The Romantic Period

1780 to 1830

Introduction

The publication of a collection of poems called Lyrical Ballads began the Romantic period in England

William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge were the writers of the Lyrical Ballads.

Turbulent Times, Bitter Realities

Romantic period started with the French Revolution in 1789 and ended with the Parliamentary reforms of 1832. Parliamentary reforms laid the political

foundations for modern Britain

During this time period England moved from an agricultural society to an industrial nation.

Era dominated by six poets:

1) William Blake

2) William Wordsworth

3) Samuel Taylor Coleridge

4) Percy Bysshe Shelley

5) John Keats

6) George Gordon, Lord Byron

Turbulent Times, Bitter Realities

1776- America gains independence from England

England looses the thirteen colonies a great economic loss Loss of prestige and confidence

The French Revolution instilled fear in people living in England (thought it would happen to them)

Turbulent Times, Bitter Realities

In France, Napoleon Bonaparte emerged as a dictator and then emperor.

England began to take measures to stop Napoleon, eventually in 1815 defeated Napoleon.

The Tyranny of Laissez Faire

Cities grew because of the Industrial Revolution. Farm land went from being communally owned to

being individually owned. Number of people increased who didn’t own land

migrated to cities.

The Tyranny of Laissez Faire

Economic philosophy that kept the misery going. “let (people) do (as they please). Government and economics should NOT interfere

with each other. Rich grew RICHER Poor grew POORER Romantic poets grew frustrated with the conditions!

The Tyranny of Laissez Faire

Writing moved from public verse of the 18th century to a more private, spontaneous lyric poetry.

Belief was that imagination rather than reason was the best response to the forces of change.

What does “Romantic” Mean?

Three (3) useful meanings: A fascination with youth and innocence

Growing up, trusting our emotions, etc. Applied to a stage in the development of

societiesWhen people question tradition and authority in order

to imagine better Western society’s necessity for industrialization.

Poetry, Nature and the Imagination

Poetry should be an overflow of powerful feelings dealing with commonplace subjects for a particular purpose.

“There is nature, and there are human beings to experience nature”

Romantic poets were intrigued by the ways that nature and the human mind act upon each other

The Idea of the Poet

We don’t hear lyric poetry, we overhear it. As if someone were eavesdropping

Romantic poetry is called true voice or feeling, or language of the heart

This exploration of the emotional experiences of ordinary people was revolutionary.