Romantics Poetry Context - Organised Into Poets + Historical Context
Romanticism
Embraced the idea of being distanced from society and being in awe of nature. Nature and
imagination is valued
Edwin Burke states “an artistic effect productive of the strongest emotion the mind is capable of
feeling”
Romantic writers disliked the exploitation of the poor
Negative romanticism offers no cosmic explanation and isolation Positive romanticism offers cosmic
explanations
Loneliness allowed them to be removed from society and be able to critique from the outside
Features:
The importance of self-expression and individual feeling
An interest in the outcasts of society
A capacity for wonder and consequently a reverence for the innocence of childhood
Romanticism was also a reaction to the orderly rationalism of the enlightenment
What nature meant to romantics:
Nature as encompassing all divinity
Nature as a healing power
Nature as a refuge from civilisation
Nature as organic rather than artificial
For Edmund burke the sublime has associations with darkness, solitude, infinity and a terror inspired
by the incomprehensible
The Gothic genre was the dark side of Romanticism, with reference to the supernatural, themes of
madness and death =, and extreme emotions
- Human power and legacy vs time and nature
- The impact of government on individual humans
- Man vs Nature
William Blake: Pre-Romantics
Romanticism
Embraced the idea of being distanced from society and being in awe of nature. Nature and
imagination is valued
Edwin Burke states “an artistic effect productive of the strongest emotion the mind is capable of
feeling”
Romantic writers disliked the exploitation of the poor
Negative romanticism offers no cosmic explanation and isolation Positive romanticism offers cosmic
explanations
Loneliness allowed them to be removed from society and be able to critique from the outside
Features:
The importance of self-expression and individual feeling
An interest in the outcasts of society
A capacity for wonder and consequently a reverence for the innocence of childhood
Romanticism was also a reaction to the orderly rationalism of the enlightenment
What nature meant to romantics:
Nature as encompassing all divinity
Nature as a healing power
Nature as a refuge from civilisation
Nature as organic rather than artificial
For Edmund burke the sublime has associations with darkness, solitude, infinity and a terror inspired
by the incomprehensible
The Gothic genre was the dark side of Romanticism, with reference to the supernatural, themes of
madness and death =, and extreme emotions
- Human power and legacy vs time and nature
- The impact of government on individual humans
- Man vs Nature
William Blake: Pre-Romantics
