3. Introduction
This period from (1785_1832) is known as the age of romanticism or age of
Wordsworth.
duration between 1785 to 1832 is known as romantic period.
This period is considered one of the most creative periods in the history of
English literature.
It brought intense change in the production of literature especially in poetry
field
Romanticism moved away from an emphasis on the importance of an
empirical, materilal worldview and looked to the imagination and nature as
sources of insight.
4. continued
Writers expressed a great reverence for nature and believed that intuition,
emotion, and imagination were more instructive than empiricism and reason.
The Romantic Period overthrew the values instilled during the Augustan Age
and strove to sever itself from the rigid writing styles of the ancient, classical
examples of Virgil, Horace, and Homer. Instead, poets and authors were
inspired to write in their own individual and creative voices.
5. Definition of the of the term
“Romanticism”
Victor Hugo says: -
“Romanticism” is the opposite not of classical but of
realism in literature.
George say: -
“Romanticism emphasizes on emotion rather than reason
the heart opposed to head”.
Jean Jacques Rousseau says: -
(Known as Father of Romanticism)
“Romanticism” is meaning the return to nature.
Grierson says: -
“in Romanticism the spirit counts more than form.”
6. Characteristics of the age
Emphasis on Emotion and Individualism: Romantics celebrated
individualism, emotional expression, and the unique experiences of
the individual. They valued subjective feelings, intuition, and
imagination over reason and rationality.
Love for Nature: Romantics had a profound appreciation for nature,
seeing it as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual renewal.
Nature was often depicted as a powerful, sublime force that evoked
awe and wonder.
Rebellion Against Industrialization: Many Romantics criticized the
negative effects of industrialization, urbanization, and scientific
advancement. They mourned the loss of rural life, simplicity, and
traditional values in the face of technological progress.
Interest in the Supernatural and the Unknown: Romantic literature
often explored the supernatural, gothic themes, and the mysterious.
7. Celebration of the Exotic and the Past: Romantics were intrigued by distant
lands, exotic cultures, and the medieval era. They often idealized the past,
viewing it as a time of greater authenticity, heroism, and adventure.
Prominence of Imagination and Creativity: Artists, writers, and composers
championed creativity and the power of the human imagination. This led to
innovative and experimental works that challenged conventional artistic
norms.
Nationalism and Political Idealism: Romanticism coincided with the rise of
nationalism, with many artists and intellectuals expressing pride in their
cultural heritage and supporting political movements for independence and
social change.
8. Promotion of the Sublime and the Beautiful: Romantics were interested in
evoking intense emotional experiences in their audiences. They explored the
concept of the sublime - experiences that were both beautiful and awe-
inspiring, often invoking feelings of fear and wonder.
Expansion of Literary Forms: The Romantic period saw the diversification of
literary forms. There was a resurgence of poetry as the primary mode of
expression, the rise of the novel as a popular literary form, and the
exploration of new literary genres and styles.
Emphasis on the Inner World: Romantics focused on the inner thoughts,
emotions, and experiences of individuals. They delved into the complexities
of human psychology, emphasizing personal expression and introspection.
9. Age of Poetry:
The Romantic age is basically an age of poetry. The previous century the
Neo-classical age was largely the age of prose. While during the age of
Romanticism the young writer turn to poetry as a happy man o singing.
The glory of this age can be found in the poetry of
Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Keats and Shelly. Romantic poetry is a
spontaneous overflow of powerful feeling.
The Romantic poet is gifted with a strong “Organic Sensibility”.
10. Subjectivity
Subjectivity is another important feature of the Romantic poets. Subjective
poetry is a kind of poetry in which the poet goes into himself and finds his
inspiration from his own experiences, thoughts and feelings. Most of the
Romantic poets are subject in this sense.
For example, Keats’s “Ode to the Nightingale” is basically based on personal
matter. Subjectivity began to have its full play in the poetry of this age
11. Women as novelist
For the first time woman took importance role in contribution to the English
literature. This age was highly emotion as the woman are more emotional.
This spirit of this age gave then the opportunity to expressed themselves in
literature.
One of the first important woman writers is Mrs. Anne her novels become
very popular and impress.
12. Sympathy for poor
Romantic age was marked by human sympathy and by understanding of the
human heart.
The Romantic poets unlocked their emotion and feeling and reflected their
sympathetic nature certain common subject like a beggar, a farmer, a
shepherded are create in the poetry of Romantic poets.
13. Return to nature
This is one of the important characteristics of the Romantic Age.
We can also say that the whole age is marked by this characteristic.
During this age the writer used the elements of nature to satire on the
society.
Romanticism reflects the nature.
Nature is which we see around us like trees, plants, birds, animals, and sea
etc, and also the nature of Men. Through using the elements of nature, the
writers of this time tried to talk about the nature of human beings.
Wordsworth’s poem ‘Daffodils’ is the best example
14. Major writers and their works
William Wordsworth (1770–1850)
Lord Byron (1778–1824)
John Keats (1795–1821)
P.B. Shelley (1792–1822)
William black
St Coleridge
Jane austen
William hazlitt
15. William Wordsworth
The poet William Wordsworth was born on April 7, 1770, in Cockermouth, a
remote town in the lowlands of northern England. He is known as “Poet of
Nature,” “Worshiper of Nature,” “The Lake Poet.” The French Revolution
inspired him. He became the poet of Laureate in England.” In nature, the great
Creator exists,” his belief is known as Pantheism William Wordsworth was the
brightest star of the age of the Romantic Period. This poet died in 1850.
His Well-known Works:
· Lyrical Ballads
· The Daffodils
· The Solitary Reaper
· The Excursion
· The Prelude
16. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born in 1772. He was an extraordinary child
who read the Bible and Arabian Nights before he was five. He was an
influential writer, poet, literary critic, and philosopher of the age of the
Romantic Period. He was a founder of his friend William Wordsworth of the
Romantic Movement in England. He was called “Opium Eater,” “The Poet of
Super-naturalism.” This poet died in 1834.
His Well-known Works:
· Lyrical ballads
· The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
· Christabel
· up Khan
· Dejection: An Ode
17. Lord Byron
George Gordon Byron was a British poet and one of the leading figures in the Romantic
movement. The poet was born in 1788 in London, the year preceding the French
Revolution. He was called the Rebel poet in England. He was also an influential poet
of the age of the Romantic Period. He published his first work “Hours of Idleness
(Juvenilia)” at the age of 19 when he was reading Cambridge University. He fought on
behalf of the Greeks in their Liberation War. This poet contracted fever at the age of
36 and died in 1824.
His Well-known Works:
· Don Juan
· Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage
· She Walks in Beauty
· Hours of Idleness
· Heaven and Earth
18. John Keats
John Keats was not only the last but also the most perfect of the Romanticists. He was
most young among the Romantic poets. The famous poet of English literature was born
in 1795 in Mubfields, London. He was called “Poet of Beauty” “Poet of Sensuousness.”
He was most famous for his sense of beauty and professionally known as a man of
medicine. This poet died at the age of 26 of Tuberculosis in 1821.
His Well-known Works:
· Ode to a Nightingale
· Ode to Psyche
· Odeon Melancholy
· Ode to Autumn
· Isabella
· Lamia
19. Percy Bysshe Shelly
Percy Bysshe Shelly was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically
regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language. The famous English
poet was born in 1792 in Fieldplace, near Sussex, England. He was an Optimistic &
Pessimistic poet. This great poet died in 1822 when he was caught in a storm while
traveling by boat on the beach.
His Well-known Works:
· Ode to a Skylark
· Ode to the West Wind
· Adonais
· Queen Mab
· The Necessity Atheism
· A Defense of Poetry
· Prometheus Unbound
20. Romantics and their ideas of
transcendence:
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a transformation for Britain in the 18th century.
In terms of economic growth and technological advances, England was the
first country to become industrialized. Machines were changing the
agricultural economy of the past that relied on manual labor to this new
industrial economy. It led to larger cities, new products, and a better
manufacturing process. The growing population, and consequently the
growing literacy rate, would also prove to create a huge change in
communication as well as politics, technology, religion and society in general
21. The French Revolution
Beginning in 1789 and ending in 1799 the French Revolution played a crucial
role in transforming the political and social systems in France. During the
revolution, France changed from a monarchy to a republic of free citizens.
This Drastic move not only changed the political and social systems, but it
also has a huge impact on the literary world. Writers like William Blake saw
the revolution as society falling back into perfection where people could
express their own opinions
22. The Enclosure Acts
Between 1760-1820, agricultural land in Britain was consolidated and made
more compact. “Wasteful” land was then taken from Lords and villagers in
order to increase the efficiency of farming, to increase the productivity of the
land, and ultimately to increase profits. These Enclosure Acts had many
effects on English society, including many Romantic writers
23. Cultural and Literary Contexts
Transitions from Augustan Literature to the Romantics
Aeolian Harps and the Romantics
The Romantics and the Sonnet
The Coleridge-Wordsworth Friendship
Political Unrest and Social Reform
24. conclusion
The Romantic period stands as a pivotal chapter in human artistic,
intellectual, and cultural evolution, leaving an indelible mark on history that
continues to influence and inspire. Its legacy is a testament to the profound
shift in perspective from the rational and empirical ideals of the
Enlightenment towards a celebration of emotion, individuality, and the
mysteries of existence.
During this era, artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers dared to explore the
depths of human experience, finding beauty in nature, passion in emotion,
and strength in individuality. They rejected the constraints of conventionality,
valuing intuition, imagination, and subjective perception above the confines
of reason and societal norms.
The Romantics found solace and inspiration in the natural world, portraying it
as a source of wonder, spirituality, and artistic inspiration. Their yearning for
authenticity and simplicity stemmed from a reaction against the rapid
industrialization and urbanization that threatened to erode traditional values
and disconnect humanity from the rhythms of nature.
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Moreover, the Romantic period was not merely an artistic movement; it was a
cultural and philosophical awakening. It heralded a renewed interest in
folklore, the supernatural, and the medieval past, while also fueling
nationalist sentiments and advocating for political change and individual
freedoms.
The diverse expressions of Romanticism - whether in literature, art, music, or
philosophy - were united by a profound exploration of the human condition. It
celebrated the sublime, the mysterious, and the inner workings of the human
psyche, prompting a deep introspection into the complexities of existence.
26. Although the Romantic period eventually gave way to new artistic movements
and ideologies, its enduring impact cannot be overstated. Its emphasis on
emotion, imagination, and individuality paved the way for artistic
experimentation, creative freedom, and the pursuit of authenticity in
subsequent eras.
In essence, the Romantic period serves as a timeless reminder of the power of
human expression, the beauty of the natural world, and the enduring quest to
understand the depths of our own existence - leaving an invaluable legacy
that continues to resonate with and inspire generations.
