1. The Romantic Period

2. Refers to the years 1786-1832 in British Literature Stressed strong emotion, imagination, freedom from conservative beliefs and rebellion against social conventions The period was a rejection and response to the conventions of Classicism – with its focus on order, tradition, harmony and rational thinking The Romantics emphasized the power of the individual

3. Characteristics of Romantic Literature Adventurous, chivalrous, creative, dreamlike, eccentric, emotional, enthusiastic, free, humanitarian, idealistic, imaginative, individualistic, introspective, moody, nature-oriented, passionate, primitive, sensitive, sensual, solitary, unconventional, visionary

4. Romantic Poets John Keats: Abandoned the study of medicine to become a poet Wrote poems of great beauty and sensuous imagination Died of tuberculosis as a young man

5. Romantic Poets Walt Whitman: American poet known for his aggressive free verse of lack of inhibitions Wrote about man in harmony with the cosmos Died in poverty

6. Romantic Poets Percy Bysshe Shelley: Expelled from university for writing a pamphlet on The Necessity of Atheism Left England to avoid public censure on his radical views of politics and religion Wrote about the beauty and freedom of nature and the triumph of the human spirit over restraints

7. Romantic Poets George Gordon (Lord Byron): Wealthy, handsome and unconventional Left England to live in Europe due to gossip about his romantic affairs Dedicated to the concept of freedom, both personally and politically Died in the Greek struggle for independence from Turkey

8. Romantic Poets William Wordsworth: The prime figure of the English Romantic movement Wrote powerfully emotional poems about common life

9. O Captain My Captain - Walt Whitman O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up--for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills, For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths for you the shores a-crowding, For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captain! dear father! This arm beneath your head! It is some dream that on the deck, You've fallen cold and dead. My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done; From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won; Exult O shores, and ring O bells! But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.