1. The Romantic Era “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” -W. Wordsworth World Literature and Composition

2. Revolt against Neoclassicism/Enlightenment Romantic writers rebelled against the neoclassic ideas of the 18th century. reason, form, and order. Wrote tightly controlled poetry in the classical mold Maintained traditions Controlled emotion Focused on adult concerns (ruling class)

3. Background Late 18th century to early 19th century Romantic movement influenced the social and political landscape of Europe. Romantics rejected science and reason Romantics embraced nature, emotion, mythology, and individual experience The Power of Imagination was a major strength of the Romantics

4. Romantic Ideas Emotions and imagination Subjective experiences of the individual- desires, hopes, and dreams Nature- creative and destructive forces Spontaneity Experimentation Childhood, unsophisticated societies, common people Passion and vision

5. Pioneers of Romantanicism Scotland’s Robert Burns Scotland’s James Macpherson Germany’s Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

6. Robert Burns Regarded as the national poet of Scotland. Pioneer of the Romantic movement Burns' themes included republicanism (he lived during the French Revolutionary period) and Radicalism Burns is generally classified as a proto-Romantic poet, and he influenced William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Percy Bysshe Shelley greatly.

7. “To a Mouse” Stanza 1: The poet is doing his utmost to assure this terrified little creature that he has no intention of causing it any harm. Stanza 2: He then goes on to apologize to the mouse for the behavior of mankind using beautiful prose which requires neither translation nor interpretation. Listen to what he is saying, and you will be well on your way to understand what made Burns such a greatly loved man. Note how he equates himself with the mouse in life’s great plan. Stanza 3 : Here he tells the mouse that he realizes its need to steal the odd ear of corn, and he does not really mind. He’ll get by with remainder and never miss it. Stanza 4: Dismay at the enormity of the problems he has brought on the mouse causes him to reflect on what he has done - destroyed her home at a time when it is impossible to rebuild. There is no grass to build a new home and the December winds are cold and sharp. Her preparations for winter are gone!

8. “To a Mouse” continued: Stanza 5 : Where the mouse had thought that she was prepared for winter in her comfortable little nest in the ground, now she is faced with trying to survive in a most unfriendly climate, with little or no hope in sight. Stanza 6: It seems probable that here the poet is really comparing his own hard times with that of the mouse – a life of harsh struggle, with little or no reward at the end. Stanza 7 : How many times have people unknowingly trotted out, “The best laid schemes” without realizing that they were quoting from Burns? The sadness, the despair, the insight contained within this verse are truly remarkable and deeply moving. Stanza 8: This final verse reveals the absolute despondency that Burns was feeling at this stage in his life. Not at all what one might expect from a young man of twenty-six, supposedly so popular with the lassies, and with his whole life ahead of him, but nevertheless expressing sentiments with which many of us today can easily relate.

9. Major Poets of the Romantic Era William Wordsworth Lord Byron William Blake Percy Shelley John Keats Samuel Coleridge Matthew Arnold

10. William Wordsworth 1770-1850 Politically radical as a youth As he matured, his popularity increased “Lyrical Ballads” (1798) with Coleridge ushered in the Romantic era. By his death, he was one of the most sought after poets of his era. Britain’s poet laureate in 1843

11. George Gordon Byron or Lord Byron 1788-1824 Privileged upbringing Loved to travel Scandal followed him Came to believe that action was more important than poetry Died tragically from illness while fighting Turkish rule in Greece “Don Juan” “Child’s Harold’s Pilgrimage”

12. William Blake Poet, painter, visionary mystic, and engraver Understood by few and misunderstood by many Focused much of his work on imagination, symbolism, and childlike innocence. Very original “Songs of Innocence and Experience”, “Marriage of Heaven and Hell”

13. Percy Shelley 1792-1822 Idealist and rebel from a privileged aristocractic family Booted from Oxford University Too radical for the English establishment A bit of a nomad; he spent a lot time in Italy Drowned off the coast of Italy; age 29 “Ode to the West Wind” and “To a Skylark”

14. John Keats 1795-1821 Brilliant poet who’s life was filled with tragedy Shelly very fond of Keats Critics were very harsh Famous for his odes- “Ode to a Nightinggale” and “Ode to a Greacian Urn” Died age 25 from consumption Known for his intensity, sensuous imagination, love of beauty, and rich descriptive power “Here lies one whose name was writ in water.” -Keats’ Tombstone

15. Matthew Arnold 1822-1888 Professor of Poetry at Oxford for a time Shared with great clarity his own inner feelings Many of his poems and ideas reflected his faith and the sense of isolation that man feels without faith “Dover Beach” Lacked the flair and dramatic that surrounded the other big names of the Romantic movement