Romanticism

1. Romanticism The film Pride and Prejudice, the novel Agnes Grey and the two Colerdige poems ‘This Lime Tree Bower My Prisonand The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner affirm the power of the imagination to inform, illuminate and transform human experience.

2. Look at this background it is white, plain and simple you are free to imagine how this page is to look. Thus the power of the imaganationcan be a useful tool in the romantic period.

3. INFORM- to give information; supply knowledge or enlightenment.

4. ILLUMINATE- to supply or brighten with light; light up.

5. TRANSFORM- to change in condition, nature, or character; convert.

6. HUMAN EXPERIENCE- inform, illuminate and transform effect human experience. This may be different from person to person but it is the ideas that formulate in one’s mind that can affect the power of the imagination.

7. THESIS • Early 19th century society was idealised as a harmonious and productive unit when supervised by the benevolent aristocracy and gentry. However as the strong notion of questioning authority was growing, individual conscious had the potential to disrupt society. •  For the Romantics, individual feelings, thoughts and needs were seen to be significant. The desire for individual ‘happiness’ although an elevated ideal, could be seen as a disruptive force in society. Throughout the 19th Century, the lash between duty and happiness, between the needs of society and the needs of the individual, provided the stimulus for many texts. • . So overall the focus of my presentation is going to be on the previously stated four texts and how they reflect and sometimes challenge the religious, philosophical, social and economical ways of thinking of the early 19th century.

8. The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner • Religion • Coleridge uses his intense description of nature such the “the mist or cloud, on a mast or shroud” which is a burial cloth. Coleridge presents the idea that religious elements are also within nature, which plays on the romantic concepts. • “the albatross about my neck was hung” is a comparison to Jesus on the cross that provides a deep connection to Christianity. Another use of symbolism is evident in the quote “the man hath penance done, and penance more will do”, creates the idea of sin, drawing on biblical themes of fate. The use of symbolism heightens one’s power of imagination to transform human experience.

9. Philosophical • This poem portrays the theme that all things that are forced to the natural world be embraced with value and beauty. For example the Mariner detests the natural world such as “rotting sea” which is a negative connotation. However once the Mariner realises that these are the natural beauties of the God’s creation, it is compared to the positive connotation of the “charmed water” • The Mariner hates the creatures with all his heart this is described as “and a thousand thousand slimy things lived on; and so did I” once having an appreciation of nature such as “blue, glossy green and velvet black” used to describe the sea creatures, holds emphasis to the individual as Coleridge is aiming for audiences to reconsider their attitudes towards the natural world.

10. This Lime Tree Bower- My Prison • Questioning Nature and form of religion • Imagination becomes stronger as he expresses the sublime aspects of nature. • Through the use of personification such as ‘roaring dell’ and ‘flings arching’ creates nature to become a powerful force. • Links nature and religion such as ‘The wide wide heaven’ used to describe the sky is an example of pantheism God is within nature and vice versa.

11. Agnes Grey- Anne Bronte • Exploration of Economic Paradigm • “ It was disagreeable, too, to walk behind, and thus appear to • acknowledge my own inferiority; for in truth I considered myself • pretty and nearly as good as the best of them, and wished them to • know that I did so, and not to imagine that I looked upon myself • as a mere domestic, who knew her own place too well to walk beside • such fine ladies and gentlemen as they were… though her young • ladies might choose to have her with them, and even condescend to • converse with her, when no better company were at hand.” (Pg 106) • This quotation highlights the economic paradigm of the period, • as Agnes’s work is made clear through the contrast of Agnes and her • employers as if it is represented as wealth and marginalisation.

12. Social structure One of the most distinctive features of Agnes Grey is the sharp, often ironic observation of idle-class social behaviour and the suggestion of the values and attitudes that lie behind it. As a governess, Agnes’ individual worth is marginalised in societies structure, however by giving Agnes prominence throughout the novel, Anne Bronte is making a social statement on the links between imagination and human experience inherent to romanticism. She is subverting societies roles and in the literary sense, giving the character of Agnes strength and power as her thoughts and feelings are given specific prominence.

13. Pride And Prejudice - Philosophical aspects The opening of pride and prejudice is dominantly feminine, with images of lace, needlecraft and soft fabrics dominating the scene. The background music is a piano, it is light hearted and a traditional romantic melody that signifies the genre, theme of text and period as the distinct roles of women. Immediately however, Elizabeth is presented as an individual and a contrast to the predominate female imagery as she is outside, whereas the quarrelling of her sisters can be heard inside. The Victorian fascination with defining the individual is furtherdisplayed as Langton presents Elizabeth’s inner life with mirrors and candles.

14. Paradigms that assist with the power of the imagination to inform, illuminate and transform human experience. The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner This Lime Tree Bower- My Prison Strong Symbolism expresses religious ideas in this poem. “The Albatross about my neck was hung” provides a deep connection to Christianity. Colerdige links nature and religion as he describes the sky as “the wide, wide heaven. Coleridge uses pantheism in order for Charles Lamb to experience God within nature and nature within God. Pantheism is a tool used by romantics to transcend nature to the heavens and allow one to experience God himself through the beauty of the surroundings. RELIGION Both of Coleridge poem’s use religious elements to help heighten the power of the imagination to illuminate and transform human experience

15. The Rime Of the Ancient Mariner Coleridge is communicating to audiences that the mariner’s ruin of the natural world was in fact a sin. Due to the consequence on the individual this draws on philosophical concepts. Poem portrays that one should embrace nature’s value and beauty. Having an appreciation for nature holds emphasis to the individual as Coleridge is aiming for audiences to reconsider their attitudes towards the natural world. Pride and Prejudice BBC Elizabeth’s journey from self-opinionated prejudice and misjudgment to humility, clear, sightful view of her own imperfections and to an acceptance that an individual’s moral duty is to her society. Elizabeth is presented as an individual and a contrast to the predominate female imagery. Philosophical concepts affirm the power of the imagination to inform, illuminate and transform human experience. Philosophical Agnes Grey Agnes's feelings are extremely sensitive this is shown through first person narrator as her thoughts and feelings dominate the novel. Feelings and emotions are expressed further through the use of exclamation marks “ Hurrah! Oh Yes!” The extensive use of exclamation marks as well as the shifting in tone exhibit the change in Agnes’s character. This Lime Tree Bower- My Prison Follows the imaginative journey for Coleridge. Expressing the sublime aspects o nature.

16. Agnes Grey “ It was disagreeable, too, to walk behind, and thus appear to acknowledge my own inferiority; for in truth I considered myself pretty and nearly as good as the best of them, and wished them to know that I did so, and not to imagine that I looked upon myself as a mere domestic, who knew her own place too well to walk beside such fine ladies and gentlemen as they were… though her young ladies might choose to have her with them, and even condescend to converse with her, when no better company were at hand.” (Pg 106) This quotation highlights the economic paradigm of the period, as Agnes’s work is made clear through the contrast of Agnes and her employers as if it is represented as wealth and marginalisation Economic

17. Agnes Grey One of the most distinctive features of Agnes Grey is the sharp, often ironic observation of idle-class social behaviour and the suggestion of the values and attitudes that lie behind it. As a governess, Agnes’ individual worth is marginalised in societies structure, however by giving Agnes prominence throughout the novel, Anne Bronte is making a social statement on the links between imagination and human experience inherent to romanticism. Social

18. Bibliography of Images used in this PowerPoint http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/bronte/agnes/house.jpeg http://www.tutorialbeach.com/tutorials/images/energy_twirl_12.jpg http://news-libraries.mit.edu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/money.jpg http://www.cc.nctu.edu.tw/~sheen/el/pic/coleridge.jpg http://www.tennis.com/uploadedImages/Your_Game/Sports_Science/General/2006_05_07_the_human_body(1).gif http://www.asiaing.com/images/stories/book/Agnes.Grey.by.Anne.Bronte.gif http://dictionary.reference.com/