Romanticism A Movement Across the Arts
Definition Romanticism refers to a movement in art, literature, and music during the 19 th century. Romanticism is characterized by the 5 “I”s Imagination Intuition Idealism Inspiration Individuality
Imagination Imagination was emphasized over “reason.” This was a backlash against the rationalism characterized by the Neoclassical period or “Age of Reason.”
Intuition Romantics placed value on “intuition,” or feeling and instincts, over reason. Overflow of emotions was important in Romantic art.
Idealism Idealism is the concept that we can make the world a better place. Idealism refers to any theory that emphasizes the spirit, the mind, or language over matter.
Inspiration The Romantic artist, musician, or writer, is an “inspired creator” rather than a “technical master.” What this means is “going with the moment” or being spontaneous, rather than “getting it precise.”
Individuality Romantics celebrated the individual. During this time period, Women’s Rights and Abolitionism were taking root as major movements.
Origins Romanticism began to take root as a movement following the French Revolution. The publication of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1792 is considered the beginning of literary Romanticism.
The Arts Romanticism was a movement across all the arts: visual art, music, and literature. All of the arts embraced themes prevalent in the Middle Ages: chivalry, courtly love. Literature and art from this time depicted these themes. Music (ballets and operas) illustrated these themes. Shakespeare came back into vogue.
Visual Arts Neoclassical art was rigid, severe, and unemotional; it hearkened back to ancient Greece and Rome Romantic art was emotional, deeply-felt, individualistic, and exotic. It has been described as a reaction to Neoclassicism, or “anti-Classicism.”
Visual Arts: Examples Neoclassical Art Romantic Art
Music “Classical” musicians included composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Josef Haydn Classical music emphasized internal order and balance. Romantic musicians included composers like Frederic Chopin, Franz Lizst, Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky Romantic music emphasized expression of feelings.
Go to website and print “RandVStudyGuide” for more information to help you with the Romantic and Victorian Poetry we will be studying.
Emily Bronte and Wuthering Heights
July 30, December 19, 1848 Wrote Wuthering Heights, which combines Romantic and Gothic characteristics.
Haworth, Yorkshire Haworth is located in northern England in the county of Yorkshire. It is characterized by rolling hills covered with heath. The weather is very changeable.
Yorkshire Moors Emily Brontë loved the area around the moors and spent a great deal of time exploring these moors. Heathcliff and Young Catherine do the same in Wuthering Heights.
Main Characters The narrative tells the tale of the all- encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them.
Narration and Style The narrative is non-linear, involving several flashbacks, and two primary narrators: Mr. Lockwood and Ellen "Nelly" Dean. The novel opens in 1801, with Mr. Lockwood arriving at Thrushcross Grange, a grand house on the Yorkshire moors that he is renting from the surly Heathcliff, who lives at nearby Wuthering Heights.
WH as a Social Novel Class inequities and distinctions (the rich get richer, the poor get poorer No possibility for social mobility Money=power and reputation
WH as a Psychological Novel Nature vs. Nurture Family dynamics; especially second generation vs. first generation Sibling rivalry and gender conflicts Nature of Love
WH as a Symbolic Novel “Objective correlation”- became popular by T.S. Eliot When the weather parallels character, emotion and psychological state, as well as plot tension and/or release Dreams as manifestations of inner turmoil Supernatural as evidence of disruption(s) in the cosmic balance
Elements in Wuthering Heights 1. Romanticism (see WH Study Guide) 2. Gothicism (see WH Study Guide) 3. Byronic Hero 4. Tragic Vision
3. Byronic Hero (after George Lord Byron) Conflicted emotionally (tortured soul) Mysterious origins and troubled past Despises social institutions Seen as self destructive by his choices loner
4. Tragic Vision (the world in which the character lives) Conclusion is catastrophic and inevitable Conclusion occurs as a result as the human limitations of the protagonist Protagonist suffers almost immeasurably Suffering brings about redemption Redemption leads to human learning and the acceptance of moral responsibility Physical elements=angular, geometric, and jagged
Topics leading to themes in Wuthering Heights Family history and family relationships and/or sibling rivalry Romantic or ill-fated love Revenge Nature vs. Civilization (Culture) Education