The Romanticism and the French Revolution & Important Facts

A Brief Introduction

Romanticism–The Romantic Period is the most fruitful period in the history of English Literature. Some of the greatest and most popular romantic poets like Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley and Keats belong to this period. William Wordsworth realized that literature or specially poetry become more and more artifical, full for fetched images, similes and metaphors. In 1798 Wordsworth published “The Preface to the Lyrical Ballads” which brought the Romantic Revival. Wordsworth in his preface mentions the three important features of poetry-(i) What is Poetry, (ii) What should be the language of poetry, (iii) What should be the subject matter of poetry. Defining Poetry, Wordsworth writies, “Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. It takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.”

“The language of poetry should be the language of ‘the common man.” “The Subject-matter of poetry should be chosen from the

world of nature and the day to day life of the common man. Thus come a revolution in the field of English poetry and this school of poetry come to known as “Romantic School of Poetry.” The French Revolution-The English Romantic movement was much different from the Romantic movement in France and the German Romantic movement.

Important Facts to Remember

1. The first phase of the French Revolution is known as the doctrinaire phase. This phase of the French Revolution comprised the period of Rousseau’s writing and their impact upon the Euorpean mind.

2. The second phase of the French Revolution was the political phase, which began in 1789. “Liberty, equality and Fraternity.” are characteristics of this revolution.

3. The third phase of the Revolution covers the age of Napolean. Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey were totally disillusioned with the outcome of the Revolution.

4. Wordsworth’s naturalism included love for nature and man.

5. Coleridge’s supernaturalism established the connection between the visible world and the world unseen.

6. Romantics were keenly interested in beauty of all forms. Return to Hellenic Art and Culture inspiration from Greek art and culture.

7. The Heroic couplet was discovered by the romantics and it was replaced by the ode, lyric, ballad and Sonnet.