Literature

1. Literature The Romantic Age By Michelle Serrano

2. Questions to think about… • 1. What was the biggest influence on Romantic Era literature? • Nature • Food • Revolution • 2. Where does Romanticism have its roots? • France and Germany • Germany and Britain • Canada and Britain • 3. Who focused their work on heroism? • William Blake • Lord Byron • William Wordsworth

3. What the Romantic Era was about • The romantic era in literature was very much inspired by acts of rebellion and revolution and many authors shared the same views on nature, mysticism, revolution and heroism. Authors such as William Blake, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Lord Byron are examples of some of the common views found in literature of the romantic era.

4. The Romantic Age • Has its roots in eighteenth century France and Germany • Romanticism introduced a shift from urban to rural, public to personal, and from scientific concern to mystery • Emphasizes a love of nature and emotion • Interest in rebellion, revolution, medieval past, the supernatural, mystics and the infinite

5. French Romantic movement • Founder of French romantic movement was Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand • Chateaubriand was inspired by the revolution and rejected eighteenth- century society and morality • Victor Hugo, Honorede Balzac, and Alexandre Dumas, would emerge later in the French romantic era

6. German Romantic movement • German romantic movement was not limited to one city, but spread to authors in different cities • Most German and French writers recognized the influence of Wolfgang von Goethe • Goeth’s attitude towards nature would set the stage for the romantic age everywhere

7. British Romantic movement • British romantics had the greatest impact on literature in the nineteenth-century • Rejoiced in the idea of Rousseau’s “noble savage” • Believed one could find true self through beautiful, natural landscapes • Nature was an inspiration

8. William Blake (1757-1827) • Expressed vision in esoteric lyrics • Blake’s works were different than those of artists of the same time • Classified as the transition-maker from Age of Reason to Age of Romanticism • His famous poem The Poison Tree uses the imagery of nature to personify his anger

9. William wordsworth(1770-1850) • Considered one of the most famous poets of the romantic era • Saw nature as a moral guide • Believed one could regain childhood innocence through nature • His famous poem I wandered Lonely as a Cloud uses nature imagery to capture a childlike whimsy

10. Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1777-1834) • Viewed nature as an inspiration to look deeper into one’s self psychologically • His work concerned metaphysical and supernatural realm • Best known for poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner which poses questions why are we here? What is our purpose? • These questions would be repeated throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

11. Lord Byron (1788-1824) • Known for romantic lifestyle and adventures • Lived out the role of the romantic hero • Poetry belonged more to eighteenth century than nineteenth century • Created the “Byronic hero” whose characterized as; arrogant, rebellious, charismatic, etc. • Died a heroic death while working for Greek independence

12. Common themes • All four authors displayed common themes of nature, rebellion and the supernatural in their works • These themes would be revisited by other romantic authors and artists later in the century and would become the defining factor of romantic literature

13. Therefore… • William Blake, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Lord Byron are only a few of the famous authors of the romantic era • Their works portray the love of nature, rebellion, and heroism that define the Romantic Era in literature