THE ROMANTIC PERIODEMOTION AND EXPERIMENTATION

1798-1832

World Events

King Louis XVI of France is beheaded Thomas Jefferson is elected U.S.

president Workday of pauper children limited

to 12 hour days The Napoleonic Wars Antarctica is discovered Rosetta stone is deciphered Charles Darwin begins his expedition Slavery abolished in British Empire

The Rise of Romanticism

Unquestionably one of the greatest cultural influences on Europe and the entire world

Romanticism was strongest in Germany (where it is believed to have started)and England, and slightly less powerful in France, Spain, and Italy.

What Brought About Romanticism

Unrest caused by the French Revolution in 1789 Liberty, equality and

fraternity were French revolutionary values admired by many English, excluding those in power.

The excesses of the Industrial Revolution

Widespread poverty and oppression of workers

The Industrial Revolution

Little to nothing was done to solve the problems of the impoverished/lower classes

Laissez Faire Let the people do what

they want, no government involvement

Deplorable working conditions

No child labor laws Low wages and unsafe

conditions

What is Romanticism

In England, writers revolted against the order, propriety and traditionalism of the Age of Reason

Lyrical Ballads launched this period in England

Emotion was more important than reason

Relationship with nature was a primary concern

Isolationism/Individualism

Strong feelings of being alone in the world

Always searching but never finding satisfaction or comfort

Feeling that you alone have experienced a great emotional drain

Feeling that no one can ever understand your thoughts or situation.

Worship of Nature

Enormous re-interest in nature

No interest to understand, rationalize, reason, or explain nature

Desire to merely experience, enjoy, relax in, be a part of, relate to it.

Key Poets

William Wordsworth Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Together they published Lyrical Ballads Considered the fathers of the Romantic

Movement William Blake *

The Late Romantics Percy Bysshe Shelley Lord Byron John Keats

The Romantic Poets

Rather than form, structure, language purity, and didacticism (poetry intended to teach a lesson) . . . Romantics sought/experimented with: Pure Inspiration & emotional expression Individualistic expression Originality Free play of imagination Disregard of social constraints

Important Authors

Walter Scott Scottish author Ivanhoe and Rob Roy

Jane Austen Did not really follow the

Romantic traditions. She maintained a neoclassical style

Novels of manners, characters almost always become reserved at the end

Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility Mary Shelley

Frankenstein

The Gothic

Gothic Stories Feature a mysterious

mansion, a brooding hero, and a poor but plucky heroine who saves the day Dealt with the eerie and

supernatural Anne Radcliffe, Mary Shelley

Modern Gothic Ann Rice, Stephen King, and

Dean Koontz

The Common Man There are no longer any “great” heroes. ALL MEN are heroes, especially those

who live closest to nature/the earth/their emotions.

People from small villages, simple farmers, sailors, shepherds, are more important than others.

Focus Questions

1. What were the three main influences that brought about the Romantic Period?

The Industrial RevolutionThe French RevolutionWidespread poverty and poor working

conditions

Focus Questions

2. What does Laissez Faire mean and what were some of the results of this policy in England?

Let the people do as they pleaseNo government involvementPoor working conditionsLow wagesNo child labor LawsLong work hoursEconomic fluctuations

Focus Questions

3. What were some of the key aspects to the idea of Romanticism?

Closeness to natureIndividualismRevolt against order, propriety and

traditionalismFeelings of being alone and not understoodEmotion is more important that reason

Focus Questions

4. Who were the key poets of this time period?

William BlakeWilliam WordsworthSamuel Taylor ColeridgeLord ByronPercy Bysshe ShelleyJohn Keats

Focus Questions

5. Who were some of the key authors of the time and what did they write?

Sir Walter Scott- IvanhoeJane Austen – Pride and PrejudiceMary Shelley - Frankenstein