The Romantic PeriodThe Romantic Period

1798—18321798—1832

The American Revolution (1776-1783) The American Revolution (1776-1783) was an economic and psychological was an economic and psychological blow to England.blow to England.

The Romantic Period began with the The Romantic Period began with the French Revolution of 1789 and ended French Revolution of 1789 and ended with Parliamentary reforms of 1832 with Parliamentary reforms of 1832 that laid the political foundation for that laid the political foundation for modern Britain.modern Britain.

The French Revolution gave hope to The French Revolution gave hope to British progressives that democratic British progressives that democratic change would occur.change would occur.

However, Napoleon’s rise to power led However, Napoleon’s rise to power led to violent suppression of freedom that to violent suppression of freedom that rivaled the monarchs who preceded rivaled the monarchs who preceded him.him.

This led to more rigid conservatism in This led to more rigid conservatism in England.England.

The Industrial Revolution produced The Industrial Revolution produced machines that increased city machines that increased city populations, as workers were needed populations, as workers were needed in the factories.in the factories.

The laissez-faire philosophy led to The laissez-faire philosophy led to atrocious working conditions that atrocious working conditions that exploited child labor.exploited child labor.

Romantic poets rebelled against the Romantic poets rebelled against the suppression of the time period. suppression of the time period.

The main Romantic poets were William The main Romantic poets were William Blake, William Wordsworth, Samuel Blake, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Shelley, John Taylor Coleridge, Percy Shelley, John Keats, and Lord Byron.Keats, and Lord Byron.

Romantic poetry includes an idealistic, Romantic poetry includes an idealistic, child-like wonder that suggests an child-like wonder that suggests an ability to change.ability to change.

It abandons formal verse for It abandons formal verse for spontaneous, lyrical language.spontaneous, lyrical language.

The Romantics value imagination over The Romantics value imagination over reason.reason.

The Gothic novel often sets stories in The Gothic novel often sets stories in medieval castles and includes dark medieval castles and includes dark references to the supernatural.references to the supernatural.

Romantic Views of PoetryRomantic Views of Poetry

Wordsworth says that good poetry is Wordsworth says that good poetry is “the spontaneous overflow of powerful “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”feelings.”

““I will not reason and compare: my I will not reason and compare: my business is to create.” (William Blake)business is to create.” (William Blake)

Keats writes that a poet is a Keats writes that a poet is a “physician” to all humanity and “pours “physician” to all humanity and “pours out a balm upon the world.”out a balm upon the world.”

The Romantics identify imagination as The Romantics identify imagination as a faculty superior to human reasoning.a faculty superior to human reasoning.

It is a motive that drives the mind to It is a motive that drives the mind to discover things that it cannot learn by discover things that it cannot learn by rational or logical thinking.rational or logical thinking.

DiscussDiscuss

Which has made a greater impact in Which has made a greater impact in the world: imagination or reason? the world: imagination or reason? Give examples.Give examples.