The Romantics British Literature Unit 4 Ms. Carroll

In the beginning… Began in Germany in 1798 Began in Germany in 1798 Influence not just literature but art… eventually comes to US as Transcendentalism Influence not just literature but art… eventually comes to US as Transcendentalism Revolt against order, propriety, traditionalism, the current political, social and economic structures Revolt against order, propriety, traditionalism, the current political, social and economic structures

Those Rebellious Romantics Romanticism is a rebellion against the social and artistic values of the 18 th century. Romanticism is a rebellion against the social and artistic values of the 18 th century. What are those values? What are those values? –Stable order –Reason –Common sense –Upper class elegance– manners, dress, art –Logic and intellect over passion and emotion –Science over nature –Inspiration from Classical period

The Romantics: Late 18 th Century Cry for freedom and individualism inspired by political revolutions (France especially) Cry for freedom and individualism inspired by political revolutions (France especially) Rise of middle class wealth and independence Rise of middle class wealth and independence Democratic spirit Democratic spirit Personal liberty and focus on individual Personal liberty and focus on individual –Attentive to and obsessed with feelings –Trusted instincts –Reason seemed as a negative –Idealistic –Individualism often led to isolation

Anti- the ultra sophisticated society Anti- the ultra sophisticated society Sought comfort and solitude in nature Sought comfort and solitude in nature Nature became a symbol of freedom, backdrop for their feelings, respite from social pressure. Anti-Industrial Revolution Nature became a symbol of freedom, backdrop for their feelings, respite from social pressure. Anti-Industrial Revolution Obsessed with past: historical novel, ballads, folktales, return to Medieval style, but glorified Obsessed with past: historical novel, ballads, folktales, return to Medieval style, but glorified Tourism rises– fascinated with exotic Tourism rises– fascinated with exotic Strange and mysterious popular– birth of Gothic novel Strange and mysterious popular– birth of Gothic novel In essence, a philosophical rebellion against the goals and beliefs of the Enlightenment In essence, a philosophical rebellion against the goals and beliefs of the Enlightenment Elevated role of the spirit, soul, instinct, emotion Elevated role of the spirit, soul, instinct, emotion Desire to know self, to feel, to live deeply Desire to know self, to feel, to live deeply Trust self and intuition, art and nature Trust self and intuition, art and nature

Power of the Revolution-- French Revolution and even American Revolution stirred feelings of idealism, individualism, and freedom French Revolution and even American Revolution stirred feelings of idealism, individualism, and freedom Negative view of Industrial Revolution Negative view of Industrial Revolution –Pollution –Loss of nature –Rise in prosperity for upper class but lower class poverty –Laissez faire system– no government influence in economics –No child labor laws/ loss of innocence –Rioting and unemployment

Themes… Love of nature Love of nature Concern and sympathy for common folk Concern and sympathy for common folk Imagination, mysterious, supernatural Imagination, mysterious, supernatural Rebellion against tyranny; focus on individual Rebellion against tyranny; focus on individual Interest in primitive and medieval Interest in primitive and medieval Focus on the lonely and melancholy, often deal with themes of isolation (EMO!) Focus on the lonely and melancholy, often deal with themes of isolation (EMO!) Focus on feelings over intellect Focus on feelings over intellect Interest in childhood– emphasis on innocence Interest in childhood– emphasis on innocence

Style… No set styles but return interest and rise in popularity of odes and sonnets No set styles but return interest and rise in popularity of odes and sonnets Wrote without restriction Wrote without restriction Focus on innovation and creativity Focus on innovation and creativity Intensely personal subjects Intensely personal subjects Simplified vocabulary Simplified vocabulary

Some names to know… George Gordon, Lord Byron George Gordon, Lord Byron –Creates the Byronic Hero Dark, handsome, restless Original brooding bad boy protagonist

William Blake William Blake –Self-proclaimed mystic, artist, poet –Engraved poetry on metal plates and added watercolor to mimic the look of Medieval illuminated manuscripts –Wrote Songs of Innocence and of Experience –Most famous of his poetry collections –Experience: world of adults, a world of evil, hypocrisy, and bitter wisdom –Innocence: world of children, a world of energy, spontaneity, and simplicity –Saw the Neo-Classical Period as stifling childhood

William Wordsworth William Wordsworth –Lake District poet –Strong emphasis on nature –Strong emphasis on childhood

The Shelleys The Shelleys –Percy Bysshe, famous poet –Mary Shelley, wrote Frankenstein –Lived a scandalous life –He died young; she never remarried –Both were strong advocates of vegetarianism

Jane Austen Jane Austen –Not as influenced by the Romantics although of this time period –Yes, she has passionate characters, but often they succumb to society by end –Focus on daily life and manners –Still she pokes fun at these elegant courtesies as well