Romanticism Artistic and Philosophical Movement Late 18th Century – Mid 19th Century European, to lesser extent American Response to Industrialization Related to the rise of Nationalism

Characteristics of Romanticism (1) Imagination, Emotions,  and Intuition.  Exaltation of intense feelings.  Descartes:  I think, therefore I am. vs Rousseau:  I felt before I thought. (2) Subjectivity of approach; the cult of the individual; the absolute uniqueness of every individual. 

Characteristics of Romanticism (3) Freedom of thought and expression. A revolt against authority and tyranny, against the ancient regime, whether social, political, religious, or artistic. Thomas Paine: “The Rights of Man.” Mary Wolstonecraft: “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” (1792) Alienation and rebellion: Cult of Youth, Energy, and Idealism

Social Issues The poets of the era responded to social and economic changes caused by rapid industrialization and to government policies that ignored the problems of the poor.

Freedom Overall the term Romantic signifies a fascination with youth and innocence, a questioning of authority and tradition, idealism, and adaptation to change.

Characteristics of Romanticism (4) Idealization of Nature Embracing  the uncivilized, the wild, the pre-civilized. Rousseau:  “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”  In other words, civilization is in part the cause of our corruption.  The “noble savage,” and James Fennimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking novels, I.e. The Last of the Mohicans. 

Nature Romantics viewed nature as peaceful, calm, nurturing, a source for spiritual renewal.  It often showed an innocent life of rural dwellers, a world of peace and harmony.... but nature could also be frightening in its power, and cause a dizzying sense of awe and wonder.

Age of Reason Romantic Era • Reason • Universal Truths • Natural Order • Academies • Patronage • Classical • Society • Imagination/Emotion • Human Uniqueness • Nature as Wild • Artistic Individualism • Independence • Medieval • Solitude

Other Romantic Elements • Re-discovery of Folk Culture (nationalism) • Nostalgia for Pre-Industrial Past • Interest in “Exotic” Locales • Escape into Imaginative Worlds • Passionate Belief in Liberty and Equality Restriction no longer important Nature in a mystical way –Believed it was transformative and mirrored the human mind. The Supernatural    

The Artist as.. One who is Apart from Society Social Critic/Revolutionary Genius/Cultural Hero “To be a genius is to be misunderstood” Emerson

The Lyric Poem The epitome of Romantic literature Expresses the poet’s innermost feelings and temperament Self-revelation: reveals reactions to events the poet has experienced. Imaginative

Works Used The Romantic Period  The Zeitgeist http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:ewNryaAd1rUJ:homepage.smc.edu/zehr_david/RomanticPeriod.ppt+english+literature+romantic+era+powerpoint&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us Elements of Literature—6th Course Music of the Romantic Era http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/Marigold-29396-7bL-Romantic-Music-Era-Aspects-Romanticism-art-misunderstood-genius-Early-Beethoven-as-Entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/