Romanticism and the Romantic Poets

Romanticism and the Romantic Poets E Block Alex Pollard, Khloe Webb, Maeve Sockwell, Rachel Vasilyev, and Meghan Bellerose

What is Romanticism? • Romanticism is a literary, intellectual, and artistic movement that began in the late 18th century. • It began in England and Germany, then it spread throughout Europe and America. • Imagination, individualism, emotion, and freedom from rules of form are focal points of romanticism. • Common characteristics of romantic literature include solidarity, worship of nature, imagination above reason, and beauty.

Samuel Coleridge (October 21, 1772- July 25 1834) • Addicted to Opium from taking laudanum to cure illnesses as a young child. • Good friends with Wordsworth-- another Romantic Poet. • Father was a vicar of a parish and wanted Coleridge to become a clergyman--thus he attended Jesus College, U of Cambridge in 1791 with the intention of building a future in the Church of England. • Leader of the British Romantic movement. • His (Coleridge’s) views, however, began to change over the course of his first year at Cambridge. He became a supporter of William Frend, a Fellow at the college whose Unitarian beliefs made him a controversial figure.

Samuel Coleridge (cont.) • While at Cambridge, Coleridge also accumulated a large debt, which his brothers eventually had to pay off (Due to a rampant addiction to Opium he acquired early on in his life). Financial problems continued to plague him throughout his life, and he constantly depended on the support of others. • Lyrical Ballads. This collection is considered the first great work of the Romantic school of poetry and contains Coleridge's famous poem, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." -- work of collaboration between Wordsworth’s poems and Coleridge • Coleridge served as Emerson's primary guide to German philosophy-- • “To carry on the feelings of childhood into the powers of manhood; to combine the child's sense of wonder and novelty with the appearances, which every day. . . had rendered familiar. . . this is the character and privilege of genius, and one of the marks which distinguish genius from talents.” --Coleridge, (Biographia literaria) • Very similar philosophy to that of Emerson-- both idolizing the youth and explaining how youthfulness and openness to new ideas are what true genius is.

Coleridge in his later years; having suffered from a rampant opium addiction he spent the last years of his life living in the home of his doctor, and maintained an acclaimed reputation among many a young romantic.

Famously associated with Lord Byron; his wife wrote the acclaimed Frankenstein because of a suggestion by Byron. Began developing idealist and other controversial philosophies during college; thus conventional school was a struggle and he was consequently expelled for his unorthodox ideas. Similar to many romantic poets, Shelley believed strongly in the power of nature-- Emerson was greatly influenced by his poetry and ideas in this sense. Percy Shelley(August 4 1792 – July 8 1822 )

Matthew Arnold(Dec 1822- April 1888) • Born in Laleham, Middlesex, England • British poet, critic and educator -worked for 35 years as gov. school inspector -taught poetry at Oxford (1857- 1867) -wrote many essays • Known as a sage writer • Family involved in literature -Dad was headmaster of Rugby School -Brother was literary professor -Other brother was novelist • Close friend of/inspired by Wordsworth

Writing Topics • Christianity/Importance of faith • Literal and figurative beauty • Importance of education

William Wordsworth (April 7, 1770 - April 23, 1850) • English romantic poet • Born in Cumberland, England • Lost both parents as a young boy and had to take care of his neurotic sister Dorthy • Published Lyrical Ballads in 1798 with Samuel Taylor Coleridge • simple stories about their lives written in common language • Completed his major literary work, an autobiographical poem, The Prelude, in 1850 • Wrote many poems expressing his love of nature • Last decades of his life he was Poet Laureate of England • Some of Emerson’s ideas were influenced by Wordsworth’s essays and poems • After his resignation as minister in 1832, Emerson went on a tor of Europe where he met William Wordsworth, along with Carlyle, J Mill, and Coleridge

Wordsworth "I Wandered Lonley as a Cloud" “I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.”

William Blake Nonconformist Romantic Writer and Philosopher "I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's."

Childhood • Born November 28, 1757 in London (d.Aug.12, 1827) • Part of a very religious family • Intellectually ahead of his peers • Very good writer and artist by age 10 • Claimed to have seen "angles in a tree" • Also claimed to see them in fields and had reported experiences with God

Early Career • Worked closely with wife as his assistant • Often used simple AABB ABAB rhyme schemes along with standard four lined stanzas • Combined visuals with his writing to deepen the impact of his work on the reader Later Career • Outspoken nonconformist • Based his poetry and writings on imagination rather than reason • Used observations on man's inner nature • Later developed his own, very complex, mythology • This complex mythology became the subject for much of his later work • Many people claimed that he had gone mad, including William Woodsworth

At birth, named "George Gordan Byron" Born January 22,1788 Born in London, England Raised Famous in his lifetime for his many exotic affairs Created his own cult of a personality: "Byronic Hero" Known for height (6'2) & good looks Great Romantic impact on England Died from a fever April 19 1824 Lord Byron

Lord Byron (Cont.) • Attended Trinity College (1805-1808) • In November 1806 he distributed around Southwell his first book of poetry Fugitive Pieces - a collection of his poems inspired by his early infatuations • In 1809 Byron's first major poetic work, English Bards, and Scotch Reviewers. A Satire, was published anonymously in an edition of one thousand copies. • In March 1809 took seat in "House of Lords" & attended sessions of the Parliament • Close relationship with Percy Shelley • Most famous poetry work "She Walks In Beauty" • Considered a leader of the Romanticism Revolution

Born in Finsbury Pavement, England. Born October 31, 1795 As a child, sacrificed medical ambitions to become a poet. Work not well known until 4 years prior to death Most of his poems were inspired by Lord Byron. Died February 23, 1821 Death caused by Tuberculosis John Keats

Keats (cont.) • - • mortransient sensation or passion vs enduring art • dream or vision vs reality • joy vs melancholy • the ideal vs the real • mortal vs immortal • life vs death • separation vs connection • being immersed in passion vs desiring to escape passion - Focused on beauty & truth - Imagination- Excessive use of imagery- Advocated living "the ripest, fullest experience that one is capable of"; he believed that what determines truth is experience.

CITATIONS Information:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wordsworthhttp://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/rom.htmlhttp://www.eduquan.com/fanwen/362/696/20070729113526.htmlhttp://www.clickinks.com/The-Life-and-Works-of-Ralph-Waldo-Emerson.html http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/179 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Taylor_Coleridge http://www.online-literature.com/byron/ http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/keats.html#rom http://www.keatsian.co.uk/keatsian-ideas.htm http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/103419/poetry/lord_byrons_poem_she_walks_in_beauty.htmlPhotos:http://rosswarner.com/Walden.html (Walden photo)http://www.wordsworthclassics.com/cov/poet/1840225351.jpg (lyrical ballads photo)http://www.unl.edu/Corvey/html/Images/WavesBreakingOnALeeShore.jpg (Romanticism photo) http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/pictures/middle/matthew_arnold.jpg (Arnold photo)

Romanticism and the Romantic Poets