Taken from pages 517-533 of Elements of Literature, and beyond. Historical Introduction to the 2nd Nine Weeks – The Romantic Period - Abridged

The Swing of the Pendulum The Romantic Period – 1798 - 1832 Some things go back and forth in history, from one polar opposite to the other. In the Age of Reason, literature was very critical of society, followed certain specific rules and structures, and was, like the name of the age, reasoned out. Furthermore, the Industrial Revolution brought more jobs to the cities, resulting in overcrowding and pollution.

From Reason to Imagination Some grew tired of this. Some felt that literature and art should focus on beauty, truth, nature, emotion, and the human experience, etc. Some felt that the simple beauty of nature and the country side was preferable to the city, any day. Some felt that imagination was superior to reason. These people were called the Romantics.

More Wars, Government Clamps Down American colonies – Revolt against Britain. French people – Revolt against their government. The British government – fears more uprisings, get’s harsher on its people (Sounds counter-productive, but that’s what fear does).

Economics and Industry Industrial Revolution – At this time, industry begins to rely more on machines and assembly lines. People flocked to factories for jobs. Factories are in cities. Cities become overpopulated / polluted. Laissez Faire – A policy in which the government does not regulate or impede industry at all. This is good for business, but potentially bad for human rights. Working conditions worsen. Hours lengthen. Pay decreases. Child labor increases. Poets write more bout the beauty of nature and the country, away from the evils of society and city life.

What Does “Romantic” Mean? – Pgs 529 – 530, 532 Nature and the Countryside As before mentioned, Romantics love the beauty of nature and rural life. A Child’s Sense of Wonder i.e. Innocence, seeing and appreciating everything as if it were new. The beauty in flowers, trees, the stars, a river, laughter, a smile, etc. Social Idealism The romantics were not realists. They were idealists. They thought mostly of how things should be, rather than how things are. i.e. The best type of government, the best way to live one’s life, etc. Adaptation to Change Romantics are more go with the flow. They don’t fear change. Imagination vs. Reason The former period valued reason and logic most highly. The Romantics value imagination first and foremost. They believe the most truth and insight can be gained by following it, instead. Feelings and emotions In the end, it was more than the nature or the idealism or the change. Very much so, it was about how things made humans feel.

The Gothic – Box on Pgs 530-531 As Romanticism focuses on human feelings and emotions, some of it inherently focuses on the darker emotions. This genre is known as the Gothic. The Gothic Movement emphasizes fear, helplessness, and sorrow. It emphasizes supernatural creatures, like the undead (vampires, ghosts, revenants), demons, etc. It generally takes place in mysterious settings, like ruined castles and monasteries, dark forests, graveyards, caves, etc.

The Romantic Poets The following are the most famous Romantic poets from this time in Britain: The First Generation William Blake William Wordsworth Samuel Taylor Coleridge (author of our next short read) The Second Generation John Keats Percy Bysshe Shelley (husband of Mary Shelley) Lord Byron (aka George Gordon)