1. The Romantic Period: The Quest for Truth and Beauty

2. Turbulent Times, Bitter Realities
Started with the French Revolution and ended with the Parliamentary reforms
A turbulent, revolutionary age
England changed from an agricultural society to an industrial nation

3. The French Revolution
Represented the worst fears of the English ruling classes – the overthrow of an anointed king by a democratic mob
Ruling classes feared a revolution would start in England

4. The “New Regime”
“September massacre” – hundreds of French aristocrats and some members of the clergy had their heads cut off by the guillotine
France and England went to war
Napoleon Bonaparte became dictator then emperor of France, but became as ruthless as the executed king himself had been.

5. The Conservatives Clamp Down
England instituted severe repressive measures such as keeping suspected spies or agitators in prison without a trial
Romantics clung to their hopes for the “dawn of a new era” through peaceful change

6. The Industrial Revolution Finds a Foothold
England was the first nation to experience the effects of the Industrial Revolution
Production (formerly by hand) switched to factories, where machines worked much faster
City populations increased (due to factories), resulting in desperate living conditions
Land once shared by small farmers was taken over by individual owners, resulting in a large number of landless people, many of whom migrated to cities and/or relied on begging

7. The Tyranny of Laissez Faire
Laissez faire – let people do as they please
Government shouldn’t interfere
This resulted in the rich growing richer and the poor suffering even more
Small children of the poor were often used as beasts of burden (ex. harnessed to carts for dragging coal)

8. The Rebellion of the Romantic Poets
Believed in the force of literature
Turned to a more private, spontaneous, lyric poetry
Believed that imagination, rather than mere reason, was the best response to the forces of change

9. What does “Romantic” mean?
A child’s sense of wonder – a fascination with youth and innocence
Social idealism – people need to question tradition and authority in order to imagine better ways to live
Adaptation to change – an acceptance of change rather than a rejection of it

10. The Mystery of Imagination – poets
Sought a deeper understanding of the bond between human beings and the world of the senses
Believed that the imagination could be stimulated by both nature and the mind itself
Thought nature’s mysterious forces could both inspire the poet and hint at the causes of the great changes taking place in the world