The%20Romantic%20Era%20in%20British%20Literature

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The Romantic Erain British Literature

• 1798-1832

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What does it mean to call something Romantic?
Take a few minutes and jot down your thoughts on
a sheet of notebook paper. Brainstorm a list, or
write a paragraph of your ideas about the word
Romantic.
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For each statement, write down A if you agree
or D if you disagree

• 1. The answers to lifes most puzzling questions
  can be found through discussions with a simple
  person who lives in the country close to
  naturenot with a sophisticated, well-educated
  person from the city.
• 2. The answer to lifes most puzzling questions
  can be found through a connection with nature.
• 3. The use of ones imagination is more important
  than rational (based on reason or fact) thought.
• 4. Subjectivity (personally biased) is more
  important than objectivity (unbiased).

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• 5. Knowledge is gained through gut reactions and
  subjective hunches rather than level-headed,
  objective, rational thought.
• 6. Nature is more important than art.
• 7. Experimental trial and error is a better
  process than the conventional scientific method.
• 8. Poetry should be spontaneous and full of
  emotion, not planned and straightforward.
• 9. Sensitivity, feelings, and spontaneity are
  more important than intellectualism.
• 10. Dare to be is a better motto than dare to
  know.

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Are you Romantic?

• Tally up your number of As
• 3 or fewer As not romantic
• 4 or 5 As sort of romantic
• 6 or 7 As highly romantic
• 8-10 As extremely romantic
• Has your idea of the word Romantic changed in
• any way? If so, how?

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Romanticism

• The words Romantic or Romance originally referred
  to Medieval tales of knights written in the
  original Roman language - Latin. These tales
  often included love stories between a knight and
  his lady - resulting in the modern meaning of
  romance.
• When talking about the Romantic Era in
  literature, we are actually referring to
  romantic as freely imaginative fiction and not
  romantic as in romantic love

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Lets take a step back to the Age of Reason to
better understand the Romantic Era
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Age of Reason vs. Romantic Era

• In the Romantic Era, Writers stressed
• Imagination and Emotion
• Concern with the particular experience
• The value of the individual human being
• The value of freedom

• In the Age of Reason, Writers stressed
• Reason and Judgement
• Concern with the universal experience
• The value of society as a whole
• The value of rules

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Characteristics of the Romantic Era

• 1. Common Man and Childhood over Urban
  Sophistication
• Romantics believed in the natural goodness of
  humans, which is hindered by the urban life of
  civilization. They believed that the savage is
  noble, childhood is good and the emotions
  inspired by both beliefs causes the heart to
  soar.
• 2. Emotions over Reason
• Romantics believed that knowledge is gained
  through intuition rather than deduction. This is
  best summed up by Wordsworth who stated that all
  good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of
  powerful feelings.

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• 3. Nature over Artificial
• Romantics stressed the awe of nature in art and
  language and the experience of sublimity through
  a connection with nature. Romantics rejected the
  ideas of the industrial revolution .
• 4. The Individual over Society
• Romantics often elevated the achievements of the
  misunderstood, heroic individual outcast.
• 5. Imagination over Logic
• Romantics legitimized the individual imagination
  as a critical authority.

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Which characteristics of the Romantic Era does
this painting evoke?
William Turner. Arundel Castle, with Rainbow,
1824
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Which characteristics of the Romantic Era does
this painting evoke?
William Blake, Jacobs Ladder, 1799-1806 (English)
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Which characteristics of the Romantic Era does
this painting evoke?
John Constable, The White Horse, 1819 (English)
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To the Romantics, nature provided the pattern on
which to base their creative lives.

• The Romantics watched as cities grew, industry
  prospered and farming life declined. In an effort
  to reclaim nature, the Romantics made it a
  central force in their lives and their
  literature. Nature was celebrated as a source of
  delight, an image of love, and a model of moral
  perfection.

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What Romantic Era themes does this painting
evoke?
John Constable, Dedham Church and Vale, 1800
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Five Major Romantic Era Poets

• William Wordsworth
• William Blake
• Lord Byron
• Percy Shelley
• John Keats