7.1 Key Concepts and Figures in Romantic Literature

Romanticism emerged as a powerful artistic movement in the late 18th century. It championed emotion, nature, and individualism, rejecting the rationalism of the Enlightenment and the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution.

Writers like Goethe, Wordsworth, and Hugo explored themes of personal expression, supernatural elements, and social critique. Their works celebrated the beauty of nature, delved into human emotions, and challenged societal norms across different cultures and languages.

Understanding Romanticism

Characteristics of Romanticism across cultures

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• Late 18th to mid-19th century movement emerged as reaction against Enlightenment rationalism and Industrial Revolution
• Emphasized emotion and individualism championed personal expression and introspection
• Glorified nature viewed as source of inspiration and spiritual renewal (Lake District, Black Forest)
• Rekindled interest in medieval folklore and mythology explored legends and fairy tales
• Celebrated ordinary people and supernatural elements blended everyday life with fantastical occurrences
• German Romanticism focused on Sturm und Drang movement emphasized intense emotions and individual expression
• English Romanticism produced nature poetry and Gothic literature explored beauty of landscapes and dark, mysterious themes
• French Romanticism emphasized passion and social critique challenged societal norms and political structures
• American Romanticism developed Transcendentalism and dark romanticism explored spiritual connection with nature and human psyche

Major Romantic writers in context

• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German) explored individual struggle and nature's power in "The Sorrows of Young Werther" and "Faust"
• William Wordsworth (English) celebrated nature and childhood memories in "Lyrical Ballads" and "The Prelude"
• Alexander Pushkin (Russian) delved into Russian history and folk traditions in "Eugene Onegin" and "Boris Godunov"
• Samuel Taylor Coleridge (English) blended supernatural elements with vivid imagery in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
• Lord Byron (English) embodied the Romantic hero in works like "Don Juan" and "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage"
• Percy Bysshe Shelley (English) explored political idealism and nature's power in "Ode to the West Wind" and "Prometheus Unbound"
• John Keats (English) focused on sensual imagery and emotional depth in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "La Belle Dame sans Merci"
• Victor Hugo (French) combined social critique with romantic themes in "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"
• Edgar Allan Poe (American) pioneered dark romanticism in works like "The Raven" and "The Fall of the House of Usher"

Themes and Historical Context

Central themes in Romantic literature

• Nature served as source of inspiration and spiritual renewal reflected human emotions and contrasted urban industrialization
• Emotion emphasized personal feelings and intuition explored extreme states (melancholy, ecstasy) rejected rational restraint
• Individualism celebrated unique self valued personal experience encouraged rebellion against social norms
• Imagination viewed creative power as path to truth emphasized dreams and visions explored supernatural elements
• The past evoked nostalgia for medieval times rekindled interest in folklore and mythology idealized rural life

Romanticism vs sociopolitical movements

• French Revolution (1789) influenced ideas of liberty and equality inspired political themes in literature (Percy Shelley's "The Mask of Anarchy")
• American Revolution (1775-1783) impacted concepts of democracy and individualism reflected in works of Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Industrial Revolution prompted critique of mechanization and urbanization idealized rural life and nature (William Blake's "Dark Satanic Mills")
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy emphasized emotion and nature influenced Romantic views on society and education
• Immanuel Kant's ideas on subjectivity of human experience shaped Romantic perspectives on perception and imagination
• Nationalism fostered interest in folk traditions and national identity promoted use of vernacular languages in literature
• Romantic painting Turner, Friedrich, and Delacroix captured dramatic landscapes and historical scenes
• Romantic music Beethoven, Schubert, and Chopin expressed emotional depth and individual expression through compositions
• Scientific advancements sparked interest in exploration and discovery inspired Romantic fascination with the sublime and unknown (Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein")