The Spirit of the Age ( ) e A sense of a shared vision among the Romantics. e Early support of the French Revolution. e Rise of the individual  alienation. e Dehumanization brought by industrialization.  Radical poetics / politics  an obsession with violent change. e A sense of a shared vision among the Romantics. e Early support of the French Revolution. e Rise of the individual  alienation. e Dehumanization brought by industrialization.  Radical poetics / politics  an obsession with violent change.

Enlightenment Society is good, curbing violent impulses! Civilization corrupts! Romanticism A Growing Distrust of Reason e The essence of human experience is subjective and emotional. e Human knowledge is a puny thing compared to other great historical forces. e “Individual rights” are dangerous efforts at selfishness  the community is more important. e The essence of human experience is subjective and emotional. e Human knowledge is a puny thing compared to other great historical forces. e “Individual rights” are dangerous efforts at selfishness  the community is more important.

The Romantic Movement e Began in the 1790s and peaked in the 1820s. e Mostly in Northern Europe, especially in Britain and Germany. e A reaction against classicism. e The “Romantic Hero:”  Greatest example was Lord Byron  Tremendously popular among the European reading public.  Youth imitated his haughtiness and rebelliousness. e Began in the 1790s and peaked in the 1820s. e Mostly in Northern Europe, especially in Britain and Germany. e A reaction against classicism. e The “Romantic Hero:”  Greatest example was Lord Byron  Tremendously popular among the European reading public.  Youth imitated his haughtiness and rebelliousness.

Characteristics of Romanticism The Engaged & Enraged Artist:  The artist apart from society.  The artist as social critic/revolutionary.  The artist as genius. The Engaged & Enraged Artist:  The artist apart from society.  The artist as social critic/revolutionary.  The artist as genius.

Wandering Above the Sea of Fog Caspar David Friedrich, 1818

Lady Macbeth - Henry Fuseli, 1794

Characteristics of Romanticism The Individual/ The Dreamer: Individuals have unique, endless potential. Self-realization comes through art Artists are the true philosophers. To deal with the harsh realities of life, Romantics sought solitude in nature Key to emotional healing could be found in nature Nature imagery is the most predominant feature of Romantic literature The Individual/ The Dreamer: Individuals have unique, endless potential. Self-realization comes through art Artists are the true philosophers. To deal with the harsh realities of life, Romantics sought solitude in nature Key to emotional healing could be found in nature Nature imagery is the most predominant feature of Romantic literature

The Dreamer Gaspar David Friedrich, 1835

Solitary Tree Caspar David Friedrich, 1823

Characteristics of Romanticism Glorification of Nature:  Peaceful, restorative qualities [an escape from industrialization and the dehumanization it creates].  Awesome, powerful, horrifying aspects of nature.  Indifferent to the fate of humans.  Overwhelming power of nature. Glorification of Nature:  Peaceful, restorative qualities [an escape from industrialization and the dehumanization it creates].  Awesome, powerful, horrifying aspects of nature.  Indifferent to the fate of humans.  Overwhelming power of nature.

An Avalanche in the Alps Philip James de Loutherbourg, 1803

Sunset After a Storm On the Coast of Sicily – Andreas Achenbach, 1853

The Deluge Francis Danby, 1840

The Wreck of the Hope (aka The Sea of Ice) Caspar David Friedrich, 1821

Shipwreck – Joseph Turner, 1805

Victor Frankenstein’s Science  Victor is a student of “natural philosophy”  Study of nature and the desire to know how nature functions – quest for knowledge was more philosophical than scientific  Victor influenced by:  Cornelius Agrippa -Renaissance philosopher and scientist -Work reflects strong interest in the occult and ancient, mystical “sciences” of the near East -Writings blend European interpretations of Plato’s philosophy with Jewish Kabalistic beliefs -Agrippa’s ideas were later discredited by the processes of observation and experimentation

Victor Frankenstein’s Science  Paracelsus -Renaissance philosopher and scientist -Introduced new concept of disease and the use of chemicals rather than herbs to treat diseases -Asserted that diseases were caused by external agents attacking the body -Contrary to traditional idea of disease as an internal upset of the body’s humors: yellow and black bile, blood, and phlegm -To cure the disease, attack external agent -Alchemy became the means by which the chemical remedies were prepared -Paracelsus changed the emphasis of the alchemy from chasing the mythological “Elixir of Life: or “Philosopher’s Stone” to making medicines

Isaac Newton – William Blake, 1795

Dr. Frankenstein’s Adam & Eve??

The Industrial Age  Flanked the Romantic Age   England moved from an agriculture to an industrial society  Home manufacturing to factory production  Made England prosperous and powerful

The Industrial Age  Exploitation of workers  Deplorable living conditions  Towns became cities  Villagers, forced by economic necessity, sought work in growing factories  Huddled together in filthy slums  Men, women, and children labored from sunrise to sunset  All children able to pull a cart in the suffocating coal mines or to sweep a floor in the textile factories worked  Poor children had essentially no religious training, medical care, or education

The Slave Ship Joseph Mallord William Turner, 1842

Flatford Mill – John Constable, 1817

The Corn Field John Constable, 1826

The Hay Wain - John Constable, 1821

Characteristics of Romanticism In Art, Revival of Past Styles:  Gothic & Romanesque revival.  “Neo-Gothic” architectural style.  Medieval ruins were a favorite theme for art and poetry. In Art, Revival of Past Styles:  Gothic & Romanesque revival.  “Neo-Gothic” architectural style.  Medieval ruins were a favorite theme for art and poetry.

Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Ground John Constable, 1825

Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows John Constable, 1831

Hadleigh Castle - John Constable, 1829

Eldena Ruin Gaspar David Friedrich, 1825

Winter Landscape with Church Gaspar David Friedrich, 1811

British Houses of Parliament

Cloister Cemetery in the Snow Caspar David Friedrich,

Pity - William Blake, 1795

Characteristics of Romanticism and the Gothic The Supernatural:  Ghosts, fairies, witches, demons.  The shadows of the mind—dreams & madness.  The romantics rejected materialism in pursuit of spiritual self-awareness.  They yearned for the unknown and the unknowable. The Supernatural:  Ghosts, fairies, witches, demons.  The shadows of the mind—dreams & madness.  The romantics rejected materialism in pursuit of spiritual self-awareness.  They yearned for the unknown and the unknowable.

Nightmare (The Incubus) Henry Fuseli, 1781

Mad Woman With a Mania of Envy Theodore Gericault, Mad Woman With a Mania of Envy Theodore Gericault,

Abbey in an Oak Forest Caspar David Friedrich,

The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun William Blake,

Manfred and the Witch of the Alps John Martin

Witches Sabbath Francisco Goya, 1798

Saturn Devours His Son Francisco Goya,

Gothic Novels Offshoot of Romantic Literature  Predecessor of modern horror movies  Spin of Romantic idea of nature worship and nature imagery:  Along with the power of healing, nature has the power of destroying  Indication of mood through weather: Stormy weather = Bad things are about to happen! Offshoot of Romantic Literature  Predecessor of modern horror movies  Spin of Romantic idea of nature worship and nature imagery:  Along with the power of healing, nature has the power of destroying  Indication of mood through weather: Stormy weather = Bad things are about to happen!

The Raft of the Medusa Th é odore G é ricault, 1819

 Born Mary Wollstoncraft in 1797  Born to William Godwin and Mary Wollstoncraft – both very prominent and liberal writers  Mother wrote Vindication on the rights of Woman  Mary spent her teens in Scotland writing  Returned to London at 16  Met, fell in love with, became pregnant by poet Percy Bysshe Shelley  Married after Shelley’s estranged wife committed suicide  Lost all three of their children  In 1822, Percy drowned in the Gulf of Spezia in Italy  At the age of 24, Mary was an impoverished widow MARY SHELLEY

Frankenstein  Frankenstein published in 1818 when Mary was 20 years old  Considered to be a huge Feminist feat

The Great Age of the Novel   Gothic Novel: Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (1847) Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (1847)  Historical Novel: Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott (1819) Les Miserables - Victor Hugo (1862) The Three Musketeers – Alexander Dumas (1844)   Gothic Novel: Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (1847) Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (1847)  Historical Novel: Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott (1819) Les Miserables - Victor Hugo (1862) The Three Musketeers – Alexander Dumas (1844)

The Great Age of the Novel  Science Fiction Novel: Frankenstein - Mary Shelley (1817) Dracula – Bramm Stoker (1897)  Novel of Purpose: Hugh Trevar - Thomas Holcroft (1794)  Science Fiction Novel: Frankenstein - Mary Shelley (1817) Dracula – Bramm Stoker (1897)  Novel of Purpose: Hugh Trevar - Thomas Holcroft (1794)

Other Romantic Writers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm - Grimm’s Fairy Tales ( ) Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Faust ( )

The Major Romantic Poets  Percy Byssche Shelley  Lord Byron (George Gordon)  Samuel Taylor Coleridge  William Wordsworth  John Keats  William Blake  Percy Byssche Shelley  Lord Byron (George Gordon)  Samuel Taylor Coleridge  William Wordsworth  John Keats  William Blake

George Gordon’s (Lord Byron) Poem The Prisoner of Chillon George Gordon’s (Lord Byron) Poem The Prisoner of Chillon

Mary Shelley Frankenstein Mary Shelley Frankenstein

Sir Walter Scott Ivanhoe Sir Walter Scott Ivanhoe

William Wordsworth’s Poem, Tintern Abbey William Wordsworth’s Poem, Tintern Abbey

Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner