Romantics and Romanticism: Characteristics

Romantics and Romanticism
Definitions of Romanticism are numerous. Linguistically romanticism denotes

something popular, adventurous and formless. In this sense, it was used in French and English language
during 17th century, in the 18th century, the word romantic was used for something tender, gentle
sentimental and melancholy. Romanticism developed a define style and attitude to life at the end of 18 th
century and early in the 19th century.
Generally speaking the term is characterized by the qualities of remoteness, desolation,
melancholy, divine unrest, passion and all-embracing power of imagination. It is suggestive of
strangeness and adventure of never satisfied aspiration after the unknown or unattainable.
The Romantic Movement in England was started in 1798 with the publication of the
“Lyrical Ballad”. This period of thirty four years include Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley,
Keats and Scott. But the movement was gaining headway throughout the 18 th century, and elements of
romanticism are apparent in the works of Thomas Gray, Collins, Cowper, Chatterton Blake and Burns to
name a few. There are four aspects of English Romanticism.
Characteristics
Faith in Imagination
This meant in poetry a renewed faith in feelings and intuition to challenge the predominance of
reason and the substitution of new format heroic couple and stylized poetic diction of the age of Pope.
Faith in the Individual
This went side by side with the spread of democracy which resulted from the American and
French Revolutions, reflected in the literature of the Romantic Movement by a growing humanitarianism.
Interest in the Past
The intense curiously about medieval times was variously reflected with renewed interest in past
literature resulting in the revival of the folk ballad and the Elizabethan drama.
Interest in Nature
Specially the tendency to observe a flower at close range and analyze it as on the mysteries of
the universe instead of sitting at home embalming it.
Romantic Movement is both a revolt and revival. This movement in literature and the
revolutionary idealism in European politics are both generated by the same human craving for freedom
from traditions and tyranny. This movement revives the poetic ideals of love, beauty, emotion,
imagination, romance and beauty of nature. Keats celebrates beauty, Shelley adorns love, Wordsworth
glorifies nature, Byron idealizes humanism. Scott revives the medieval lore and Coleridge amalgamates
supernatural. As a result, the Romantic Movement revolts against the ideals, principles, intellectualism,
aristocracy and technicality of Augustan Period.
This period is famous for its poetry. Great poets are like Blake, Southey, Wordsworth,
Coleridge, Shelley, Keats and Thomas Moore belong to this age. In poetry we can trace four points.
⮚ Return to Nature
⮚ Simplicity of subject and style
⮚ Importance of Lyric
⮚ Failure of Poetic drama
It is a transition period, the poetry of this period is comparatively simple in its features. The
outstanding features are as follow;
⮚ Love for nature
⮚ Love for beauty
⮚ Love for past
⮚ Love for supernatural elements
⮚ Written in simple style
Romantic Poets
1st Groups
Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey and Scott
2nd Group
Byron, Shelley, Keats and Leigh Hunt
1. Lake Poets
Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey
2. Scott Group
Scott, Campbell and Moore
3. Younger Group
Byron, Keats, Shelley, Hazlitt and Leigh Hunt
William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
He was the greatest poet of the romantic age. The credit of originating the Romantic
Movement goes to him. He reflected to follow any poetic conventions in poetry. He stood against
many great poets and critics like Dryden, Pope and Johnson. He defines poetry as “the
spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”. He gives his concept that poetic diction should be
simple and rustic. He wrote large number of lyrics. He is a poet of nature.
Works
Poems Sonnets
Lucy Gray London 1802
Lucy poems The World is too much with us
French Revolution Westminster Abbey
The Prelude Tintern Abbey
S. T. Coleridge (1772-1834)
He was the friend of Wordsworth. He was a Romantic poet. He was addicted to Opium. He
was a poet of supernaturalism. He always talks about the inner feelings. He says that when man’s
inner is happy all the objects of nature seem happy and charming.
Poems
Religious Musing
Ode to departing Year
The Rhyme of Ancient Mariner
The Dark Love
Kubla Khan
Robert Southey (1774-1843)
He was the third of the group of Lake Poets. He lacked genius like Wordsworth and
Coleridge, so his poetry has not high value. He was excellent reader and write. In 1813, he
became poet Laurite.
Works
Thalaba
Madoc
Life of Nelson
Roderick
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)
He the leader of Scott group. He was a first person who was popular among masses.
Wordsworth and Coleridge’s poetry was read by only few people. His poetry was read by any
people. His poetry has a lack of imagination. He gives vivid picture of all things.
Thomas Campbell (1772-1844)
He was prominent in the minor poets of Romantic age. He was the follower of Scott.
He wrote “Ye-Mariner of England.”
Thomas Moore (1779-1852)
He was also prominent in the minor poets. He wrote many poems but his famous poem is “Lalla
Rookh”
Lord George Gordon Byron (1788-1824)
He was the leader of younger poets. He was most famous poet during his life time
and after his death. He was due to excellent career and his splendid personality. His poetry is not
higher order like Keats and Shelley. He was the only romantic poet who showed respect for 18 th
century and ridiculed his contemporaries. He is known as a “Romantic Paradox”.
Works
English Borders and Scottish Reviewers.
The Giaor
Childe Harold
Don Juan
Beppo
P. B. Shelley (1792-1822)
He was a revolutionary poet and the prophet of faith and hope. He was the greatest lyrical
poet of England. He was influenced by Godwin who was a German philosopher and he wrote
“Political Juristic” in this book he condemn on church, priest and kings. He was the poet of
nature, he was inspired by the spirit of love which was not limited to mankind but extended to
every living creature to animal and flower. His style is superb and simple. Main flaw in Shelley is
that he favors the Taboo, free sex.
Works
The Revolt of Islam
Adonis
In Memoriam
Alastor
Epipsychidion
The Mask of Anarchy
Ode to the West Wind
Ode to Time
John Keats (1795-1821)
He was a pure romantic. He was not interested in his age. He only wrote only for art sake.
He belongs to poor family. He led life distress. He has to face many problems in family life and
literary work.
Works
Endymion
Isabella
Lamia
Hyperion
Ode to Autumn
Ode to Greacian Urn Etc.

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Romantics and Romanticism

Definitions of Romanticism are numerous. Linguistically romanticism denotes

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