General context
-Rousseau’s ‘man is born free and everywhere he is in chains’ - a key quote and thinker,
alluded to by Blake especially in ‘London’. He believed that children were elevated above
adults, a belief that is clearly shared and developed by many Romantics, and that education
in nature was important. Saw childhood as a precious period, and advocated for a more
naturalistic education.
-The American revolution (1776) and the French Revolution more importantly (1789-99) both
demonstrated the power of collective action, people’s uprisings, and inspired radical thinkers
of the UK but Romantic responses to these events varied, with some praising and gaining
inspiration from the revolution, and others lamenting the violence, such as Wordsworth, and
arguably Mary Shelley, though she is not in this part of the course.
-Industrial revolution which started in the mid 18th century and continued to the 19th was
absolutely key in Wordsworth and Blakes poetry, where the filth of the city is contrasted or
criticised with nature. Keats and Shelley also seem disavowed with society, though this is
not explicitly linked to the revolution as with earlier Romantics.
-Appreciation of nature and pantheism are of course key to the Romantics, with all but Byron
(I would argue) commenting on the power and importance of nature and its relationship to
humans, and also often expressing their ideas and feelings through nature, even when
nature itself isn’t explicitly commented upon.
-The Sublime is a key idea to many of the Romantics, and is usually linked to nature. The
idea of things that are too immense and complex to understand, and are thus beautiful and
terrifying at the same time.
-The power of imagination, where many Romantics saw themselves as visionary, or saw the
power and importance of dreams and visions, for example Shelley imagines his poetry
transcending generations and time, or Blake and Keats’ rich use of imagery to try and grasp
deep ideas that were almost intangible.
-Appreciation of greek mythology, used to explore morality. The Romantics valued the
democracy, free thinking,valued art etc that they saw in ancient Greek society, so often
referenced and linked to it. For example, Byron is willing to give up his life to fight a war in
Greece. Keats constantly references Greek myths, in the same way Blake uses religious
references, to give moral context to his work.
-A pushback against the truth seeking of the Enlightenment period and scientific
development. Valuing emotions and morality over reason.
William Blake (1757 - 1827)
-Imaginative and originally aspired to be a painter. He has visions throughout his life, such
as being visited by angels, and these inform both his visual and literary works.
-The Holy Thursday songs refer to parades held each year outside St Pauls, on ‘ascension
day’ where the poor orphans of the town would be dressed up and parade to the church, be
fed, sing - Blake viewed it as a hollow gesture to make the church look better, when it should
do more to actually help the children.
-Blake’s dissent against the Church of England is key to his poetry. He thought the church
morally corrupt, taking charitable donations but not effectively solving key problems such as
poverty in london and child labour.
-Rousseau’s ‘man is born free and everywhere he is in chains’ - a key quote and thinker,
alluded to by Blake especially in ‘London’. He believed that children were elevated above
adults, a belief that is clearly shared and developed by many Romantics, and that education
in nature was important. Saw childhood as a precious period, and advocated for a more
naturalistic education.
-The American revolution (1776) and the French Revolution more importantly (1789-99) both
demonstrated the power of collective action, people’s uprisings, and inspired radical thinkers
of the UK but Romantic responses to these events varied, with some praising and gaining
inspiration from the revolution, and others lamenting the violence, such as Wordsworth, and
arguably Mary Shelley, though she is not in this part of the course.
-Industrial revolution which started in the mid 18th century and continued to the 19th was
absolutely key in Wordsworth and Blakes poetry, where the filth of the city is contrasted or
criticised with nature. Keats and Shelley also seem disavowed with society, though this is
not explicitly linked to the revolution as with earlier Romantics.
-Appreciation of nature and pantheism are of course key to the Romantics, with all but Byron
(I would argue) commenting on the power and importance of nature and its relationship to
humans, and also often expressing their ideas and feelings through nature, even when
nature itself isn’t explicitly commented upon.
-The Sublime is a key idea to many of the Romantics, and is usually linked to nature. The
idea of things that are too immense and complex to understand, and are thus beautiful and
terrifying at the same time.
-The power of imagination, where many Romantics saw themselves as visionary, or saw the
power and importance of dreams and visions, for example Shelley imagines his poetry
transcending generations and time, or Blake and Keats’ rich use of imagery to try and grasp
deep ideas that were almost intangible.
-Appreciation of greek mythology, used to explore morality. The Romantics valued the
democracy, free thinking,valued art etc that they saw in ancient Greek society, so often
referenced and linked to it. For example, Byron is willing to give up his life to fight a war in
Greece. Keats constantly references Greek myths, in the same way Blake uses religious
references, to give moral context to his work.
-A pushback against the truth seeking of the Enlightenment period and scientific
development. Valuing emotions and morality over reason.
William Blake (1757 - 1827)
-Imaginative and originally aspired to be a painter. He has visions throughout his life, such
as being visited by angels, and these inform both his visual and literary works.
-The Holy Thursday songs refer to parades held each year outside St Pauls, on ‘ascension
day’ where the poor orphans of the town would be dressed up and parade to the church, be
fed, sing - Blake viewed it as a hollow gesture to make the church look better, when it should
do more to actually help the children.
-Blake’s dissent against the Church of England is key to his poetry. He thought the church
morally corrupt, taking charitable donations but not effectively solving key problems such as
poverty in london and child labour.
