ROMANTICISM

The Spirit of the Age (1790-1850)

The Spirit of the Age (1790-1850) A sense of a shared vision among the

Romantics.

Early support of the French Revolution.

Rise of the individual alienation.

Dehumanization brought by industrialization.

Radical poetics / politics an obsessionwith violent change.

A sense of a shared vision among the Romantics.

Early support of the French Revolution.

Rise of the individual alienation.

Dehumanization brought by industrialization.

Radical poetics / politics an obsessionwith violent change.

Enlightenment

EnlightenmentSociety is good, curbing

violent impulses!Society is good, curbing violent impulses!

Civilization corrupts!Civilization corrupts!

Romanticism

Romanticism

A Growing Distrust of Reason

A Growing Distrust of Reason

The essence of human experience is subjective and emotional.

Human knowledge is a puny thing compared to other great historical forces.

“Individual rights” are dangerous efforts at selfishness the community is more important.

The essence of human experience is subjective and emotional.

Human knowledge is a puny thing compared to other great historical forces.

“Individual rights” are dangerous efforts at selfishness the community is more important.

The Romantic MovementThe Romantic Movement Began in the 1790s and peaked in the 1820s.

Mostly in Northern Europe, especially in Britain and Germany.

A reaction against classicism.

The “Romantic Hero:”

Greatest example was Lord Byron

Tremendously popular among the European reading public.

Youth imitated his haughtiness and rebelliousness.

Began in the 1790s and peaked in the 1820s.

Mostly in Northern Europe, especially in Britain and Germany.

A reaction against classicism.

The “Romantic Hero:”

Greatest example was Lord Byron

Tremendously popular among the European reading public.

Youth imitated his haughtiness and rebelliousness.

Characteristics of Romanticism


The Engaged & Enraged Artist: The artist apart from society.

The artist as social critic/revolutionary.

The artist as genius.

The Engaged & Enraged Artist: The artist apart from society.

The artist as social critic/revolutionary.

The artist as genius.

Wandering Above the Sea of Fog

Caspar David Friedrich,

1818

Wandering Above the Sea of Fog

Caspar David Friedrich,

1818

Lady Macbeth - Henry Fuseli, 1794

Lady Macbeth - Henry Fuseli, 1794



The Individual/ The Dreamer:

Individuals have unique, endless potential.

Self-realization comes through artArtists are the true philosophers. To deal with the harsh realities of life, Romantics

sought solitude in natureKey to emotional healing could be found in natureNature imagery is the most predominant feature

of Romantic literature

The Individual/ The Dreamer:

Individuals have unique, endless potential.

Self-realization comes through artArtists are the true philosophers. To deal with the harsh realities of life, Romantics

sought solitude in natureKey to emotional healing could be found in natureNature imagery is the most predominant feature

of Romantic literature

The Dreamer Gaspar David Friedrich, 1835

The Dreamer Gaspar David Friedrich, 1835

Solitary Tree Caspar David Friedrich, 1823

Solitary Tree Caspar David Friedrich, 1823



Glorification of Nature: Peaceful, restorative qualities

[an escape from industrialization and the dehumanization it creates].

Awesome, powerful, horrifying aspects of nature.

Indifferent to the fate of humans.

Overwhelming power of nature.

Glorification of Nature: Peaceful, restorative qualities

[an escape from industrialization and the dehumanization it creates].

Awesome, powerful, horrifying aspects of nature.

Indifferent to the fate of humans.

Overwhelming power of nature.

An Avalanche in the AlpsPhilip James de Loutherbourg,

1803

An Avalanche in the AlpsPhilip James de Loutherbourg,

1803

Sunset After a Storm On the Coast of Sicily – Andreas

Achenbach, 1853

Sunset After a Storm On the Coast of Sicily – Andreas

Achenbach, 1853

The DelugeFrancis Danby, 1840

The DelugeFrancis Danby, 1840

The Wreck of the Hope (aka The Sea of Ice)

Caspar David Friedrich, 1821

The Wreck of the Hope (aka The Sea of Ice)

Caspar David Friedrich, 1821

Shipwreck – Joseph Turner, 1805

Shipwreck – Joseph Turner, 1805

Victor Frankenstein’s Science Victor is a student of “natural philosophy”

Study of nature and the desire to know how nature functions – quest for knowledge was more philosophical than scientific

Victor influenced by:Cornelius Agrippa

- Renaissance philosopher and scientist - Work reflects strong interest in the occult and ancient,

mystical “sciences” of the near East

- Writings blend European interpretations of Plato’s philosophy with Jewish Kabalistic beliefs

- Agrippa’s ideas were later discredited by the processes of observation and experimentation

Victor Frankenstein’s Science Paracelsus

- Renaissance philosopher and scientist- Introduced new concept of disease and the use of chemicals

rather than herbs to treat diseases- Asserted that diseases were caused by external agents

attacking the body- Contrary to traditional idea of disease as an internal upset of

the body’s humors: yellow and black bile, blood, and phlegm- To cure the disease, attack external agent- Alchemy became the means by which the chemical remedies were

prepared- Paracelsus changed the emphasis of the alchemy from chasing the

mythological “Elixir of Life: or “Philosopher’s Stone” to making medicines

Isaac Newton – William Blake, 1795

Isaac Newton – William Blake, 1795

Dr. Frankenstein’s Adam & Eve??

Dr. Frankenstein’s Adam & Eve??

The Industrial Age Flanked the Romantic Age 1750-1850 England moved from an agriculture to an

industrial society Home manufacturing to factory production Made England prosperous and powerful

The Industrial Age

Exploitation of workers Deplorable living conditions Towns became cities Villagers, forced by economic necessity, sought work in

growing factories Huddled together in filthy slums Men, women, and children labored from sunrise to sunset All children able to pull a cart in the suffocating coal mines

or to sweep a floor in the textile factories worked Poor children had essentially no religious training, medical

care, or education

The Slave ShipJoseph Mallord William Turner,

1842

The Slave ShipJoseph Mallord William Turner,

1842

Flatford Mill – John Constable, 1817

Flatford Mill – John Constable, 1817

The Corn Field

John Constable,

1826

The Corn Field

John Constable,

1826

The Hay Wain - John Constable, 1821

The Hay Wain - John Constable, 1821



In Art, Revival of Past Styles: Gothic & Romanesque revival.

“Neo-Gothic” architectural style.

Medieval ruins were a favorite theme for art and poetry.

In Art, Revival of Past Styles: Gothic & Romanesque revival.

“Neo-Gothic” architectural style.

Medieval ruins were a favorite theme for art and poetry.

Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Ground

John Constable, 1825

Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Ground


Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows


Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows


Hadleigh Castle - John Constable, 1829

Hadleigh Castle - John Constable, 1829

Eldena RuinGaspar David Friedrich, 1825

Eldena RuinGaspar David Friedrich, 1825

Winter Landscape with ChurchGaspar David Friedrich, 1811

Winter Landscape with ChurchGaspar David Friedrich, 1811

British Houses of Parliament1840-1865

British Houses of Parliament1840-1865

Cloister Cemetery in the SnowCaspar David Friedrich, 1817-

1819

Cloister Cemetery in the SnowCaspar David Friedrich, 1817-

1819

Pity - William Blake, 1795Pity - William Blake, 1795

Characteristics of Romanticism and the

Gothic

Characteristics of Romanticism and the

GothicThe Supernatural: Ghosts, fairies, witches, demons.

The shadows of the mind—dreams & madness.

The romantics rejected materialism in pursuit of spiritual self-awareness.

They yearned for the unknown and the unknowable.

The Supernatural: Ghosts, fairies, witches, demons.

The shadows of the mind—dreams & madness.

The romantics rejected materialism in pursuit of spiritual self-awareness.

They yearned for the unknown and the unknowable.

Nightmare (The Incubus)Henry Fuseli, 1781

Nightmare (The Incubus)Henry Fuseli, 1781

Mad Woman With a Mania of Envy

TheodoreGericault, 1822-1823

Mad Woman With a Mania of Envy

TheodoreGericault, 1822-1823

Abbey in an Oak ForestCaspar David Friedrich, 1809-

1810

Abbey in an Oak ForestCaspar David Friedrich, 1809-

1810

The Great Red

Dragon and the Woman

Clothed with the Sun

William Blake,

1808-1810

The Great Red

Dragon and the Woman

Clothed with the Sun

William Blake,

1808-1810

Manfred and the Witch of the Alps

John Martin - 1837

Manfred and the Witch of the Alps

John Martin - 1837

Witches Sabbath

Francisco Goya,1798

Witches Sabbath

Francisco Goya,1798

Saturn DevoursHis Son

Francisco Goya,

1819-1823

Saturn DevoursHis Son

Francisco Goya,

1819-1823

Gothic NovelsGothic NovelsOffshoot of Romantic Literature Predecessor of modern horror movies Spin of Romantic idea of nature

worship and nature imagery: Along with the power of healing,

nature has the power of destroying

Indication of mood through weather:

Stormy weather = Bad things are about to happen!

Offshoot of Romantic Literature Predecessor of modern horror movies Spin of Romantic idea of nature

worship and nature imagery: Along with the power of healing,

nature has the power of destroying

Indication of mood through weather:

Stormy weather = Bad things are about to happen!

The Raft of the MedusaThéodore Géricault, 1819The Raft of the MedusaThéodore Géricault, 1819

Born Mary Wollstoncraft in 1797 Born to William Godwin and Mary Wollstoncraft – both

very prominent and liberal writers Mother wrote Vindication on the rights of Woman Mary spent her teens in Scotland writing Returned to London at 16 Met, fell in love with, became pregnant by poet Percy

Bysshe Shelley Married after Shelley’s estranged wife committed

suicide Lost all three of their children In 1822, Percy drowned in the Gulf of Spezia in Italy At the age of 24, Mary was an impoverished widow

MARY SHELLEY

Frankenstein Frankenstein published in 1818 when Mary was

20 years old Considered to be a huge Feminist feat

The Great Age of the Novel

The Great Age of the Novel Gothic Novel:

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (1847) Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (1847)

Historical Novel: Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott (1819) Les Miserables - Victor Hugo (1862) The Three Musketeers – Alexander Dumas (1844)

Gothic Novel: Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (1847) Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (1847)

Historical Novel: Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott (1819) Les Miserables - Victor Hugo (1862) The Three Musketeers – Alexander Dumas (1844)



Science Fiction Novel: Frankenstein - Mary Shelley (1817) Dracula – Bramm Stoker (1897)

Novel of Purpose: Hugh Trevar - Thomas Holcroft (1794)

Science Fiction Novel: Frankenstein - Mary Shelley (1817) Dracula – Bramm Stoker (1897)

Novel of Purpose: Hugh Trevar - Thomas Holcroft (1794)

Other Romantic Writers

Other Romantic Writers

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm - Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1814-1816)

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm - Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1814-1816)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Faust (1806-1832)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Faust (1806-1832)

The Major Romantic Poets

The Major Romantic Poets Percy Byssche Shelley

Lord Byron (George Gordon)

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

William Wordsworth

John Keats

William Blake

Percy Byssche Shelley

Lord Byron (George Gordon)

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

William Wordsworth

John Keats

William Blake

George Gordon’s

(Lord Byron)Poem

ThePrisonerof Chillon

George Gordon’s

(Lord Byron)Poem

ThePrisonerof Chillon

MaryShelley

Frankenstein

MaryShelley

Frankenstein

SirWalterScott

Ivanhoe

SirWalterScott

Ivanhoe

WilliamWordsworth’

sPoem,

TinternAbbey

WilliamWordsworth’

sPoem,

TinternAbbey

SamuelTaylor

Coleridge’sPoem,

The Rimeof the

AncientMariner

SamuelTaylor

Coleridge’sPoem,

The Rimeof the

AncientMariner

Documents

ROMANTICISM