Historical Background
Politically: the French Revolution
"Declaration of Rights of Man" (1791-2), Thomas Paine
"Inquiry concerning Political Justice" (1793), William Godwin
a tendency to turn or escape from the tumultuous嘈杂的动乱的and confusing society
Characteristics of Romanticism
•Love of Nature: The Romantics greatly emphasized on the importance of nature, and one of the main characteristics of Romanticism in poetry is the beauty of nature found in the country life. This was mainly because the industrial revolution had taken man from the peaceful country life towards the city life, transforming man's natural order. Nature was not only appreciated for its physical beauty by the Romantics, but also for its ability to help the urban man find his true identity.
Definition from Wikipedia
Romanticism (or the Romantic Era or the "'Romantic Period"') was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution. In part, it was a revolt反叛; 反抗 against aristocratic social and political norms标 准, 规范of the Age of Enlightenment and a reaction against the scientific rationalization of nature. It was embodied most strongly in the visual arts, music, and literature, but had a major impact on historiography, education and natural history.
The Romantic Period (1798-1832)
Introduction
English Romanticism begins in 1798 with the publication of Wordsworth and Coleridge’s The Lyrical Ballads and ends in 1832 with Walter Scott’s death. William Blake and Robert Burns also belong to this literary genre, though they live prior to the Romantic period.
Many farmhands driven out of land rushed into the city;
Women and children were employed as cheap labor;
New machines were set up, rendering many out of work;
Disparity was growing between the rich and the poor;
Ideologically
The principle of Ration was giving way to an individualized, free, liberal, imaginative attitude towards life;
What is Romanticism
Romanticism is a movement that emerged as a reaction against Neoclassicism , 新古典主义 the age preceding the Romantic movement. The Neoclassical age was also called the “The age of Enlightenment”, which emphasized on reason and logic. The Romantic period wanted to break away from the traditions and conventions that were dear to the Neoclassical age and make wபைடு நூலகம்y for individuality and experimentation.
"A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792), Mary Wollstonecraft
Workers’ Movement
Economically: the Industrial Revolution
Continued fast changes took place both in the country and in the cities;