English Literature

The Romantic Period The Romantic Period (1798-1832)(1798-1832)

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English Literature

I. The Romantic Period: I. The Romantic Period: Generally -1798 with the pub W & CGenerally -1798 with the pub W & C’’s s

Lyrical Ballads Lyrical Ballads ended in 1832 - Sir Walter Scottended in 1832 - Sir Walter Scott’’s death s death passage of the first Reform Bill passage of the first Reform Bill emphasized the individualemphasized the individual

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II. the historical and cultural background of II. the historical and cultural background of English RomanticismEnglish Romanticism

a. History - provoked by the French a. History - provoked by the French Revolution and the English Industrial Revolution and the English Industrial Revolution.Revolution.

b. Culture - the pub. Of Rousseau as b. Culture - the pub. Of Rousseau as guiding principles for the French Rev. guiding principles for the French Rev.

aroused great sympathy and enthusiasm in aroused great sympathy and enthusiasm in EnglandEngland

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c. England experienced profound economic c. England experienced profound economic and social changes: and social changes:

the enclosures the enclosures agricultural mechanizationagricultural mechanization Upper middle class grasped political power Upper middle class grasped political power

to finally dominate English society.to finally dominate English society.

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III. Basic Views:III. Basic Views:Romanticism Romanticism

1.1. Designates literary and philosophical theory Designates literary and philosophical theory

2.2. Tends to see the individual as the very center of all Tends to see the individual as the very center of all life and all experience. life and all experience.

3.3. Constitutes a change of perspective from attention Constitutes a change of perspective from attention to the outer world of social civilization to the inner to the outer world of social civilization to the inner world of the human spirit. world of the human spirit.

4.4. literature became the vessel of expression of literature became the vessel of expression of unique feelings and particular attitudes, unique feelings and particular attitudes,

5.5. Valuing accuracy in ability to portray the Valuing accuracy in ability to portray the individual's experiences.individual's experiences.

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IV. Literary Characteristics:IV. Literary Characteristics:

An age of poetry and also a great age of prose. An age of poetry and also a great age of prose. Writers employed the commonplace, nature, and the Writers employed the commonplace, nature, and the

simple details as their poetic material simple details as their poetic material Gothic novel - a type of romantic fiction that Gothic novel - a type of romantic fiction that

predominated in the late eighteenth century predominated in the late eighteenth century

1.1. was one phase of the Romantic Movementwas one phase of the Romantic Movement

2.2. Its principal elements are violence, horror and the Its principal elements are violence, horror and the supernaturalsupernatural

3.3. strong appeal to the emotions.strong appeal to the emotions.

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V. Romanticism:V. Romanticism:

1.1. literary trend. literary trend.

2.2. prevailed btwn 1798-1832: discontent and opposition prevailed btwn 1798-1832: discontent and opposition to the development of capitalism. to the development of capitalism.

Some Romantic writers reflected the ethic of those Some Romantic writers reflected the ethic of those classes ruined by the growing social mobility classes ruined by the growing social mobility Passive Passive Romantic poets Romantic poets

Wordsworth, Coleridge and SoutheyWordsworth, Coleridge and Southey Active Romantic: Byron, Shelley Active Romantic: Byron, Shelley (political/social - differences in approach)(political/social - differences in approach), ,

Keats Keats (personal, individual awareness)(personal, individual awareness)

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Active or Revolutionary Romantic poets Active or Revolutionary Romantic poets expressed the aspiration of the laboring expressed the aspiration of the laboring classes classes

Byron and Shelley and Keats.Byron and Shelley and Keats.

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VI. Lake Poets:VI. Lake Poets:

1. Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey lived in the 1. Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey lived in the natural setting of a secluded and “forgotten” rural natural setting of a secluded and “forgotten” rural environment environment (the lake district)(the lake district)

2. Had early radical inclinations, but later turned 2. Had early radical inclinations, but later turned conservative and received favors from the conservative and received favors from the Government.Government.

3. criticized the poor urban conditions and 3. criticized the poor urban conditions and exploitation of the defenseless in the growing exploitation of the defenseless in the growing industrial society. industrial society.

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VII. Main Writers:VII. Main Writers: A. A.

William Blake William Blake (1757-1827)(1757-1827)::

1.1. both a poet and engraver. both a poet and engraver. Genius/prophet Genius/prophet included included as first important Romantic poet but eludes as first important Romantic poet but eludes true definition.true definition.

Main works: Main works: Poetical SketchesPoetical Sketches Songs of Innocence/Experience Songs of Innocence/Experience

a volume of poems rep. contrary states of a volume of poems rep. contrary states of human evolutionhuman evolution

English Literature Songs of ExperienceSongs of Experiencepaints a diff. world:paints a diff. world:misery,poverty,disease, misery,poverty,disease,

war and repression war and repression with a melancholy with a melancholy tone.tone.

Marriage of Heaven Marriage of Heaven and Helland Hell

Without Contraries there is no ProgressionWithout Contraries there is no Progression

The book of UrizenThe book of Urizen The Book of LosThe Book of Los MiltonMilton

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2.His works2.His works Innocence=Childhood - central to Blake Innocence=Childhood - central to Blake 1.1. Main concern in the Songs of Innocence and Main concern in the Songs of Innocence and

Songs of Experience, Songs of Experience, 2.2. the two books have strong social and historical the two books have strong social and historical

reference reference (extremely critical with subtle use of lang.)(extremely critical with subtle use of lang.)

3.3. In the Marriage of Heaven and Hell - explores In the Marriage of Heaven and Hell - explores the relationship btwn. Contraries: the relationship btwn. Contraries: Attraction/repulsion, reason/energy, love/hate, Attraction/repulsion, reason/energy, love/hate, suggesting they are necessary to human suggesting they are necessary to human existence.existence.

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3. Language3. Language plain and direct language. plain and direct language. lyric beauty with immense compression of lyric beauty with immense compression of

meaning. meaning. distrusts the abstract - tends to embody his distrusts the abstract - tends to embody his

views with visual images. views with visual images. Symbolism in wide range is also a distinctive Symbolism in wide range is also a distinctive

feature of his poetryfeature of his poetry

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B. William Wordsworth(1770-1850)B. William Wordsworth(1770-1850)

William Wordsworth William Wordsworth - leading figure of English romantic poetry- leading figure of English romantic poetry- the focal poetic voice of the period. the focal poetic voice of the period.

Main Works: Main Works: 1.1. Poems about nature Poems about nature 2.2. Poems about human life Poems about human life (often personal, intimate)(often personal, intimate).. Descriptive Sketches, and Evening WalkDescriptive Sketches, and Evening Walk Lyrical Ballads Lyrical Ballads (collection)(collection)

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The PreludeThe Prelude Poems in Two VolumesPoems in Two Volumes The ExcursionThe Excursion The ThornThe Thorn The sailorThe sailor’’s mothers mother MichaelMichael The Affliction of MargaretThe Affliction of Margaret The Old Cumberland BeggarThe Old Cumberland Beggar Lucy PoemsLucy Poems The Idiot Boy The Idiot Boy Man, the heart of man, and human life. Man, the heart of man, and human life. The Solitary Reaper The Solitary Reaper To a Highland GirlTo a Highland Girl The Ruined CottageThe Ruined Cottage

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2. Language2. Language

Penetrates to the heart of things Penetrates to the heart of things gives the reader the very essence of gives the reader the very essence of

nature. nature. common life is the only subject of common life is the only subject of

literary interest. literary interest. The joys and sorrows of the The joys and sorrows of the

common people are his themes. common people are his themes. His sympathy always goes to the His sympathy always goes to the

suffering poor.suffering poor.

English Literature voice of searchingly comprehensive humanity voice of searchingly comprehensive humanity inspires his audience to see the world freshly, inspires his audience to see the world freshly,

sympathetically and naturally. sympathetically and naturally. 'emotion recollected in tranquillity' - WW'emotion recollected in tranquillity' - WW

most important contribution he not only started a most important contribution he not only started a new conception of the poetic voice leading to new conception of the poetic voice leading to modern contemporary poetic variety, modern contemporary poetic variety,

Invented the poetic Ergon (both role & light) the Invented the poetic Ergon (both role & light) the poetry of the growing inner self poetry of the growing inner self (Aristotle – ergon -telos/gr.)(Aristotle – ergon -telos/gr.)

changed the course of English poetry by using changed the course of English poetry by using ordinary speech of the language and advocating a ordinary speech of the language and advocating a return to naturereturn to nature

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C. Samuel Taylor Coleridge(1772-1834)C. Samuel Taylor Coleridge(1772-1834)

advocated a more spiritual and religious advocated a more spiritual and religious interpretation of life - Kant and Schelling.interpretation of life - Kant and Schelling.

believed that art is the only permanent revelation believed that art is the only permanent revelation of the nature of reality.of the nature of reality.

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1. Main Works:1. Main Works: Lyrical Ballads. Lyrical Ballads. The Rime of the Ancient MarinerThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner Kubla KhanKubla Khan ChristabelChristabel This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison Frost at MidnightFrost at Midnight The NightingaleThe Nightingale Dejection, an OdeDejection, an Ode Tragic Drama: RemorseTragic Drama: Remorse Biographia LiterariaBiographia Literaria

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2. His actual achievement2. His actual achievement achievement into two diverse groups: achievement into two diverse groups: 1.1. The diabolic and the conversational. The diabolic and the conversational. 2.2. The demonic group includes his three The demonic group includes his three

masterpieces:masterpieces: The Rime of the Ancient MarinerThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner ChristabelChristabel Kubla KhanKubla KhanMysticism and deviance with strong use of Mysticism and deviance with strong use of

imagination are distinctive featuresimagination are distinctive features

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conversational poems:conversational poems:

1.1. Kubla Khan, Kubla Khan,

2.2. Christabel, Christabel,

3.3. The Ancient Mariner, The Ancient Mariner,

4.4. This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison, This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison,

5.5. Frost at MidnightFrost at Midnight

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3. Language3. Language

recognized lyrical poet and literary critic recognized lyrical poet and literary critic His poetic themes range from the supernatural His poetic themes range from the supernatural

to the domestic. to the domestic. His treatises, lectures, and compelling His treatises, lectures, and compelling

conversational powers made his one of the most conversational powers made his one of the most influential English literary critics and influential English literary critics and philosophers of the 19th century.philosophers of the 19th century.

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D. George Gordon Byron(1788-1824): D. George Gordon Byron(1788-1824):

born in the nobility. born in the nobility. plunged into the struggle for the national plunged into the struggle for the national

independence of Greece. independence of Greece. his poetry is one of experience. his poetry is one of experience. His heroes are more or less surrogates of His heroes are more or less surrogates of

himself.himself.

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1. Main works:1. Main works: Hours of IdlenessHours of Idleness English Bards and Scotch ReviewersEnglish Bards and Scotch Reviewers Cantos: four cantos of Childe HaroldCantos: four cantos of Childe Harold’’s Pilgrimage s Pilgrimage (brought Byron (brought Byron

fame, forced W Scott to change genre)fame, forced W Scott to change genre)

Oriental TalesOriental Tales Don JuanDon Juan Narrative poem: The Prisoner of ChillonNarrative poem: The Prisoner of Chillon The IslandThe Island Drama: ManfredDrama: Manfred CainCain Political satires: Vision of Judgment Political satires: Vision of Judgment

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2. Characteristics2. Characteristics

persistent attacks on dogma - political, persistent attacks on dogma - political, religious, and moralreligious, and moral””. .

His descriptions are direct - vivid objects His descriptions are direct - vivid objects before the reader. before the reader.

a stream a stream (closely Homeric in tone) (closely Homeric in tone) sometimes smooth, sometimes smooth, sometimes rapid and sometimes rushing sometimes rapid and sometimes rushing down in cataracts --- a mixture of down in cataracts --- a mixture of philosophy and slang - of everythingphilosophy and slang - of everything

English Literature in England regarded as the in England regarded as the

pervert the satanic poet; pervert the satanic poet; on the continent - hailed as on the continent - hailed as

the champion of liberty, the champion of liberty, poet of the people. poet of the people.

enriched European poetry enriched European poetry with and new creative spirit with and new creative spirit of ideas, images, artistic of ideas, images, artistic forms and innovations. forms and innovations.

English LiteraturePrometheusPrometheus

But baffled as thou wert from high, But baffled as thou wert from high,

Still in thy patient energy, In the endurance, Still in thy patient energy, In the endurance,

and repulse Of thine impenetrable Spirit, and repulse Of thine impenetrable Spirit,

Which Earth and Heaven could not convulse, Which Earth and Heaven could not convulse,

A mighty lesson we inherit: A mighty lesson we inherit:

Thou art a symbol and a sign Thou art a symbol and a sign

To Mortals of their fate and force; To Mortals of their fate and force;

Like thee, Man is in part divine, Like thee, Man is in part divine,

A troubled stream from a pure source; A troubled stream from a pure source;

And Man in portions can foresee And Man in portions can foresee

His own funereal destiny; His own funereal destiny;

His wretchedness, and his resistance, His wretchedness, and his resistance,

And his sad unallied existence: And his sad unallied existence:

To which his Spirit may oppose Itself —To which his Spirit may oppose Itself —

and equal to all woes, and equal to all woes,

And a firm will, and a deep sense, And a firm will, and a deep sense,

Which even in torture can descry Which even in torture can descry

Its own concenter'd recompense, Its own concenter'd recompense,

Triumphant where it dares defy, Triumphant where it dares defy,

And making Death a Victory. And making Death a Victory. George Gordon, Lord ByronGeorge Gordon, Lord Byron

TITAN! to whose immortal eyes TITAN! to whose immortal eyes

The sufferings of mortality, The sufferings of mortality,

Seen in their sad reality, Seen in their sad reality,

Were not as things that gods despise; Were not as things that gods despise;

What was thy pity's recompense? What was thy pity's recompense?

A silent suffering, and intense; A silent suffering, and intense;

The rock, the vulture, and the chain, The rock, the vulture, and the chain,

All that the proud can feel of pain, All that the proud can feel of pain,

The agony they do not show, The agony they do not show,

The suffocating sense of woe, The suffocating sense of woe,

Which speaks but in its loneliness, Which speaks but in its loneliness,

And then is jealous lest the sky And then is jealous lest the sky

Should have a listener, nor will sigh Should have a listener, nor will sigh

Until its voice is echoless.   Until its voice is echoless.  

Titan! to thee the strife was given Titan! to thee the strife was given

Between the suffering and the will,Between the suffering and the will,

Which torture where they cannot kill; Which torture where they cannot kill;

And the inexorable Heaven, And the inexorable Heaven,

……..

Thy Godlike crime was to be kind, Thy Godlike crime was to be kind,

To render with thy precepts less To render with thy precepts less

The sum of human wretchedness, The sum of human wretchedness,

And strengthen Man with his own mind;And strengthen Man with his own mind;

English Literature

E. Percy Bysshe Shelley(1792-1822)E. Percy Bysshe Shelley(1792-1822) born into a wealthy family at Sussex in a family of born into a wealthy family at Sussex in a family of

the conservative landed gentry.the conservative landed gentry.

Main works:1.The Necessity of Atheism2.Queen Mab: a Philosophical Poem3. Alastor, or The Spirit of Solitude

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Poem: Hymn to Intellectual BeautyPoem: Hymn to Intellectual Beauty Mont BlancMont Blanc Julian and MaddaloJulian and Maddalo The Revolt of IslamThe Revolt of Islam the Cencithe Cenci Prometheus Unbound,Prometheus Unbound,1.1. FourFour——act drama: Prometheus Unbound. The play act drama: Prometheus Unbound. The play

is an exultant work in praise of humankindis an exultant work in praise of humankind’’s s potentialpotential

2.2. Shelley recognized it as Shelley recognized it as ““the most perfect of my the most perfect of my products.products.””

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AdonaisAdonais HellasHellas Prose: Defence of Poetry Prose: Defence of Poetry Lyrics: genuine society,Lyrics: genuine society,““Ode to LibertyOde to Liberty”” ““Old to NaplesOld to Naples”” ““Sonnet: England in 1819Sonnet: England in 1819”” The CloudThe Cloud To a ShylarkTo a Shylark Ode to the West WindOde to the West Wind Political lyrics: Men of England Political lyrics: Men of England Elegy: Adonais - elegy for John KeatsElegy: Adonais - elegy for John Keats’’s early deaths early death

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2. The Poet2. The Poet violent revolutionary ideas under the influence of violent revolutionary ideas under the influence of

the free thinkers like Hume and Godwin, the free thinkers like Hume and Godwin, held a life long aversion to cruelty, injustice, held a life long aversion to cruelty, injustice,

authority, institutional religion and the formal authority, institutional religion and the formal shams of respectable societyshams of respectable society

condemned war, tyranny and exploitation. condemned war, tyranny and exploitation. expressed his love for freedom and hatred toward expressed his love for freedom and hatred toward

tyranny in tyranny in

1.1. ““Ode to LibertyOde to Liberty””,,

2.2. ““Old to NaplesOld to Naples””

3.3. ““Sonnet: England in 1819Sonnet: England in 1819””

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Shelley - intense and original lyrical poet Shelley - intense and original lyrical poet Like Blake, he is erudite, imagistically Like Blake, he is erudite, imagistically

complex, full of classical and mythological complex, full of classical and mythological allusions. allusions.

His style abounds in personification and His style abounds in personification and metaphor and other figures of speech which metaphor and other figures of speech which describe vividly what we see and feel. describe vividly what we see and feel.

Or express what passionately moves us.Or express what passionately moves us.

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F: John Keats(1795-1821)F: John Keats(1795-1821)born poor: became orphaned in childhoodborn poor: became orphaned in childhood

Main Works: Main Works: Poems:Poems: On First Looking into ChapmanOn First Looking into Chapman’’s Homers Homer ““Sleep and Poetry Sleep and Poetry ”” EndymionEndymion Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems

including: including:

Ode on a Grecian Urn, Ode on a Grecian Urn,

Ode on Melancholy, Ode on Melancholy, Ode to a NightingaleOde to a Nightingale Ode to PsycheOde to Psyche Lyrics: To AutumnLyrics: To Autumn Unfinished: HyperionUnfinished: Hyperion

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2. Language2. Language poetry always has a “sensational” qualitypoetry always has a “sensational” quality colorful and rich in imagery - expresses the colorful and rich in imagery - expresses the

acuteness of his senses. acuteness of his senses. Sight, sound, scent, taste and feeling are all taken in Sight, sound, scent, taste and feeling are all taken in

to give an entire understanding of an experience. to give an entire understanding of an experience. has the power of entering the feelings of others.has the power of entering the feelings of others.——

either human or animal. either human or animal. poetry characterized by exact and closely knit poetry characterized by exact and closely knit

construction, sensual descriptions, and by force of construction, sensual descriptions, and by force of imagination, gives transcendental values to the imagination, gives transcendental values to the physical beauty of the world.physical beauty of the world.

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G. Jane Austen(1755-1817)G. Jane Austen(1755-1817)

She was born in a country clergymanShe was born in a country clergyman’’s family.s family. 1. Main Works:Sense and SensibilityPride and Prejudice (the most popular)

Northanger AbbeyMansfield Park EmmaPersuasionThe WatsonsFragment of a NovelPlan of a Novel

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2. Personal Characteristics2. Personal Characteristics

Sustains the ideals of the landed gentry in Sustains the ideals of the landed gentry in politics, religion and moral principles; politics, religion and moral principles;

her works show her firm belief in the her works show her firm belief in the predominance of reason over passion, the predominance of reason over passion, the sense of responsibility, good manners and sense of responsibility, good manners and clearclear——sighted judgment over the Romantic sighted judgment over the Romantic tendencies of emotion and individualitytendencies of emotion and individuality

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3. Her Works3. Her Works

Austen’s concern is human beings in their Austen’s concern is human beings in their personal relationshipspersonal relationships

novels have a universal significance. It is her novels have a universal significance. It is her conviction that a manconviction that a man’’s relationship to his wife s relationship to his wife and children is as important a part of his life as his and children is as important a part of his life as his concerns about his beliefs and career. concerns about his beliefs and career.

if one wants to know about a manif one wants to know about a man’’s talents, one s talents, one should see him at work, but if one wants to know should see him at work, but if one wants to know about his nature and temper, one should see him about his nature and temper, one should see him at home.at home.

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Austen writes about humans not in Austen writes about humans not in moments of crisis, but in the most trivial moments of crisis, but in the most trivial incidents of everyday life. incidents of everyday life.

She writes within a very narrow sphere - She writes within a very narrow sphere - subject matter, character range subject matter, character range

A . The social setting, and plots are all A . The social setting, and plots are all restricted to the provincial life of the late restricted to the provincial life of the late 18th century England. 18th century England.

B . Stories concerning three or four landed B . Stories concerning three or four landed gentry families with their daily routine life.gentry families with their daily routine life.

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The structureThe structure

Sharp and wittySharp and witty the characterization is memorable, the characterization is memorable, the irony has a unmatched lively the irony has a unmatched lively

shrewdnessshrewdness works - delightful and profound works - delightful and profound Acute observation and meticulous details -Acute observation and meticulous details -

present the quiet, day-to-day country life of present the quiet, day-to-day country life of the English upper-middle-class. the English upper-middle-class.

entertaining slice of British society at that timeentertaining slice of British society at that time