ROMANTIC LITERATURE
Romanticliterature refersto a literary movement that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing
emotion, individualism, and the power of nature over reason and tradition. It emerged asa reaction
against the Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, celebrating subjective experience, the
common person, and the sublime in nature. Key themesinclude the individual'srelationship with the
natural world, the supernatural, nationalism, and a deep interest in the past. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key characteristics
Emphasison emotion and individualism: Romanticism valuesfeelings, intuition, and personal
experience over rational thought. The individual'sinner world and unique perspective are
central to the work. [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]
Love of nature: Nature isseen asa source of truth, beauty, and spiritual solace, often depicted
asa powerful and awe-inspiring force (the sublime). [1, 2, 5]
Celebration of the common person: There wasa shiftaway from aristocraticsubjectsto focus
on the livesand experiencesof ordinary people. [1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11]
Interest in the supernatural and medieval: Romanticswere fascinated by the mysterious, the
gothic, and the exotic, often drawing on folklore and the medieval past. [2, 4, 5]
Focuson imagination: Imagination isviewed asa powerful faculty that allowsaccessto higher
truthsand spiritual understanding, leading to a new appreciation of the artist asan individual
creator. [2, 5]
Rejection of reason: It criticized the Enlightenment'sfocuson pure reason, instead valuing
intuition, emotion, and mysticism.
Celebration of the past: There wasa renewed interest in the past, particularly the medieval
period, and in folk traditionsand myths.
Interest in the sublime and exotic: Artistswere drawn to dramatic, powerful, and often terrifying
subjects, exploring themesof heroism, suffering, and the overwhelming power of nature, as
seen in the worksof painterslike Théodore Géricault and Eugène Delacroix.
Nationalism: Romanticism fostered nationalisticsentimentsby focusing on national identity,
folklore, and history.
Role of the artist: The poet or artist wasseen asa visionary figure, with a special role asa
prophet or interpreter of truth.
Major authors
English: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John
Keats, Mary Shelley, William Blake
American: Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau [2, 12]
Literature: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, John Keats, and Percy
, Bysshe Shelley were prominent figuresin English literature.
Art: Eugène Delacroix and Théodore Géricault were leading paintersin France.
Philosophy: Early figureslike Jean-JacquesRousseau laid the groundwork with ideasabout
the natural state of humanity and the corrupting influence of civilization.
EUROPEANROMANTIC MOVEMENT
The European Romanticmovement wasan artistic, literary, and intellectual movement from the late
18th to mid-19th century that emphasized emotion, individualism, and the power of imagination over
Enlightenment idealsof reason and logic. It wasa reaction against the Industrial Revolution and the
social changesof the time, often celebrating nature, individual experience, and nationalism. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6]
Context and influence:
Reaction to industrialization: The movement arose partly asa protest against the negative
aspectsof the Industrial Revolution, such asurbanization, pollution, and the lossof traditional
waysof life.
Influence of political upheaval: The French Revolution and itsaftermath were major influences,
with many Romanticsinspired by the idealsof liberty and the call for social and political change.
Key figures:
o Literature: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, John
Keats, and Percy Bysshe Shelley were prominent figures in English literature.
o Art: Eugène Delacroix and Théodore Géricault were leading painters in France.
o Philosophy: Early figures like Jean-Jacques Rousseau laid the groundwork with
ideas about the natural state of humanity and the corrupting influence of
civilization. [3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15]
ROMANTIC AGE
The Romantic Age is often known as the 'Age of Revolutions' on account of the sweeping
changes that were taking place during the late seventeenth and eighteenth century in the
social, political, industrial and literary sphere.
The Romanticperiod iscalled that because the term "Romantic" comesfrom the medieval "romances,"
or talesof chivalry, which emphasized individualism and adventure in contrast to the Classical era's
emphasison reason and order. The movement valued emotion, imagination, and freedom of expression,
and itsfollowersoften revisited themesfrom thisearlier, "romantic" medieval past in their art, music,
and literature.
Romanticliterature refersto a literary movement that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing
emotion, individualism, and the power of nature over reason and tradition. It emerged asa reaction
against the Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, celebrating subjective experience, the
common person, and the sublime in nature. Key themesinclude the individual'srelationship with the
natural world, the supernatural, nationalism, and a deep interest in the past. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key characteristics
Emphasison emotion and individualism: Romanticism valuesfeelings, intuition, and personal
experience over rational thought. The individual'sinner world and unique perspective are
central to the work. [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]
Love of nature: Nature isseen asa source of truth, beauty, and spiritual solace, often depicted
asa powerful and awe-inspiring force (the sublime). [1, 2, 5]
Celebration of the common person: There wasa shiftaway from aristocraticsubjectsto focus
on the livesand experiencesof ordinary people. [1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11]
Interest in the supernatural and medieval: Romanticswere fascinated by the mysterious, the
gothic, and the exotic, often drawing on folklore and the medieval past. [2, 4, 5]
Focuson imagination: Imagination isviewed asa powerful faculty that allowsaccessto higher
truthsand spiritual understanding, leading to a new appreciation of the artist asan individual
creator. [2, 5]
Rejection of reason: It criticized the Enlightenment'sfocuson pure reason, instead valuing
intuition, emotion, and mysticism.
Celebration of the past: There wasa renewed interest in the past, particularly the medieval
period, and in folk traditionsand myths.
Interest in the sublime and exotic: Artistswere drawn to dramatic, powerful, and often terrifying
subjects, exploring themesof heroism, suffering, and the overwhelming power of nature, as
seen in the worksof painterslike Théodore Géricault and Eugène Delacroix.
Nationalism: Romanticism fostered nationalisticsentimentsby focusing on national identity,
folklore, and history.
Role of the artist: The poet or artist wasseen asa visionary figure, with a special role asa
prophet or interpreter of truth.
Major authors
English: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John
Keats, Mary Shelley, William Blake
American: Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau [2, 12]
Literature: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, John Keats, and Percy
, Bysshe Shelley were prominent figuresin English literature.
Art: Eugène Delacroix and Théodore Géricault were leading paintersin France.
Philosophy: Early figureslike Jean-JacquesRousseau laid the groundwork with ideasabout
the natural state of humanity and the corrupting influence of civilization.
EUROPEANROMANTIC MOVEMENT
The European Romanticmovement wasan artistic, literary, and intellectual movement from the late
18th to mid-19th century that emphasized emotion, individualism, and the power of imagination over
Enlightenment idealsof reason and logic. It wasa reaction against the Industrial Revolution and the
social changesof the time, often celebrating nature, individual experience, and nationalism. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6]
Context and influence:
Reaction to industrialization: The movement arose partly asa protest against the negative
aspectsof the Industrial Revolution, such asurbanization, pollution, and the lossof traditional
waysof life.
Influence of political upheaval: The French Revolution and itsaftermath were major influences,
with many Romanticsinspired by the idealsof liberty and the call for social and political change.
Key figures:
o Literature: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, John
Keats, and Percy Bysshe Shelley were prominent figures in English literature.
o Art: Eugène Delacroix and Théodore Géricault were leading painters in France.
o Philosophy: Early figures like Jean-Jacques Rousseau laid the groundwork with
ideas about the natural state of humanity and the corrupting influence of
civilization. [3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15]
ROMANTIC AGE
The Romantic Age is often known as the 'Age of Revolutions' on account of the sweeping
changes that were taking place during the late seventeenth and eighteenth century in the
social, political, industrial and literary sphere.
The Romanticperiod iscalled that because the term "Romantic" comesfrom the medieval "romances,"
or talesof chivalry, which emphasized individualism and adventure in contrast to the Classical era's
emphasison reason and order. The movement valued emotion, imagination, and freedom of expression,
and itsfollowersoften revisited themesfrom thisearlier, "romantic" medieval past in their art, music,
and literature.
