The Romantic PeriodThe Romantic PeriodNotes borrowed fromNotes borrowed fromL. WengelL. Wengel

Romantic PeriodRomantic Period

1789 – 18501789 – 1850

France, August 27, 1789 France, August 27, 1789 Declaration of the Rights of ManDeclaration of the Rights of Man

Stated that all men were born free and with equal Stated that all men were born free and with equal rights.rights.

Natural rights included: Natural rights included: LibertyLiberty PropertyProperty SecuritySecurity Resistance to oppressionResistance to oppression

Governments existed to protect these rightsGovernments existed to protect these rights

““The French Revolution is the master The French Revolution is the master theme of the epoch in which we live.”theme of the epoch in which we live.”

Percy Shelley to Lord ByronPercy Shelley to Lord Byron

Obsession with the violent & inclusive change Obsession with the violent & inclusive change in the human conditionin the human condition

Romantic writing cannot be understood Romantic writing cannot be understood historically without an awareness of the extent historically without an awareness of the extent their distinctive concepts, plots, forms and their distinctive concepts, plots, forms and imagery were shaped by the promise and imagery were shaped by the promise and tragedy of the events occurring in France. tragedy of the events occurring in France.

Industrialization and Mechanization lead to the Industrialization and Mechanization lead to the idea that mankind had lost its innocence. The idea that mankind had lost its innocence. The Romantic poets sought to regain the innocence Romantic poets sought to regain the innocence and vigor that was lost by using children and and vigor that was lost by using children and nature as subjects/themes in their nature as subjects/themes in their poems/writing. poems/writing.

Qualities of Qualities of RomanticismRomanticism

• Revolutionary and rebellious – it emphasized Revolutionary and rebellious – it emphasized political and artistic freedom, originality, and a political and artistic freedom, originality, and a discontent with the conventions of the past.discontent with the conventions of the past.

• Folksy and down to earth – had an admiration Folksy and down to earth – had an admiration of the simple life and the common manof the simple life and the common man

• Nature-worshipping – it idealized nature for all Nature-worshipping – it idealized nature for all its qualities, both destructive and soothingits qualities, both destructive and soothing

• Supernatural and mystical – it can explore the Supernatural and mystical – it can explore the weird, fantastic, and magicalweird, fantastic, and magical

• Adventurous and danger seeking – Adventurous and danger seeking – Pursuing excitement and thrillsPursuing excitement and thrills

• Sentimental and poignant – Imbuing the Sentimental and poignant – Imbuing the past with special qualities and feelingspast with special qualities and feelings

• Sensuous and passionate – Elevating the Sensuous and passionate – Elevating the amorous from mere feeling to artamorous from mere feeling to art

• Defenders of Liberty – Upholding individual Defenders of Liberty – Upholding individual rights over the power of governmentrights over the power of government

• Emotionally Intelligent – Championing the Emotionally Intelligent – Championing the powers of dreams and emotions as a guide powers of dreams and emotions as a guide to lifeto life

• Art loving – celebrating the arts and Art loving – celebrating the arts and artists. artists.