The Romantic PeriodThe Romantic Period

Characteristics and CharactersCharacteristics and Characters

These notes come from a variety of sources, most of which I have forgotten. To those whose These notes come from a variety of sources, most of which I have forgotten. To those whose work I might inadvertently have used without crediting, I apologize. These notes are in no way work I might inadvertently have used without crediting, I apologize. These notes are in no way intended for publication or other potentially profitable use. They are used only as educational intended for publication or other potentially profitable use. They are used only as educational

support materials.support materials.

First, let’s get rid of First, let’s get rid of confusionconfusion

““Romanticism” and “Romantic” originally referred Romanticism” and “Romantic” originally referred to imaginative medieval stories about the to imaginative medieval stories about the adventures of knights of the period. They were adventures of knights of the period. They were written in French, which is a derivation of the old written in French, which is a derivation of the old Roman language, Latin. Hence, “Romance Roman language, Latin. Hence, “Romance language”. Stories thus written were called language”. Stories thus written were called romances. romances.

Because these stories involved frequent amorous Because these stories involved frequent amorous encounters between knights and their ladies, the encounters between knights and their ladies, the language evolved such that we now commonly language evolved such that we now commonly use the word in this more restricted sense.use the word in this more restricted sense.

In the study of literature, however, the term In the study of literature, however, the term “romance” refers to imaginative, often idealizing, “romance” refers to imaginative, often idealizing, fiction – the stories themselves, the romancesfiction – the stories themselves, the romances

The Romantic PeriodThe Romantic Period

The publication of Wordsworth and Coleridge’s The publication of Wordsworth and Coleridge’s Lyrical Ballads Lyrical Ballads in 1798 marks the beginning of the in 1798 marks the beginning of the Romantic Period in English Literature.Romantic Period in English Literature.

The major figures of the period included William The major figures of the period included William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, George Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, George Gordon Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Gordon Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats.Keats.

The period’s end is generally recognized as 1832, The period’s end is generally recognized as 1832, the year of the death of Sir Walter Scott and the the year of the death of Sir Walter Scott and the passage of the First Reform Bill in parliament.passage of the First Reform Bill in parliament.

Characteristics of the Romantic PeriodCharacteristics of the Romantic Period

The work of the eighteenth-century Classic The work of the eighteenth-century Classic period had been marked by perfection of period had been marked by perfection of form, by precision and polish. form, by precision and polish.

The reader expected the rhyming couplet The reader expected the rhyming couplet (heroic couplet); predictable metre, usually (heroic couplet); predictable metre, usually iambic pentameter; narrow, often light-iambic pentameter; narrow, often light-weight subject matter dealing with the upper weight subject matter dealing with the upper classes; and an ample supply of satire.classes; and an ample supply of satire.

The Romantic period was more diverse.The Romantic period was more diverse.

Characteristics of the Romantic PeriodCharacteristics of the Romantic Period

The movement was influenced by developments on The movement was influenced by developments on the continent: the German the continent: the German Sturm und Drang Sturm und Drang period, period, the French revolution.the French revolution.

Precursors in England include Robert Burns and Precursors in England include Robert Burns and Thomas Gray, poets frequently referred to as “pre-Thomas Gray, poets frequently referred to as “pre-Romantic”Romantic”

The main philosophical influence on the movement The main philosophical influence on the movement comes from Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78)comes from Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78)

Characteristics of the Romantic PeriodCharacteristics of the Romantic Period

The German notion of the protagonist as suffering The German notion of the protagonist as suffering individual, young genius rebelling against unjustindividual, young genius rebelling against unjust authority, and of the ascendancy of Nature authority, and of the ascendancy of Nature influenced the English writers – here we have the influenced the English writers – here we have the origin of the origin of the enthusiasm for Natureenthusiasm for Nature and the and the strong individualismstrong individualism in rebellion against authority, in rebellion against authority, two of the main characteristics of the Romantic two of the main characteristics of the Romantic period. The period. The Sturm und Drang Sturm und Drang movement also movement also rebelled against the staid literary and rebelled against the staid literary and professional establishments of German society.professional establishments of German society.

Characteristics of the Romantic PeriodCharacteristics of the Romantic Period

With the pre-Romantics originates the idea that With the pre-Romantics originates the idea that the simple, the ordinary, the simple, the ordinary, the common is also the the common is also the stuff of poetrystuff of poetry. From them, too, we get the . From them, too, we get the use of use of simple language.simple language.

The expression of the ordinary in terms of the The expression of the ordinary in terms of the extraordinaryextraordinary is a characteristic of the literature is a characteristic of the literature of the period. Thus Burns’ wee mouse’s nest of the period. Thus Burns’ wee mouse’s nest becomes as important as our own homes in the becomes as important as our own homes in the moment of our comprehension of the poet’s moment of our comprehension of the poet’s relationship to nature.relationship to nature.

Characteristics of the Romantic PeriodCharacteristics of the Romantic Period

Further characteristics includeFurther characteristics include A trust in emotion and imagination more than A trust in emotion and imagination more than

in reason and judgementin reason and judgement The use of supernatural elements.The use of supernatural elements. A concern with the particular as opposed to the A concern with the particular as opposed to the

general or universal.general or universal. A greater interest in the medieval than in the A greater interest in the medieval than in the

classical.classical. A concern for ecological preservationA concern for ecological preservation Activists for individual liberties, especially the Activists for individual liberties, especially the

rights of the downtroddenrights of the downtrodden

Concurrent EventsConcurrent Events

The French RevolutionThe French Revolution The Reign of TerrorThe Reign of Terror The Ascension of NapoleonThe Ascension of Napoleon European War European War The Industrial RevolutionThe Industrial Revolution Enclosure (privatization of public communal Enclosure (privatization of public communal

property)property) The Slave TradeThe Slave Trade Laissez-faire economic policyLaissez-faire economic policy An insane king (Geo III) until 1811, followed by an An insane king (Geo III) until 1811, followed by an

indulgent one (Geo IV) until 1820indulgent one (Geo IV) until 1820

The PoetsThe Poets

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)William Wordsworth (1770-1850) From the Lake DistrictFrom the Lake District Educated at Cambridge, lived a time in FranceEducated at Cambridge, lived a time in France Worked closely with Coleridge 1795-1810 when Worked closely with Coleridge 1795-1810 when

a quarrel caused a rift that lasted until 1828a quarrel caused a rift that lasted until 1828 Became Poet Laureate of England in 1843Became Poet Laureate of England in 1843 Died in 1850Died in 1850 After his death, After his death, The Prelude The Prelude is published, a is published, a

work at whose centre are the ideas of growth work at whose centre are the ideas of growth and memory, the mutability of experienceand memory, the mutability of experience

The PoetsThe Poets

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)William Wordsworth (1770-1850) Notable for a felicity of phrasing, a Notable for a felicity of phrasing, a

simplicity in diction and in subject simplicity in diction and in subject matter.matter.

He is the “High Priest of Nature” and He is the “High Priest of Nature” and very often discusses nature in general very often discusses nature in general terms, philosophizing in her lessons for terms, philosophizing in her lessons for himself and for mankind.himself and for mankind.

The PoetsThe Poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)

From DevonshireFrom Devonshire Educated in London and at Cambridge (left Educated in London and at Cambridge (left

without a degree)without a degree) Worked closely with Wordsworth 1795-1810 when Worked closely with Wordsworth 1795-1810 when

a quarrel caused a rift that lasted until 1828a quarrel caused a rift that lasted until 1828 In an effort to relieve the pain of rheumatism, In an effort to relieve the pain of rheumatism,

Coleridge became addicted to opiumColeridge became addicted to opium Joined such luminaries as Sidney, Dryden, and Joined such luminaries as Sidney, Dryden, and

Johnson as one of the select few elite poet-critics Johnson as one of the select few elite poet-critics of English literature of English literature

Became the best public lecturer in England, with a Became the best public lecturer in England, with a reputation for eloquence and conversational reputation for eloquence and conversational abilityability

Died in 1834Died in 1834

The PoetsThe Poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)

A master of atmosphereA master of atmosphere In a few words can bring us to a world In a few words can bring us to a world

where it seems natural to speak of a where it seems natural to speak of a “woman wailing for her demon lover.”“woman wailing for her demon lover.”

An awareness of the blessedness of the An awareness of the blessedness of the natural order of thingsnatural order of things

The Lyrical BalladsThe Lyrical Ballads

Greatest collaboration in all of English Greatest collaboration in all of English literatureliterature

The power of poetic imagination “reveals itself The power of poetic imagination “reveals itself in the balance or reconciliation of opposite or in the balance or reconciliation of opposite or discordant qualities”discordant qualities” Coleridge’s comments in Coleridge’s comments in Bibliographia Literaria Bibliographia Literaria

affirm that the aims of their book, and of the affirm that the aims of their book, and of the Romantic movement, are not so much monolithic Romantic movement, are not so much monolithic literary standards or rules as a tension between literary standards or rules as a tension between often opposing valuesoften opposing values

This idea leads naturally to Wordsworth’s assertion This idea leads naturally to Wordsworth’s assertion that it is the poet’s mind and craft working on “real that it is the poet’s mind and craft working on “real language” that transforms such language into language” that transforms such language into poetrypoetry

The Lyrical BalladsThe Lyrical Ballads

Whereas Wordsworth’s role in the book was Whereas Wordsworth’s role in the book was the expression of the ordinary as the expression of the ordinary as extraordinary, Coleridge’s was to explore extraordinary, Coleridge’s was to explore the supernatural, “or at least romantic; yet the supernatural, “or at least romantic; yet so as to transfer from our inward nature a so as to transfer from our inward nature a human interest and a semblance of truth human interest and a semblance of truth sufficient to procure for these shadows of sufficient to procure for these shadows of imagination that imagination that willing suspension of willing suspension of disbeliefdisbelief . . . which constitutes poetic faith” . . . which constitutes poetic faith”

The Lyrical BalladsThe Lyrical Ballads ““Tintern Abbey” is a prime example Tintern Abbey” is a prime example

of the intense love of nature evident of the intense love of nature evident in Romantic poetryin Romantic poetry Wordsworth looks at rustic life because Wordsworth looks at rustic life because

“in that condition “in that condition the passions of men the passions of men are incorporated withare incorporated with the beautiful and the beautiful and permanent forms of nature.”permanent forms of nature.”

The mind of the poet, or of the persona The mind of the poet, or of the persona of the poem, is the ultimate subject for of the poem, is the ultimate subject for the poetthe poet

The Lyrical BalladsThe Lyrical Ballads

In the preface Wordsworth gives us his In the preface Wordsworth gives us his definition of poetry: “All good poetry is definition of poetry: “All good poetry is the the spontaneous overflow of powerful spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillityemotion recollected in tranquillity.” .” Emotional experience is not enough – it Emotional experience is not enough – it must be “contemplated” and given must be “contemplated” and given shape by the mind and adapted to shape by the mind and adapted to language before it can be called language before it can be called poetry.poetry.

The Lyrical BalladsThe Lyrical Ballads

Also in the preface, Wordsworth tells Also in the preface, Wordsworth tells us that the language of the poet us that the language of the poet must be “the real language of men.” must be “the real language of men.” This is a direct challenge to the This is a direct challenge to the preceding Age of Reason (Pope, preceding Age of Reason (Pope, Swift, Johnson)Swift, Johnson)

Required ReadingsRequired Readings

WordsworthWordsworth ““My Heart Leaps UpMy Heart Leaps Up”” ““The World Is Too Much With Us” p. 675 The World Is Too Much With Us” p. 675

P-HP-H

ColeridgeColeridge ““The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” p. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” p.

686 P-H686 P-H

Required Readings in P-HRequired Readings in P-H

TimelineTimeline pp. 612-13pp. 612-13 Background, Romantic PeriodBackground, Romantic Period pp. 614-621pp. 614-621 Changing LanguageChanging Language pp. 622pp. 622 Burns Background Burns Background pp. 624-5pp. 624-5 Blake BackgroundBlake Background pp. 638-9pp. 638-9 Mary Shelley BackgroundMary Shelley Background pp. 648-9pp. 648-9 Wordsworth BackgroundWordsworth Background pp. 662-3pp. 662-3 The CollaborationThe Collaboration pp. 664-5pp. 664-5 Early Reviews of WordsworthEarly Reviews of Wordsworth pp. 681-2pp. 681-2 Coleridge BackgroundColeridge Background pp. 684-5pp. 684-5

The Poets Part 2The Poets Part 2 George Gordon Lord Byron (1788-1824)George Gordon Lord Byron (1788-1824)

Born into an arisocratic familyBorn into an arisocratic family Attended prestigious private schools and Attended prestigious private schools and

universitiesuniversities Left England because of social pressure Left England because of social pressure

concerning his unconventional personal life.concerning his unconventional personal life. Was celebrated throughout Europe for his Was celebrated throughout Europe for his

poems, especially poems, especially Childe Harold’s Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.Pilgrimage.

He died in exile in Greece, where he is He died in exile in Greece, where he is celebrated as a revolutionary herocelebrated as a revolutionary hero

The Poets Part 2The Poets Part 2 George Gordon Lord Byron (1788-1824)George Gordon Lord Byron (1788-1824)

Created the “Byronic Hero”, a passionate, moody, Created the “Byronic Hero”, a passionate, moody, restless character who has become bored with the restless character who has become bored with the world, is enduring the consequence of some sinful world, is enduring the consequence of some sinful past, refuses to be constrained by society’s past, refuses to be constrained by society’s mores, and whose daring life both sets him apart, mores, and whose daring life both sets him apart, and makes him attractive.and makes him attractive.

Was influenced greatly by Dryden and Pope, and Was influenced greatly by Dryden and Pope, and is more connected to the eighteenth century than is more connected to the eighteenth century than most of his Romantic contemporaries. In terms of most of his Romantic contemporaries. In terms of poetics, he was frequently critical of the other poetics, he was frequently critical of the other Romantics, except for ShelleyRomantics, except for Shelley

The Poets Part 2The Poets Part 2 Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

Born into an arisocratic familyBorn into an arisocratic family Attended prestigious private schools and Attended prestigious private schools and

universitiesuniversities Left England because of social pressure Left England because of social pressure

concerning his unconventional personal life.concerning his unconventional personal life. His poetry was never popular in his lifetime His poetry was never popular in his lifetime

and often misunderstood.and often misunderstood. Stylistic experimentation and complex Stylistic experimentation and complex

philosophy were beyond the ability of many philosophy were beyond the ability of many readersreaders

He engaged in revolutionary activity and was He engaged in revolutionary activity and was active in workers’ rights movementsactive in workers’ rights movements

He drowned of the coast of Italy in a boating He drowned of the coast of Italy in a boating accident.accident.

The Poets Part 2The Poets Part 2 Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

His writing is the most passionate and intense of the His writing is the most passionate and intense of the Romantics, yet the most intellectualRomantics, yet the most intellectual

His desire to push the language to extremes, to express His desire to push the language to extremes, to express the inexpressible, makes him also the most difficult of the inexpressible, makes him also the most difficult of the Romantics to understand.the Romantics to understand.

Is remembered also for a brilliant essay on poetry: Is remembered also for a brilliant essay on poetry: A A Defense of Poetry, Defense of Poetry, 18211821

Matthew Arnold has said of Shelley that he was too Matthew Arnold has said of Shelley that he was too sensitive to be a really great writer; he called him a sensitive to be a really great writer; he called him a “beautiful and ineffectual angel, beating in the void his “beautiful and ineffectual angel, beating in the void his luminous wings in vain.”luminous wings in vain.”

Shelley was much admired by his fellow Romantics, Shelley was much admired by his fellow Romantics, considered by most to be a better intellect and a better considered by most to be a better intellect and a better artist than the others; had he lived, he too might have artist than the others; had he lived, he too might have produced far greater works than are left to us.produced far greater works than are left to us.

The Poets Part 2The Poets Part 2 John Keats (1795-1821)John Keats (1795-1821)

Youngest of the second generation of Romantic Youngest of the second generation of Romantic poets, and the first to die.poets, and the first to die.

He was a mere twenty-four years old when his He was a mere twenty-four years old when his poetic genius became evident with the body of poetic genius became evident with the body of work he produced between January and work he produced between January and September of 1819: Almost all his greatest September of 1819: Almost all his greatest poems were written in this time period.poems were written in this time period.

Critics agree that his works are some of the Critics agree that his works are some of the greatest poems in the English language, and greatest poems in the English language, and that, had he lived, he might have gone on to that, had he lived, he might have gone on to achieve the stature of a Shakespeare.achieve the stature of a Shakespeare.

Unfortunately, Tuberculosis struck him in Unfortunately, Tuberculosis struck him in February of 1820 and he died in 1821.February of 1820 and he died in 1821.

The Poets Part 2The Poets Part 2 John Keats (1795-1821)John Keats (1795-1821)

Is able to embody the complexity and Is able to embody the complexity and concreteness of experienceconcreteness of experience

Unrivalled ability to appeal to the senses Unrivalled ability to appeal to the senses through languagethrough language

Unlike the other Romantics, Keats sought to Unlike the other Romantics, Keats sought to subordinate his own personality, and to focus subordinate his own personality, and to focus on his subject in all its complexityon his subject in all its complexity

The capacity for forgetting oneself in the The capacity for forgetting oneself in the concentration on, or identification with, the concentration on, or identification with, the subject of the poem is what Keats called subject of the poem is what Keats called “negative capability”. “negative capability”.

CreditsCredits

Holt, Rinehart, Winston. Holt, Rinehart, Winston. Adventures in English Adventures in English Literature. Literature. Athena Edition. 1996.Athena Edition. 1996.