11.1 Political and social background of the Romantic period

The Romantic period was shaped by major political upheavals like the American and French Revolutions. These events inspired writers to question authority and explore ideas of individual liberty. The era also saw social changes with the abolition movement and rural transformations.

Industrialization sparked a Romantic backlash, with writers idealizing nature and criticizing urban poverty. Meanwhile, nationalism surged, influencing literature that celebrated cultural identities and folk traditions. These forces shaped Romanticism's focus on emotion, nature, and individual experience.

Romantic Period Events

American and French Revolutions

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• American Revolution (1765-1783) influenced Romantic ideals of individual liberty and self-governance
  • Inspired European intellectuals and writers to question traditional authority
  • Fueled debates on natural rights and democratic principles
  • Influenced works like Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" and "Rights of Man"
• French Revolution (1789-1799) profoundly impacted Romantic thought
  • Initially sparked enthusiasm for radical social change and egalitarian ideals
  • Inspired works like William Blake's "The French Revolution" and Mary Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman"
  • Later led to disillusionment with its violent turn during the Reign of Terror (1793-1794)
  • Shift in Romantic literature from political optimism to introspection and individualism

Napoleonic Era and Social Changes

• Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) reshaped Europe's political landscape
  • Inspired nationalistic sentiments in Romantic literature and art
  • Became a central theme symbolizing individual ambition and power
  • Influenced works like Lord Byron's "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" and Tolstoy's "War and Peace"
• Abolition movement culminated in the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 in Britain
  • Reflected Romantic ideals of human rights and individual freedom
  • Inspired anti-slavery literature like William Cowper's "The Task" and William Blake's "The Little Black Boy"
• Enclosure Acts in England (18th-19th centuries) transformed rural landscapes
  • Changed traditional agricultural practices and social structures
  • Influenced Romantic portrayals of nature and pastoral life
  • Inspired works like Oliver Goldsmith's "The Deserted Village" and John Clare's poetry

French Revolution's Impact on Romanticism

Ideological Influence and Disillusionment

• Early stages inspired Romantic writers with ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity
  • William Wordsworth's "The Prelude" reflected initial revolutionary enthusiasm
  • Percy Bysshe Shelley's "The Mask of Anarchy" criticized post-revolutionary political repression
• Reign of Terror (1793-1794) led to disillusionment among Romantic thinkers
  • Caused a shift from political optimism to introspection and individualism in literature
  • Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France" articulated conservative critique
• Revolutionary period's emphasis on emotion and passion over reason aligned with Romantic ideals
  • Shaped the movement's aesthetic and philosophical principles
  • Influenced the concept of the sublime in Romantic art and literature

Social and Literary Transformations

• Impact on social hierarchies influenced Romantic literature's focus on common people and rural life
  • William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Lyrical Ballads" emphasized ordinary subjects and natural language
  • Robert Burns' poetry celebrated Scottish rural life and dialect
• Aftermath contributed to the Romantic notion of the artist as a prophet or visionary
  • Poets seen as capable of imagining and advocating for social change
  • Percy Bysshe Shelley's "A Defence of Poetry" argued for poets as "unacknowledged legislators of the world"
• Rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte became a recurring theme
  • Lord Byron's fascination with Napoleon influenced works like "Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte"
  • Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" explored the long-term social impacts of the Napoleonic era

Industrialization and Romanticism

Critique of Industrial Progress

• Rapid industrialization and urbanization prompted idealization of nature and rural life
  • William Wordsworth's "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey" contrasted urban and natural environments
  • John Constable's paintings romanticized rural English landscapes
• Romantic poetry and prose criticized dehumanizing effects of factory work and urban poverty
  • William Blake's "London" depicted a city plagued by social and moral decay
  • Charles Dickens' novels (Oliver Twist, Hard Times) exposed harsh conditions in industrial cities
• Environmental impact of industrialization inspired celebration of natural landscapes
  • Influenced development of early environmentalism
  • John Ruskin's writings advocated for preservation of natural and architectural beauty

Technological Advancements and Romantic Response

• Industrial Revolution paradoxically facilitated spread of Romantic ideas
  • Improved printing and distribution methods increased access to literature
  • Development of cheaper paper and mechanized printing presses led to rise of periodicals and mass-market books
• Social upheaval caused by industrialization contributed to emphasis on individual experience
  • Romantic literature explored personal emotions as a means of understanding complex societal changes
  • Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" used the Gothic novel to explore anxieties about scientific progress
• Tension between scientific progress and spiritual fulfillment became a central theme
  • Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Kubla Khan" juxtaposed natural and artificial worlds
  • William Blake's engravings often depicted the conflict between imagination and reason

Nationalism in Romantic Ideals

Cultural Identity and Heritage

• Napoleonic Wars sparked surge of nationalist sentiment across Europe
  • Inspired exploration and celebration of national identities in Romantic literature
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Faust" drew on German folklore and philosophy
• Romantic literature played crucial role in developing national languages and traditions
  • Brothers Grimm collected German fairy tales, preserving oral traditions
  • Alexander Pushkin's works established modern Russian literary language
• Concept of "Volk" or common people as embodiment of national character became central
  • Influenced folklore studies and collection of traditional stories and songs
  • Johann Gottfried Herder's ideas on cultural nationalism inspired collection of folk poetry

Historical Narratives and National Myths

• Romantic historians popularized narrative approaches to national histories
  • Jules Michelet in France emphasized the role of the people in shaping national destiny
  • Thomas Carlyle in Britain focused on heroic figures in works like "On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and The Heroic in History"
• Rise of linguistic nationalism emphasized connection between language, culture, and identity
  • Johann Gottfried Herder argued for intrinsic link between language and national character
  • Romantic poets like Robert Burns and Walter Scott celebrated regional dialects and traditions
• Medieval history and folklore inspired construction of national mythologies
  • Sir Walter Scott's historical novels romanticized Scottish history
  • The Kalevala, compiled by Elias Lönnrot, became a cornerstone of Finnish national identity
• Tension between cosmopolitan ideals and nationalist sentiments reflected broader debates
  • Lord Byron's poetry often explored the conflict between national loyalty and universal human rights
  • Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Hellas" combined support for Greek independence with vision of global harmony