1. Romanticism Artistic and Philosophical Movement
Late 18th Century – Mid 19th Century
European, to lesser extent American
Response to Industrialization
Related to the rise of Nationalism

2. Characteristics of Romanticism
(1) Imagination, Emotions,  and Intuition.  Exaltation of intense feelings. 
Descartes:  I think, therefore I am. vs
Rousseau:  I felt before I thought.
(2) Subjectivity of approach; the cult of the individual; the absolute uniqueness of every individual. 

3. Characteristics of Romanticism
(3) Freedom of thought and expression.
A revolt against authority and tyranny, against the ancient regime, whether social, political, religious, or artistic. Thomas Paine: “The Rights of Man.”
Mary Wolstonecraft: “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” (1792)
Alienation and rebellion: Cult of Youth, Energy, and Idealism

4. Social Issues
The poets of the era responded to social and economic changes caused by rapid industrialization and to government policies that ignored the problems of the poor.

5. Freedom
Overall the term Romantic signifies a fascination with youth and innocence, a questioning of authority and tradition, idealism, and adaptation to change.

6. Characteristics of Romanticism
(4) Idealization of Nature
Embracing  the uncivilized, the wild, the pre-civilized.
Rousseau:  “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”  In other words, civilization is in part the cause of our corruption. 
The “noble savage,” and James Fennimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking novels, I.e. The Last of the Mohicans. 

7. Nature
Romantics viewed nature as peaceful, calm, nurturing, a source for spiritual renewal.  It often showed an innocent life of rural dwellers, a world of peace and harmony....
but nature could also be frightening in its power, and cause a dizzying sense of awe and wonder.

8. Age of Reason Romantic Era
• Reason • Universal Truths • Natural Order • Academies • Patronage • Classical • Society
• Imagination/Emotion
• Human Uniqueness
• Nature as Wild
• Artistic Individualism
• Independence
• Medieval
• Solitude

9. Other Romantic Elements
• Re-discovery of Folk Culture (nationalism)
• Nostalgia for Pre-Industrial Past
• Interest in “Exotic” Locales
• Escape into Imaginative Worlds
• Passionate Belief in Liberty and Equality
Restriction no longer important
Nature in a mystical way –Believed it was transformative and mirrored the human mind.
The Supernatural
   

10. The Artist as.. One who is Apart from Society
Social Critic/Revolutionary
Genius/Cultural Hero
“To be a genius is to be misunderstood”
Emerson

11. The Lyric Poem The epitome of Romantic literature
Expresses the poet’s innermost feelings and temperament
Self-revelation: reveals reactions to events the poet has experienced.
Imaginative

12. Works Used
The Romantic Period  The Zeitgeist
Elements of Literature—6th Course
Music of the Romantic Era