superior to imagination—superior to human reason)human reason)

• Coleridge says the Coleridge says the poet, “brings the poet, “brings the whole soul of man whole soul of man into activity” by into activity” by employing “that employing “that synthetic and synthetic and magical power…magical power…the imagination.” the imagination.”

• Shelley called poets Shelley called poets “the “the unacknowledged unacknowledged legislators of the legislators of the world.”world.”

• Keats wrote that a Keats wrote that a poet is a “physician” poet is a “physician” to all humanity and to all humanity and “pours out a balm “pours out a balm upon the world.” upon the world.”

“…“…what we have loved, what we have loved, Others will love, and we will teach them how;Others will love, and we will teach them how;Instruct them how the mind of man becomes Instruct them how the mind of man becomes A thousand times more beautiful than the earthA thousand times more beautiful than the earthOn which he dwells, above this frame of thingsOn which he dwells, above this frame of things(Which, ‘mid all revolution in the hopes (Which, ‘mid all revolution in the hopes And fears of men, doth still remain unchanged)And fears of men, doth still remain unchanged)In beauty exalted, as it is itselfIn beauty exalted, as it is itselfOf quality and fabric more divine.”Of quality and fabric more divine.”

The poet, in sum, is someone human beings and society The poet, in sum, is someone human beings and society cannot do without.cannot do without.

Wordsworth wrote in Wordsworth wrote in The The PreludePrelude

Major Romantic PoetsMajor Romantic Poets

• EarlyEarly– William Blake William Blake

•Songs of InnocenceSongs of Innocence

•Songs of ExperienceSongs of Experience

– William WordsworthWilliam Wordsworth•World is Too Much With UsWorld is Too Much With Us

– Samuel Taylor ColeridgeSamuel Taylor Coleridge•Rime of the Ancient MarinerRime of the Ancient Mariner

Other Major Romantic PoetsOther Major Romantic Poets

• 22ndnd Generation Generation– Percy Bysshe ShelleyPercy Bysshe Shelley

– John KeatsJohn Keats

– George Gordon, Lord ByronGeorge Gordon, Lord Byron