Transcript The Romantic Period in British Literature

The Romantic Era
in British Literature
1798-1832
What is poetry?
“Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings…”
William Wordsworth
“Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes
familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.” Percy Bysshe Shelley
“Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.” Carl Sandburg
“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought
has found words.” Robert Frost
“Poetry is thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.” Thomas Gray
What does it mean to call
something Romantic?
Take a few minutes and jot down your thoughts on a
sheet of notebook paper. Brainstorm a list, or write a
paragraph of your ideas about the word Romantic.
For each statement, write down
“A” if you agree or “D” if you disagree
1. The answers to life’s most puzzling questions can be
found through discussions with a simple person who
lives in the country close to nature—not with a
sophisticated, well-educated person from the city.
2. The answer to life’s most puzzling questions can be
found through a connection with nature.
3. The use of one’s 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
• The words 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.
• When talking about the Romantic Era in
literature, we are actually referring to
romantic as “freely imaginative fiction” and
not romantic as in “romantic love”
Let’s 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
Judgement
• 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 the urban life of
civilization. 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. This is best 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.
Which characteristics of the Romantic
Era does this painting evoke?
William Turner. Arundel Castle, with Rainbow, 1824
Which
characteristics
of the
Romantic Era
does this
painting
evoke?
William Blake, Jacob’s Ladder,
1799-1806 (English)
Which characteristics of the Romantic
Era does this painting evoke?
John Constable, The White Horse, 1819 (English)
To the Romantics, nature provided the pattern
which to base their creative lives.
on
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.
What Romantic Era themes does this painting evoke?
John Constable, Dedham Church and Vale, 1800
Five Major Romantic Era Poets
William Wordsworth
William Blake
Byron
Percy Shelley
John Keats
Lord