THE ROMANTICS CONTEXT Flashcards
(10 cards)
William Blake (1757-1827)
Background: A visionary poet and artist, Blake was largely unrecognized during his lifetime but is now considered a seminal figure in Romantic literature.
Themes: Explored innocence vs. experience, social injustice, and the critique of institutionalized religion and morality.
Notable Works: Songs of Innocence and of Experience, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.
William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
Background: A central figure in English Romanticism, Wordsworth was deeply influenced by the natural beauty of the Lake District.
Themes: Emphasized the importance of nature, the significance of childhood, and the power of memory.
Notable Works: Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.
Lord Byron (1788-1824
Background: Known for his flamboyant lifestyle and political activism, Byron became a national hero and a symbol of Romantic rebellion.
Themes: Examined themes of freedom, the individual’s struggle against societal norms, and the complexities of human nature.
Notable Works: Don Juan, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
Background: An outspoken radical and atheist, Shelley’s works often challenged contemporary political and social norms.
Themes: Advocated for political and social change, explored the power of nature, and delved into the transient nature of life.
Notable Works: Ode to the West Wind, Prometheus Unbound.
John Keats (1795-1821)
Background: Despite his short life, Keats produced some of the most enduring poetry of the Romantic era.
Themes: Focused on beauty, mortality, and the relationship between art and life.
Notable Works: Ode to a Nightingale, Ode on a Grecian Urn.
Key Contextual Concepts
The Sublime: A central idea in Romanticism, referring to experiences that inspire awe and wonder, often through nature’s vastness or power.
The Gothic: Explored in works that delve into the mysterious, supernatural, and often dark aspects of human experience.
Medievalism: A fascination with the Middle Ages, often idealised as a time of chivalry and mystery.
Hellenism: An admiration for ancient Greek culture, evident in the works of poets like Keats.
The Romantic Movement (1798-1832)
The Romantic era marked a significant shift in literature, philosophy, and art, emphasizing:
Emotion over reason: A move away from Enlightenment ideals.
Imagination as a path to truth: Valuing personal insight and creativity.
Nature as a source of inspiration: Viewing the natural world as a reflection of inner emotions and a sanctuary from industrialization.
Individualism: Celebrating personal freedom and expression.
Rebellion against societal norms: Questioning authority, tradition, and established institutions.
This movement was partly a response to the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution, which brought about profound social and political changes.
Historical and Social Context:French Revolution (1789)
Huge influence on early Romantic poets.
Seen as a fight for liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Inspired hope for political and social reform.
Later disillusionment after the rise of Napoleon and the violence of the Reign of Terror.
Blake and Wordsworth were early supporters; Byron and Shelley later echoed revolutionary ideas.
Historical and Social Context: Industrial Revolution
Rapid urbanisation, pollution, and exploitation of workers (especially children).
Romantics reacted with nostalgia for rural life, nature, and simplicity.
Blake criticised industrialisation in poems like London.
Wordsworth focused on the moral and spiritual value of natural landscapes.
Historical and Social Context:War +Politics
Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815): A time of fear, patriotism, and national identity.
Many Romantics were anti-war and critical of government oppression.
Shelley and Byron were politically radical; Shelley was expelled from Oxford for atheism.
