“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. So medicine, law, business, engineering... these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love... these are what we stay alive for.”

Anticipatory Set

1798-1832

After viewing the powerpoint, students will demonstrate understanding of the characteristics and themes of Romanticism by summarizing the main points in their Cornell notes.

Objective

You will:

Understand the characteristics and themes of Romanticism.

Show me by:

Summarizing the main points in their Cornell notes.

Objective

marked by the imaginative or emotional

appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, or idealized

often utilizes pastoral imagery

What does the term “romantic” even mean?

Pastoral: a work of literature portraying an idealized version of country life

The Age of Enlightenment: Swift’s Europe

Sought to reform the way of thinking

using reason

challenge related to tradition and faith

advance knowledge through the scientific method

It promoted scientific thoughts, skepticism and intellectual interchange and completely opposed any kind of superstition.

Pre-Romantic Period

Literary period from 1798-1832

an intellectual and artistic movement characterized by:

1. a hostility towards the new industrialization

2. an emphasis on the reconciliation of man and nature and against the scientific rationalization of nature

3. a revolt against aristocratic social and political norms of the Age of Enlightenment

What is Romanticism?

The Industrial Revolution 1750(ish)–1850(ish)

Technological advancements made in the areas of: Manufacturing

Production

Transportation (TRAINS)

What was happening in the world at this time?

Economic Changes

England moved from a manual-labor-based agricultural economy towards machine-based manufacturing urban economy.

What was happening in England at this time?

So…Fewer farmers and more factory workers

intuition over reason

pastoral over the urban

common vernacular over “high” language

What are the characteristics of Romanticism?

Romantic poets were in search of the natural beauty of the world.

Observation and reflection

Destruction of nature by industrialized urban environments

What were the themes of Romanticism?

What were the themes of Romanticism?

Innocence vs. Experience

“Innocence” is represented by:

“Experience” is represented by:

Children/Childhood Adults/Adulthood

The Romantics thought INNOCENCE was BETTER than Experience.

What were the themes of Romanticism?

Jaded: The end result of having a steady flow of negative experiences, and disappointment.

Innocence = GOOD We want to get back to the naïveté of

childhood when we were happy

Experience = BAD We cannot unlearn what we know

about the bad things we’ve seen and “un-live” our bad experiences

What were the themes of Romanticism?

Summary:

Consider including:

Romantic means…

Themes of romanticism

Innocence vs. Experience

Closure