British Romanticism

British Romanticism
“If Poetry comes not as naturally as

Romanticis the Leaves to a tree it had better not
m come at all,” proposed John Keats in

an 1818 letter, at the age of 22. This
could be called romantic in sentiment,
lowercase r, meaning fanciful,
impractical, unachievably ambitious.
British Romanticism—all-or-nothing
connections between nature’s organic
growth and human creativity
passion for individual imagination as
an originating force
2
from the first political and poetic tremors of the 1780s to
the 1832 Reform Act
no major period in English-language literary history is
shorter than that half-century of the Romantic era, but few
other eras have ever proved as consequential
in Britain, Romanticism was not a single unified movement
the Romantic period coincides with the societal
transformations of the Industrial Revolution, the rise of
liberal movements and the state’s counterrevolutionary
measures, and the voicing of radical ideas—Parliamentary
reform, expanded suffrage, abolitionism, atheism—in
pamphlets and public demonstrations
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Emboldened by the era’s revolutionary spirit,
Romantic poets invented new literary forms to
match
Romantic poetry can argue radical ideas explicitly
and vehemently or allegorically and ambivalently
to quote from William Wordsworth’s preface
to Lyrical Ballads, the groundbreaking collection
he wrote with fellow poet-critic Samuel Taylor
Coleridge, Romantic poets could “choose
incidents and situations from common life” as its
subjects, describing them not in polished or high-
flown diction but instead in everyday speech, “a
selection of language really used by men.”
Romanticism can do justice to the disadvantaged,
to those marginalized or forgotten by an
increasingly urban and commercial culture—rural
workers, children, the poor, the elderly, or the
disabled—or it can testify to individuality simply
by foregrounding the poet’s own subjectivity at its
most idiosyncratic or experimental.
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imagination over reason and logic. Poets and artists
explored deep feelings and subjective experiences,
celebrating individual emotional responses.
•Nature and the Sublime: Romantic writers and
artists had a profound appreciation for nature, often
depicting it as a source of beauty, inspiration, and
spiritual insight. The concept of the sublime—
experiencing awe and wonder in the face of nature's
grandeur and power—was central to their work.
•Individualism and Self-Expression: Romanticism
celebrated the individual's unique perspective and
creativity. Writers and artists focused on personal
expression, championing the rights and experiences
of the individual against societal norms.
•Interest in the Past and the Exotic:
Romanticism often looked to the past, particularly
the medieval period and folk traditions, as well as to
exotic and distant lands, for inspiration. This
included fascination with myth, legend, and
historical events.
•Rebellion Against Conventional Norms: The
movement often rebelled against the established
conventions of the Enlightenment and neoclassical
Título da apresentação traditions. Romantic artists and writers questioned 5
societal norms, political structures, and artistic
attention to ordinary people and their experiences,
celebrating the lives of the common man and the
authenticity of their emotions and struggles.
•Mysticism and the Supernatural: There was a
fascination with the mystical and supernatural.
Romantic literature frequently included elements of
the gothic, supernatural occurrences, and
explorations of the mysterious.
•Emphasis on Creativity and Originality: The
Romantic movement encouraged artists to seek
originality and to break away from traditional forms
and styles. The focus was on creating new and
innovative expressions of thought and emotion.
•Critique of Industrialization: Many Romantic
works reflect a critique of industrialization and its
effects on society and nature. There was concern
about the dehumanizing aspects of industrial
progress and its impact on the natural world.
•Personal Reflection and Solitude: Romantic
literature often delved into themes of solitude,
personal reflection, and the inner life of individuals.
Título da apresentação Writers and poets frequently explored their own6

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British Romanticism

“If Poetry comes not as naturally as

m come at all,” proposed John Keats in

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