British Romanticism 1798 - 1832

Literature Before 1798

Seventeenth Century Poetry Ben Johnson: strove for perfection and harmony; writing very classical John Donne: cerebral writing (metaphysical poetry) John Milton: religious and classical (Puritan poetry) Cavalier poetry: classically inspired

The Age of Reason/Enlightenment 17th century movement around parts of Europe Promoted reason and scientific advancement Writers focused on harmony, restraint, and clarity Neoclassical writers imitated writers of ancient Greece and Rome Focused on generalities

The Eighteenth Century: Satire Alexander Pope An Essay on Man The Rape of the Lock Popular critic and satirist Jonathan Swift Gulliver’s Travels Criticized merchant class Bitter satirist

Historical influences on romanticism

The Industrial Revolution By 1750 Britain had begun to industrialize. Mills and factories caused pollution. Men, women, and children worked in factories for more than twelve hours a day. Poor people had trouble finding work, and crowded cities, creating slums.

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution “Progress” seems to be bring misery. People lose faith in the power of human reason. Writers turn away from neoclassicism. Writers simplify their language and put new emotion into poems. Thomas Gray was a pre-Romantic poet who began to change poetry .

The French Revolution Great influence on British Romanticism Begins in July 1789 France becomes a constitutional monarchy British nobles feel threatened by events in France Many British intellectuals supported the French Revolution’s democratic ideals The storming of the Bastille, a French prison, on July 14, 1789 began the French Revolution.

The Reign of Terror Chaotic phase of the French Revolution Jacobins gain control of France, abolish the monarchy, and declare the nation a republic Mob violence breaks out Louis XVI is executed for treason in 1793 Over one year, 17,000 people are executed. Maximillien Robespierre was the radical leader of the Jacobins. He was executed in 1793.

War Between France and Britain 1793: France declares war on Britain War lasts until 1815 Admiral Lord Nelson is a famous military hero from this war who broke the French navy at the Battle of Trafalgar.

British Reaction The British turned against the French Revolution following the mass executions Crackdowns on reformers in Britain begin. Britain did not want any other European nation to control too much of the continent or have too much influence there Government outlaws talk of parliamentary reform outside of Parliament, banned public meetings, and suspended certain basic rights.

Society’s Problems During the wars, the British government ignored domestic dissent and the problems caused by the Industrial Revolution: Overcrowded factory towns Unpleasant and unsafe working conditions Long working hours Low pay Working class grows restless, protest in riots, and begin to form unions.

Society’s Problems Government sided with factory owners Attempts to form unions are crushed, leading to frequent riots Two camps form in society: working class who demanded reform and ruling class who resisted reform British soldiers march on an assembly of cotton workers, killing some, at the Peterloo Massacre in 1819.

The Beginnings of Reform 1820’s: new generation of government officials (Tories) begin a few reforms 1824: labor unions are permitted to organize 1829: Catholic Emancipation Act restores economic and religious freedom to Roman Catholics.

Serious Reform Toward the end of the Romantic Era, the new Whig government enacts serious reforms. Reform Bill of 1832: middle class men get the right to vote, which threatened the traditional dominance of land-owning nobles The reforms begun at the end of the Romantic Era continued into the next era as well.