English Lit 101: Major Periods and Movements - Romanticism Gothic Romanticism Emphasis on Imagination Nature Emotion Individual Sublime

What It Is

Romanticism is a literary and artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th century, emphasizing the power of imagination, individualism, and the beauty of nature. It is characterized by a focus on emotion, the sublime, and the irrational. A canonical example of Romanticism is John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale," which explores the speaker's longing for transcendence and connection with nature. Understanding Romanticism is crucial for analyzing the ways in which literature reflects and shapes cultural values.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Romanticism: A literary and artistic movement that emphasizes imagination, individualism, and the beauty of nature.
  • Example: John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale"
• Gothic Romanticism: A subgenre of Romanticism that combines elements of horror and the supernatural with a focus on the sublime and the irrational.
  • Example: Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein"
• Imagination: The faculty of creating mental images or ideas.
  • Example: William Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" (the speaker's imagination is sparked by a daffodil)
• Nature: The natural world, often depicted as beautiful, powerful, and awe-inspiring.
  • Example: William Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" (the speaker describes the beauty of the natural world)
• Emotion: A strong feeling or sentiment, often depicted as intense and authentic.
  • Example: Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (the mariner's guilt and remorse are depicted as intense emotions)
• Individual: A person who values their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences above those of others.
  • Example: Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Prometheus Unbound" (the protagonist, Prometheus, defies authority and values his own freedom)
• Sublime: A feeling of awe, wonder, or terror inspired by something vast, powerful, or beautiful.
  • Example: Edmund Burke's "A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful" (Burke describes the sublime as a feeling of awe inspired by natural phenomena)
• Sensibility: A heightened awareness of emotions and sensations.
  • Example: Ann Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho" (the protagonist, Emily, is depicted as having a heightened sense of sensibility)
• The Beautiful: A quality of beauty, often depicted as delicate, refined, and pleasing.
  • Example: William Wordsworth's "The Prelude" (the speaker describes the beauty of a sunset)
• The Grotesque: A quality of ugliness or deformity, often depicted as disturbing or unsettling.
  • Example: Matthew Lewis' "The Monk" (the protagonist, Ambrosio, is depicted as grotesque and corrupt)
• The Irrational: A quality of illogic or unpredictability, often depicted as mysterious or supernatural.
  • Example: Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" (the monster is depicted as irrational and unpredictable)

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Romanticism is a movement that emphasizes reason and logic.
• Correction: Romanticism emphasizes emotion, imagination, and the irrational. Example: John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" (the speaker's longing for transcendence is depicted as an emotional and irrational desire)
• Misunderstanding: Gothic Romanticism is a subgenre of Romanticism that emphasizes horror and the supernatural.
• Correction: Gothic Romanticism combines elements of horror and the supernatural with a focus on the sublime and the irrational. Example: Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" (the monster is depicted as a symbol of the sublime and the irrational)
• Misunderstanding: The sublime is a quality of beauty or refinement.
• Correction: The sublime is a feeling of awe, wonder, or terror inspired by something vast, powerful, or beautiful. Example: Edmund Burke's "A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful" (Burke describes the sublime as a feeling of awe inspired by natural phenomena)

Quick Application / Identification

1. Identify the concept of the sublime in the following excerpt from Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein": "The being was a monster, a creature of the night, with eyes that glowed like embers." Answer: The sublime (the creature is depicted as a symbol of the sublime, inspiring awe and terror) Reason: The creature is described as a vast and powerful being, inspiring a feeling of awe and terror in the protagonist.
2. Identify the concept of individualism in the following excerpt from Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Prometheus Unbound": "I will not be bound by the chains of authority, I will be free." Answer: Individualism (the protagonist, Prometheus, values his own freedom and autonomy above the authority of others) Reason: The protagonist is depicted as defying authority and valuing his own freedom, illustrating the concept of individualism.
3. Identify the concept of sensibility in the following excerpt from Ann Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho": "Emily felt a pang of sorrow as she gazed upon the ruined castle." Answer: Sensibility (Emily is depicted as having a heightened sense of emotions and sensations) Reason: Emily is described as feeling a strong emotional response to the ruined castle, illustrating her heightened sense of sensibility.

Last?Minute Revision

• Romanticism emerged in the late 18th century.
• John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" is a canonical example of Romanticism.
• Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is a classic example of Gothic Romanticism.
• Edmund Burke's "A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful" is a key text on the sublime.
• William Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" is a famous example of a poem that explores the concept of imagination.
• Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Prometheus Unbound" is a classic example of a poem that explores the concept of individualism.
• Ann Radcliffe's "The Mysteries of Udolpho" is a classic example of a novel that explores the concept of sensibility.
• The sublime is a feeling of awe, wonder, or terror inspired by something vast, powerful, or beautiful.
• The beautiful is a quality of beauty, often depicted as delicate, refined, and pleasing.
• The grotesque is a quality of ugliness or deformity, often depicted as disturbing or unsettling.
• The irrational is a quality of illogic or unpredictability, often depicted as mysterious or supernatural.