RomanticismRomanticismA Movement Across the

Arts

Introducing the Romantic Introducing the Romantic Era:1798-1832Era:1798-1832

Liberty Leading the People, Eugène Delacroix (1830)La Belle Dame Sans Merci, John William Waterhouse (1893)

EnlightenmentEnlightenment vs. vs. RomanticismRomanticismCLASSICISM & RATIONALISM

scientific observation of the outer world; logicclassical Greek and Roman literature

pragmaticinterested in science, technologyconcerned with general, universal experiencesbelieved in following standards and traditionsfelt optimistic about the presentemphasized moderation and self-restraintappreciated elegance, refinement

valued stability and harmonyfavored a social hierarchyinterested in maintaining aristocracyconcerned with society as a wholebelieved nature should be controlled by humans

ROMANTICISM

examination of inner feelings, emotions; imagination

literature of the Middle Ages

idealisticinterested in the mysterious & supernaturalconcerned with the particular

sought to develop new forms of expressions

romanticized the past

tended towards excess and spontaneity

appreciated folk traditions

desired radical change

favored democracy

concerned with common peopleconcerned with the individualfelt that nature should be untamed

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

ATTITUDES AND INTERESTS

SOCIAL CONCERNS

Adapted from chart in Prentice Hall Literature: The English Tradition (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1991): 631.

The Enlightenment, while an era of great The Enlightenment, while an era of great scientific and industrial progress, was scientific and industrial progress, was unable to address the social, political, and unable to address the social, political, and emotional stressors seething under the emotional stressors seething under the surface. Revolution brewed and then finally surface. Revolution brewed and then finally exploded in France. New modes of exploded in France. New modes of expression blossomed. A new respect and expression blossomed. A new respect and love for the common man, for the individual, love for the common man, for the individual, took root…took root…

The vanguard for this new era consisted of The vanguard for this new era consisted of poets, each unique, all dedicated to the poets, each unique, all dedicated to the

ideals of a new age…ideals of a new age…

The The Romantic Romantic EraEra

William Blake (1757-1827)

Painter, Poet, Visionary

“The Garden of Love” and “The Tyger”

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

“Father” of Romantic Poetry

The Prelude and “Tintern Abbey”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)

Poet of the Imagination

“Kubla Khan” and Rime of the Ancient Mariner

George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824)

Scoundrel, Womanizer, Poet

“She Walks in Beauty” and Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

Romantic Revolutionary

“Ode to the West Wind” and “Ozymandias”

John Keats (1795-1821)

“Greatest” Romantic Poet?

“La Belle Dame sans Merci” and “Ode on a Grecian Urn”

“First Generation”

“Second Generation”

DefinitionDefinition

Romanticism refers to a movement in art, literature, and music during the 19th century.

Romanticism is characterized by the 5 “I”sImaginationIntuitionIdealismInspirationIndividuality

ImaginationImagination

Imagination was emphasized over “reason.”

This was a backlash against the rationalism characterized by the Neoclassical period or “Age of Reason.”

Imagination was considered necessary for creating all art.

British writer Samuel Taylor Coleridge called it “intellectual intuition.”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge – Rime of Samuel Taylor Coleridge – Rime of the Ancient Marinerthe Ancient Mariner

IntuitionIntuition

Romantics placed value on “intuition,” or feeling and instincts, over reason.

Emotions were important in Romantic art.British Romantic William Wordsworth

described poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”

William Wordsworth – I Wander William Wordsworth – I Wander Lonely as a CloudLonely as a Cloud

IdealismIdealism

Idealism is the concept that we can make the world a better place.

Idealism refers to any theory that emphasizes the spirit, the mind, or language over matter – thought has a crucial role in making the world the way it is.

Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, held that the mind forces the world we perceive to take the shape of space-and-time.

Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant

InspirationInspiration

The Romantic artist, musician, or writer, is an “inspired creator” rather than a “technical master.”

What this means is “going with the moment” or being spontaneous, rather than “getting it precise.”

IndividualityIndividuality

Romantics celebrated the individual.During this time period, Women’s Rights

and Abolitionism were taking root as major movements.

Walt Whitman, a later Romantic writer, would write a poem entitled “Song of Myself”: it begins, “I celebrate myself…”

Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman

OriginsOrigins

Romanticism began to take root as a movement following the French Revolution.

The publication of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1792 is considered the beginning of literary Romanticism.

Lyrical Ballads by Walt Whitman Lyrical Ballads by Walt Whitman and Samuel Taylor Coleridgeand Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The ArtsThe Arts

Romanticism was a movement across all the arts: visual art, music, and literature.

All of the arts embraced themes prevalent in the Middle Ages: chivalry, courtly love. Literature and art from this time depicted these themes. Music (ballets and operas) illustrated these themes.

Shakespeare came back into vogue.

Visual ArtsVisual Arts

Neoclassical art was rigid, severe, and unemotional; it hearkened back to ancient Greece and Rome

Romantic art was emotional, deeply-felt, individualistic, and exotic. It has been described as a reaction to Neoclassicism, or “anti-Classicism.”

Visual Arts: Visual Arts: ExamplesExamples

Neoclassical Art

Romantic Art

MusicMusic

“Classical” musicians included composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Josef Haydn.

Romantic musicians included composers like Frederic Chopin, Franz Lizst, Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky

Music: Music: ComponentsComponents

1730-1820.Classical music

emphasized internal order and balance.

1800-1910.Romantic music

emphasized expression of feelings.

LiteratureLiterature

In America, Romanticism most strongly impacted literature.

Writers explored supernatural and gothic themes.

Writers wrote about nature – Transcendentalists believed God was in nature, unlike “Age of Reason” writers like Franklin and Jefferson, who saw God as a “divine watchmaker,” who created the universe and left it to run itself.