The RomanticsThe Romantics

British LiteratureBritish Literature

Unit 4Unit 4

Ms. CarrollMs. Carroll

In the beginning…In the beginning…

• Began in Germany in 1798Began in Germany in 1798

• Influence not just literature but art… Influence not just literature but art… eventually comes to US as eventually comes to US as TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

• Revolt against order, propriety, Revolt against order, propriety, traditionalism, the current political, traditionalism, the current political, social and economic structuressocial and economic structures

Those Rebellious RomanticsThose Rebellious Romantics

• Romanticism is a rebellion against the Romanticism is a rebellion against the social and artistic values of the 18social and artistic values of the 18thth century.century.

• What are those values?What are those values?– Stable orderStable order– ReasonReason– Common senseCommon sense– Upper class elegance– manners, dress, artUpper class elegance– manners, dress, art– Logic and intellect over passion and emotionLogic and intellect over passion and emotion– Science over natureScience over nature– Inspiration from Classical periodInspiration from Classical period

The Romantics: Late 18The Romantics: Late 18thth CenturyCentury• Cry for freedom and individualism inspired Cry for freedom and individualism inspired

by political revolutions (France especially)by political revolutions (France especially)• Rise of middle class wealth and Rise of middle class wealth and

independenceindependence• Democratic spiritDemocratic spirit• Personal liberty and focus on individualPersonal liberty and focus on individual

– Attentive to and obsessed with feelingsAttentive to and obsessed with feelings– Trusted instinctsTrusted instincts– Reason seemed as a negativeReason seemed as a negative– IdealisticIdealistic– Individualism often led to isolationIndividualism often led to isolation

• Anti- the ultra sophisticated societyAnti- the ultra sophisticated society• Sought comfort and solitude in natureSought comfort and solitude in nature• Nature became a symbol of freedom, backdrop Nature became a symbol of freedom, backdrop

for their feelings, respite from social pressure. for their feelings, respite from social pressure. Anti-Industrial RevolutionAnti-Industrial Revolution

• Obsessed with past: historical novel, ballads, Obsessed with past: historical novel, ballads, folktales, return to Medieval style, but glorifiedfolktales, return to Medieval style, but glorified

• Tourism rises– fascinated with exoticTourism rises– fascinated with exotic• Strange and mysterious popular– birth of Gothic Strange and mysterious popular– birth of Gothic

novelnovel• In essence, a philosophical rebellion against the In essence, a philosophical rebellion against the

goals and beliefs of the Enlightenmentgoals and beliefs of the Enlightenment• Elevated role of the spirit, soul, instinct, emotionElevated role of the spirit, soul, instinct, emotion• Desire to know self, to feel, to live deeplyDesire to know self, to feel, to live deeply• Trust self and intuition, art and natureTrust self and intuition, art and nature

Power of the Revolution--Power of the Revolution--

• French Revolution and even American Revolution French Revolution and even American Revolution stirred feelings of idealism, individualism, and stirred feelings of idealism, individualism, and freedomfreedom

• Negative view of Industrial RevolutionNegative view of Industrial Revolution– PollutionPollution– Loss of natureLoss of nature– Rise in prosperity for upper class but lower class povertyRise in prosperity for upper class but lower class poverty– Laissez faire system– no government influence in Laissez faire system– no government influence in

economicseconomics– No child labor laws/ loss of innocence No child labor laws/ loss of innocence – Rioting and unemploymentRioting and unemployment

Themes…Themes…

• Love of natureLove of nature• Concern and sympathy for common folkConcern and sympathy for common folk• Imagination, mysterious, supernaturalImagination, mysterious, supernatural• Rebellion against tyranny; focus on individualRebellion against tyranny; focus on individual• Interest in primitive and medievalInterest in primitive and medieval• Focus on the lonely and melancholy, often Focus on the lonely and melancholy, often

deal with themes of isolation (EMO!)deal with themes of isolation (EMO!)• Focus on feelings over intellectFocus on feelings over intellect• Interest in childhood– emphasis on innocenceInterest in childhood– emphasis on innocence

Style…Style…

• No set styles but return interest and No set styles but return interest and rise in popularity of odes and sonnetsrise in popularity of odes and sonnets

• Wrote without restrictionWrote without restriction

• Focus on innovation and creativityFocus on innovation and creativity

• Intensely personal subjectsIntensely personal subjects

• Simplified vocabularySimplified vocabulary

Some names to know…Some names to know…

• George Gordon, Lord ByronGeorge Gordon, Lord Byron– Creates the Byronic HeroCreates the Byronic Hero

Dark, handsome, restlessDark, handsome, restless

Original brooding bad boy protagonistOriginal brooding bad boy protagonist

• William BlakeWilliam Blake– Self-proclaimed mystic, artist, poetSelf-proclaimed mystic, artist, poet– Engraved poetry on metal plates and added watercolor Engraved poetry on metal plates and added watercolor

to mimic the look of Medieval illuminated manuscriptsto mimic the look of Medieval illuminated manuscripts– Wrote Wrote Songs of Innocence and of ExperienceSongs of Innocence and of Experience– Most famous of his poetry collectionsMost famous of his poetry collections– Experience: world of adults, a world of evil, hypocrisy, Experience: world of adults, a world of evil, hypocrisy,

and bitter wisdomand bitter wisdom– Innocence: world of children, a world of energy, Innocence: world of children, a world of energy,

spontaneity, and simplicityspontaneity, and simplicity– Saw the Neo-Classical Period as stifling childhoodSaw the Neo-Classical Period as stifling childhood

• William WordsworthWilliam Wordsworth– Lake District poetLake District poet– Strong emphasis on natureStrong emphasis on nature– Strong emphasis on childhoodStrong emphasis on childhood

• The ShelleysThe Shelleys– Percy Bysshe, famous poetPercy Bysshe, famous poet– Mary Shelley, wrote Mary Shelley, wrote FrankensteinFrankenstein– Lived a scandalous lifeLived a scandalous life– He died young; she never remarriedHe died young; she never remarried– Both were strong advocates of Both were strong advocates of

vegetarianismvegetarianism

• Jane AustenJane Austen– Not as influenced by the Romantics Not as influenced by the Romantics

although of this time periodalthough of this time period– Yes, she has passionate characters, but Yes, she has passionate characters, but

often they succumb to society by endoften they succumb to society by end– Focus on daily life and mannersFocus on daily life and manners– Still she pokes fun at these elegant Still she pokes fun at these elegant

courtesies as wellcourtesies as well