Introduction to Romanticism Background and Information

Romanticism An international artistic and philosophical movement that redefined the ways in which people in Western cultures thought about themselves and their world An international artistic and philosophical movement that redefined the ways in which people in Western cultures thought about themselves and their world Centered in England and Germany Centered in England and Germany Occurred from Occurred from Coincides with periods of political and economic upheaval- American (1776) and French (1789) revolutions and the onset of the Industrial Revolution Coincides with periods of political and economic upheaval- American (1776) and French (1789) revolutions and the onset of the Industrial Revolution

Imagination It is thought of as the supreme instrument of the mind It is thought of as the supreme instrument of the mind It is our dynamic, creative power responsible for creating all art It is our dynamic, creative power responsible for creating all art Unites both reason and feeling Unites both reason and feeling Enables us to “read” nature as a system of symbols (we not only see the world around us, but also in part create it) Enables us to “read” nature as a system of symbols (we not only see the world around us, but also in part create it)

Nature and Symbolism Nature in itself is a work of art- even commonplace items Nature in itself is a work of art- even commonplace items Nature is a healing power Nature is a healing power Symbolism exists in nature’s emblematic language- it is inexpressible and infinite Symbolism exists in nature’s emblematic language- it is inexpressible and infinite

Emotion and the Self Emphasis on intuition, instincts and feelings Emphasis on intuition, instincts and feelings Attention to emotions is a necessary supplement to logical reason Attention to emotions is a necessary supplement to logical reason Good poetry is the “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” Good poetry is the “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” One becomes the “artist-as-hero” One becomes the “artist-as-hero”

The Romantic Hero Romanticism believes in the importance of the individual, the unique-even the eccentric Romanticism believes in the importance of the individual, the unique-even the eccentric Hero has noble defiance or determination despite hardship Hero has noble defiance or determination despite hardship Hero has boldness rather than restraint Hero has boldness rather than restraint

The Everyday and the Exotic Paradox: An apparently self- contradictory idea or statement, which, upon closer inspection, contains a truth Paradox: An apparently self- contradictory idea or statement, which, upon closer inspection, contains a truth Normal, mundane things appear with exotic, unusual things Normal, mundane things appear with exotic, unusual things Use of such paradoxical combinations are common in romanticism Use of such paradoxical combinations are common in romanticism