The Romantic Period Triumph of Imagination over Reason
K.J. Historical/CORBIS Don t let the word romantic fool you! Romanticism is not related to love, romance novels, or Valentine s Day.
What Is Romanticism? Romanticism is a philosophical, literary, and artistic movement that developed during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as a reaction against neoclassicism. Neoclassicism valued reason order harmony restraint balance Romanticism valued emotion imagination intuition freedom beauty of nature
The Beginning of Romanticism As a philosophical movement Romanticism began with the French Revolution in 1789. As a literary movement Romanticism began with the 1798 publication of Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. As an artistic movement Romanticism began in the 1760s and 1770s as British artists began painting nontraditional subjects and experimenting with light and shade.
A Philosophical Movement Romanticism is the idea that imagination and naturalness should be celebrated one s emotions and sense of will and identity should guide actions nature is transformative the human mind and nature mirror the other s creative properties individual liberties are essential and rebelling against tyranny is good people should question tradition and imagine better ways to live
Romantic literature A Literary Movement expresses personal experiences and emotions in simple, unadorned language favors the lyric poem for expression of feelings, selfrevelations, and imagination often turns to a magical past or inner dream world celebrates the beauty and majesty of nature redefines the role of the poet as a man speaking to men a bard, teacher, and prophet
National Gallery Collection; By kind permission of the Trustees of the National Gallery, London/CORBIS Romantic art An Artistic Movement reflects landscapes and the beauty of the natural world emphasizes emotions, inspiration, and a dreamlike quality usually omits scenes of industry Sun Rising Through Vapour: Fishermen Cleaning and Selling Fish probably before 1808 by Joseph Mallord William Turner
What Paved the Way for Romanticism? Revolution paved the way. The British Industrial Revolution (1760 1830) The French Revolution (1789 1799)
Mary Evans Picture Library The Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution created a miserable world for the working class. It celebrated machinery and progress resulted in overcrowded cities, deplorable living conditions, and miserable working conditions
The Industrial Revolution Romantic writers responded to the Industrial Revolution by emphasizing the power of imagination as a force for change the beauty and restorative powers of nature
The French Revolution The beginning of the French Revolution signaled the demise of tyranny and the rise of democratic principles gave the Romantics hope that the world could change Romantic writers responded to the French Revolution by emphasizing individual liberty the need to question tradition and authority
The French Revolution However, the Romantics optimism was displaced by disillusionment as the revolution turned more violent and Napoleon Bonaparte took power first as a dictator and then as emperor of France England instituted repressive measures to keep radical principles and the revolutionary fever from spreading
Some Romantic Poets William Wordsworth (1770 1850) Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772 1834) The Rime of the Ancient Mariner George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788 1824) She Walks in Beauty John Keats (1795 1821) Ode to a Nightingale
Romantic Legacies Poetry and prose continue to use the everyday speech of common people. The poet is still viewed as a creative individual whose work speaks to readers. People are concerned about the impact of industry on the environment and quality of life.
What Have You Learned? 1. Romanticism is movement. a. a literary b. an artistic c. a philosophical d. all of the above 2. Romantic writers valued a. reason b. order c. imagination d. balance 3. The Industrial Revolution and French Revolution influenced the Romantic movement. a. true b. false
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