Romanticism in English and American Literature

Summary

This lecture offers an engaging introduction to Romanticism in English and American literature, highlighting its historical context, major authors, and defining principles. It distinguishes between Romanticism as a recurring literary moment and as a distinct 18th–19th century movement. Central to Romantic thought is the transformative interaction between the self and nature, emphasizing emotion, imagination, and introspection over reason and societal norms. The lecture explores the benefits of nature, including joy, intellectual growth, and transcendence, while also noting Romanticism’s broader applications in literature, art, and social reform. Ultimately, Romanticism seeks self-cultivation as a pathway to individual and societal improvement.

Takeaways

• 😀 Romanticism exists both as a literary moment and a historical movement, with roots stretching back to ancient texts like *Gilgamesh* and *The Odyssey*.
• 😀 The Romantic movement in literature began in the late 18th century in England with *Lyrical Ballads* by Wordsworth and Coleridge, and continued until 1850.
• 😀 In America, Romanticism flourished in the 1820s and ended in the early 1860s, with major figures like Emerson, Whitman, and Melville.
• 😀 Romanticism reacted against the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason, rationalism, and societal engagement, focusing instead on individual emotion, intuition, and imagination.
• 😀 Nature is central to Romanticism; it offers refuge and a means for self-discovery, rehabilitation, and self-reliance.
• 😀 The Romantic experience is shaped by the interaction between the self and nature, where sensory experiences lead to transcendental, intellectual, and emotional growth.
• 😀 The Romantics emphasized inner over outer life, advocating for a retreat into nature to rejuvenate the individual, which in turn allows for societal reform.
• 😀 Major Romantic authors include Blake, Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, and Byron in England, and Emerson, Hawthorne, and Dickinson in America.
• 😀 The ultimate goal of Romanticism is not only personal transformation but societal reform, which starts with individual self-culture and leads to broader change.
• 😀 Romanticism highlights beauty, joy, and emotions, but also addresses darker themes like fear and the sublime, acknowledging both the positive and negative aspects of nature.
• 😀 While nature is the primary source of Romantic experience, literature, art, theater, and societal action aligned with Romantic ideals also contribute to self-discovery and reform.

Q & A

What is the distinction between Romanticism as a moment in literature and as a movement?

Romanticism as a moment refers to instances of romantic elements appearing throughout literature from ancient to modern works. As a movement, it refers to a specific historical period: in England roughly 1798–1850 and in America the 1820s to early 1860s, characterized by a shared set of literary and philosophical ideas.

Who are some major British and American Romantic authors?

British men: Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley, Keats, Byron; Prose: Lamb, DeQuincy. British women: Mary Shelley, Emily & Charlotte Brontë, Dorothy Wordsworth. American men: Bryant, Irving, Emerson, Poe, Whitman, Hawthorne, Melville. American women: Margaret Fuller, Emily Dickinson.

How did Romanticism react to the Enlightenment?

Romanticism opposed the Enlightenment's focus on reason, rationalism, technology, and societal engagement, emphasizing instead emotion, intuition, imagination, contemplation, and the individual's inner self.

Why is nature so central to Romanticism?

Nature provides solitude, peace, joy, emotional uplift, and opportunities for self-discovery, self-building, and self-reliance. It serves as a refuge from societal pressures and a catalyst for intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth.

What is the difference between nature literature and Romantic literature?

Nature literature primarily describes and celebrates nature without significant transformation of the self. Romantic literature involves active engagement with nature, resulting in profound personal and transformative experiences.

How do the senses play a role in the Romantic experience?

Engaging the five senses with natural elements initiates the Romantic experience. Sensory encounters with sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch allow the self to begin interacting with nature, leading to emotional and intellectual elevation.

What is meant by the Romantic journey forward, upward, and backward?

Forward refers to exploring and wondering in nature, upward to intellectual and spiritual elevation, and backward to recollecting past experiences or childhood memories, all contributing to self-transcendence and growth.

Can experiences beyond nature contribute to Romanticism?

Yes. Reading imaginative books (e.g., *Arabian Nights*), engaging with art and theater, and purposeful societal action can also evoke Romantic experiences by stimulating imagination, emotion, and personal growth.

What is the ultimate aim of Romanticism in terms of society?

Romanticism seeks societal reform through self-reform. Individuals first disengage from society to rehabilitate themselves in nature or through intellectual pursuits and then return to lead peaceful, transformative change in society.

How does Romanticism balance emotion and intellect?

Romanticism values emotional richness through joy, beauty, and the sublime, while simultaneously fostering intellectual and imaginative growth through contemplation, reflection, and engagement with the natural or artistic world.

What role do memory and recollection play in Romanticism?

Memory and recollection, particularly of past natural experiences or childhood, enable deeper engagement and transcendence, allowing the self to achieve insight, personal growth, and heightened imagination.