2. What is Romanticism? Romanticism has very little to do with things popularly thought of as "romantic," although love may occasionally be the subject of Romantic poetry. Did not originate from Romance languages

3. An international artistic and philosophical movement Redefined how Western cultures thought about themselves and about their world. What is Romanticism?

4. Beginning of Romanticism Writers reacted strongly to the events of the time In the French Revolution, they found excitement at ideals of freedom and equality. They were repulsed by the violence of the wars.

5. Importance of the Individual Liberals turned to literature and created the Romantic style that offered a new perspective of the world Moved away from the faith in reason to a faith in the senses and imagination – “intuition” Romantic writers focused on nature and the “common people”

6. Literary Concerns Concerns were shaped by the French revolutionary spirit and the effects of the Industrial Revolution Interest in trials and dreams of common people and their desire for radical change came from French Revolution’s democratic idealism Deep attachment to nature came from response to consequences of industrialization Contrast deeply with the rational thought of the 18 th Century, which was also called the Age of Reason

7. Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Swiss philosopher (1712-1778) planted seeds of Romanticism He saw society as a force of evil that infringed on personal liberty and happiness He thought humanity should revert to its natural state by leaving social institutions and listening to nature, instinct, and intuition. Credited with the notion of the Nobel Savage.

8. Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – Prussian writer (1749-1832) combined Rousseau’s philosophy into his own love of the literature of the Middle Ages. Hero valued freedom and longed for the unattainable and was at odds with reason Inspired Romantic writers’ interest in medieval romances

9. Imagination The imagination was elevated to a position as the supreme faculty of the mind. This contrasted distinctly with the traditional arguments for the supremacy of reason. The Romantics tended to define and to present the imagination as our ultimate "shaping" or creative power, the approximate human equivalent of the creative powers of nature or even deity.

10. Nature Romantics gave greater attention both to describing natural phenomena accurately and to capturing "sensuous nuance"--and this is as true of Romantic landscape painting as of Romantic nature poetry. Accuracy of observation, however, was not sought for its own sake. Romantic nature poetry is essentially a poetry of meditation.

11. Emotion Importance of intuition, instincts, and feelings Romantics generally called for greater attention to the emotions rather than logical reason.

12. The Everyday … artists often turned for their symbols to domestic rather than exotic sources used "the language of common men," not an artificial "poetic diction."

13. … and the Exotic Often, both the everyday and the exotic appeared together in paradoxical combinations. Authors tried to show supernatural elements in the natural and realistic elements in the supernatural.

14. Lyric Poetry and the Self In Romantic theory, art was valuable not so much as a mirror of the external world, but as a source of illumination of the world within. Among other things, this led to a prominence for first-person lyric poetry never accorded it in any previous period. The "poetic speaker" became less a persona and more the direct person of the poet.

15. Contrasts with Neoclassicism In style, the Romantics preferred boldness over the preceding age's desire for restraint, maximum suggestiveness over the neoclassical ideal of clarity, free experimentation over the "rules" of composition, genre, and decorum. They promoted the conception of the artist as "inspired" creator over that of the artist as "maker" or technical master.

16. Contrasts with Neoclassicism Although interest in religion and in the powers of faith were prominent during the Romantic period, the Romantics generally rejected absolute systems, whether of philosophy or religion, in favor of the idea that each person (and humankind collectively) must create the system by which to live.

17. France at that time… French Revolution 1789-1799 Began with the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 Napoleon becomes emperor in 1804 Influenced the Romantic writers all over Europe because of its violence People saw the Bourgeoisie overtake the privileged monarchy

18. Victor Hugo 1802-1885 Grew up idolizing Napoleon Bonaparte The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1831) Later in life Hugo became involved in politics and supported the republican form of government. The coup d’etat in 1851 by Louis Napoleon caused Hugo to flee the country for 20 years. He wrote Les Miserables during that time. Died May 22, 1885 in Paris

19. Les Miserables Published in 1862 Takes place from 1789- 1832 Takes place in France, specifically Arras, Digne, Montreuil-sur-mer, Montfermeil, Paris, and Toulon A lengthy tale of a convict’s journey through post-revolution France

20. Les Mis Characters Jean Valjean – the hero of Les Mis. He is a victim of society’s hypocrisies Represents the noble savage Takes care of Fantine and her daughter Cosette Bishop of Digne, Monseigneur Bienvenu He believes in Valjean and gives him a second chance

21. Les Mis Characters Fantine Another victim of society Daughter = Cosette Cosette Little girl whom Jean Valjean takes care of for the duration of the book

22. Les Mis Characters Javert Police officer Antagonist Vendetta against Jean Valjean Marius Cosette’s lover Leads a rebellion Jean Valjean rescues him