Title: The Romantic Revival: A Reawakening of Human Spirit and

Creativity
Introduction:
The Romantic Revival, a profound cultural and artistic movement that
emerged in the late 18th century, heralded a transformative period in
literature, art, music, and philosophy. This resurgence of romanticism
breathed new life into society, challenging conventional norms and
embracing individualism, emotion, and the beauty of nature. With its
roots in the Enlightenment era, the Romantic Revival marked a departure
from the rationality and restraint of the preceding period, igniting a
fervent passion for freedom, imagination, and the pursuit of authenticity.
Historical Context:
The Romantic Revival was a response to the social, political, and
economic upheavals of the time, including the aftermath of the French
Revolution, industrialization, and the dawn of the modern era. It sought
to reclaim the essence of humanity amidst the mechanization and
materialism of the industrial age. Romantics rejected the strictures of
neoclassicism and embraced a more spontaneous, intuitive approach to
creativity, valuing emotion over reason and the subjective experience over
objective reality.
Literature:
In literature, the Romantic Revival gave rise to a wealth of masterpieces
that celebrated the individual imagination and the power of the human
spirit. Poets such as William
Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and William Blake sought
inspiration in nature, portraying it as a source of solace, wisdom, and
transcendence. Their works, infused with vivid imagery and profound
introspection, explored themes of love, loss, and the sublime, inviting
readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and emotional
exploration.
Art:
The Romantic Revival also flourished in the realm of art, with painters
such as J.M.W. Turner, Caspar David Friedrich, and Eugène Delacroix
capturing the awe-inspiring beauty of the natural world and the
tumultuous drama of human existence. Through their use of vibrant
colors, dramatic compositions, and expressive brushwork, these artists
sought to evoke powerful emotions and stir the imagination of the viewer,
transcending the boundaries of traditional representation and embracing
a more subjective, visionary approach to art.
Music:
In music, the Romantic Revival ushered in an era of unparalleled
creativity and innovation, with composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven,
Franz Schubert, and Richard Wagner pushing the boundaries of musical
expression and form. Drawing inspiration from folk traditions, mythology,
and personal experience, these composers created symphonies, operas,
and lieder that resonated with passion, intensity, and emotional depth,
transforming music into a profound vehicle for individual expression and
collective catharsis.
Philosophy:
Philosophically, the Romantic Revival challenged the Enlightenment's
emphasis on reason and scientific progress, championing instead the
primacy of intuition, imagination, and the inherent value of the individual
soul. Thinkers such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schelling,
and Søren Kierkegaard explored the complexities of human experience,
grappling with existential questions of identity, freedom, and the search
for meaning in a world fraught with uncertainty and change.
Legacy:
The legacy of the Romantic Revival endures to this day, influencing
countless artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers across the globe. Its
celebration of individual creativity, emotional authenticity, and the
transformative power of nature continues to inspire new generations to
embrace their innermost passions, to question the status quo, and to seek
beauty and truth in a world too often consumed by cynicism and despair.
In an age marked by rapid technological advancement and social
upheaval, the ideals of the Romantic Revival remind us of the enduring
power of the human spirit to transcend adversity and to forge a deeper
connection with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.
Conclusion:
The Romantic Revival stands as a testament to the enduring power of art,
literature, and philosophy to illuminate the human condition and to
awaken the soul to its highest
aspirations. In its celebration of individualism, imagination, and the
beauty of nature, it offers a timeless vision of human potential and
possibility, inspiring us to embrace our innermost passions, to cherish
our connection to the natural world, and to cultivate a deeper
appreciation for the richness and complexity of the human experience.
500Title: The Romantic Revival: Rekindling the Flames of Creativity and
Emotion
In the tumultuous landscape of human history, epochs emerge that leave indelible
marks on culture, thought, and artistic expression. The Romantic Revival, a period
spanning the late 18th and early 19th centuries, stands as a testament to the
power of emotion, imagination, and individuality in shaping the artistic landscape.
This essay explores the essence of the Romantic Revival, its key characteristics,
notable figures, and enduring impact on literature, art, and music.
At its core, the Romantic Revival was a reaction against the rationalism and order
of the Enlightenment era. Rejecting the constraints of reason and logic,
Romanticism celebrated the untamed forces of nature, the depths of human
emotion, and the mysteries of the supernatural. It embraced the individual
experience and championed the imagination as a gateway to truth and beauty.
One of the defining characteristics of the Romantic Revival was its emphasis on
emotion over reason. Romantics sought to evoke intense feelings in their audience,
whether it be awe in the face of nature's grandeur, love's passion, or the
melancholy of existential longing. This emphasis on emotion led to a renewed
interest in the exploration of the self and the complexities of human psychology.
Nature also played a central role in Romantic thought and art. Romantics saw
nature as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual renewal. They sought to
capture its sublime power and ineffable qualities in their poetry, painting, and
music. Through their works, they aimed to forge a deeper connection between
humanity and the natural world, often imbuing landscapes with symbolic
meaning.
The Romantic Revival was also characterized by a fascination with the
supernatural and the mysterious. Gothic literature, with its themes of darkness,
death, and the supernatural, flourished during this period. Writers such as Mary
Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, and Bram Stoker created works that explored the darker
recesses of the human psyche and delved into the realm of the unknown.
Notable figures of the Romantic Revival include poets such as William Wordsworth,
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Lord Byron, whose lyrical verses captured the
essence of the Romantic spirit. Artists like J.M.W. Turner and Caspar David
Friedrich depicted the sublime beauty of nature in their paintings, while
composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert infused their music
with passion and emotion.
The impact of the Romantic Revival extends far beyond its historical context,
influencing generations of artists, writers, and thinkers. Its emphasis on
individualism, creativity, and emotion paved the way for the rise of modernism and
the development of new artistic movements in the 20th century. The Romantics'
belief in the power of imagination and the importance of the individual experience
continues to resonate in contemporary culture.
In conclusion, the Romantic Revival was a transformative period in human history,
marked by a rejection of reason in favor of emotion, imagination, and individuality.
Through poetry, painting, music, and literature, the Romantics sought to capture
the essence of human experience and forge a deeper connection with the natural
world. Their legacy endures as a testament to the enduring power of creativity,
emotion, and the human spirit.
The Romantic Revival: A Reawakening of Emotion and Imagination

The 18th century witnessed a flourishing of neo-classical ideals in art and

literature, emphasizing reason, order, and logic. However, by the late 18th
century, a new current began to stir – the Romantic Revival. This
movement was a rebellion against the constraints of neo-classicism,
advocating for a return to emotion, imagination, and a celebration of
nature.

The rigid rules and intellectual focus of neo-classicism left many artists
yearning for a more expressive form. Romantic writers like William
Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge sought inspiration in the
natural world, believing it held a
profound connection to human emotions and spirituality. Their poems,
such as Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" and Coleridge's
"Kubla Khan," showcased a focus on individual experience and the power
of imagination to shape reality.

Romanticism also embraced a fascination with the past, particularly the

medieval era. Gothic elements, with their emphasis on the mysterious, the
supernatural, and the sublime, became prominent in literature. Mary
Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto" are
prime examples of this trend.

The movement wasn't confined to literature. In music, composers like

Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt challenged the established structures of
classical
music, favoring a more emotional and expressive style. Their works
incorporated dramatic flourishes, rich harmonies, and a focus on
individual virtuosity.

The Romantic Revival's impact extended beyond artistic expression. It

fueled a growing interest in individualism and personal freedom, reflecting
the social and political upheavals of the time, including the American and
French Revolutions. Romanticism also played a role in the rise of
nationalism, with artists celebrating their cultural heritage and folklore.

The Romantic Revival left an enduring legacy. It ushered in a new era of

artistic expression that valued emotion, imagination, and individuality. Its
influence can be felt in various art forms, literature, and even our
appreciation for the natural
world. While the movement eventually gave way to new artistic trends, the
Romantic spirit continues to resonate, reminding us of the power of
emotions and the importance of imagination in shaping our
understanding of the world.
A Flourishing of Feeling: The Romantic Revival

The 18th century, dominated by the Age of Reason and Enlightenment ideals,
witnessed a significant shift in artistic sensibilities with the emergence of the
Romantic Revival. This literary and artistic movement, spanning roughly late 18th
to mid-19th century, challenged the rigid structures and rationalism of the
preceding era. Romanticism championed the power of individual imagination,
emotion, and a profound connection with nature.

One of the defining characteristics of the Romantic era was its rebellion against the
Neoclassical emphasis on reason and order. The Romantics saw the world not
solely through a logical lens but also through the prism of subjective experience.
They embraced emotion, intuition, and the power of the imagination as valid
avenues for understanding the world. This emphasis on feeling is evident in the
poetry of William Wordsworth, who found solace and inspiration in the beauty of
the natural world, as seen in his famous lines: "I wandered lonely as a cloud /
That floats on high o'er vales and hills..." [William Wordsworth, "I Wandered Lonely
as a Cloud"].

Nature itself became a central theme for the Romantics. In a world increasingly
shaped by the Industrial Revolution, Romanticism offered an escape to the idyllic
simplicity and grandeur of the natural world. Writers like John Keats, in his
evocative "Ode to a Nightingale," found
solace and inspiration in the beauty and mystery of nature [John Keats, "Ode to a
Nightingale"]. This focus on nature wasn't just about aesthetics; it was also a way
to explore the sublime, the awe-inspiring power and vastness of the natural world.

The Romantic Revival also saw a fascination with the past, particularly the
medieval period. Romanticism looked back to a time perceived as more passionate
and imaginative, filled with myths, legends, and Gothic elements. This fascination
is evident in the works of Sir Walter Scott, whose historical novels like "Ivanhoe"
brought the medieval world to life for a new audience [Sir Walter Scott, "Ivanhoe"].

The Romantics were also deeply concerned with the individual and their
place in the universe. They explored themes of isolation, alienation, and the
human condition. This introspection is central to the works of Mary Shelley's
"Frankenstein," a novel that grapples with the consequences of scientific ambition
and the burden of creation [Mary Shelley, "Frankenstein"].

The Romantic movement's influence extended beyond literature. Artists like Caspar
David Friedrich captured the sublime power of nature in his evocative landscapes.
In music, composers like Ludwig van Beethoven poured their emotions into their
symphonies, pushing the boundaries of musical form.

The Romantic Revival left a lasting legacy on Western culture. It challenged

established norms, celebrated the power
of imagination and emotion, and fostered a deep appreciation for nature. The
Romantics' works continue to resonate with readers and artists today, reminding
us of the enduring power of feeling, the beauty of the natural world, and the
complexities of the human experience.
TDC Part I, Paper I (Majour Trends in Different Periods)
ROMANTIC REVIVAL
The romantic period is a term applied to the literature of approximately from 1785 to 1832. During
this time, literature began to show the tendencies that were not entirely new but were in strong
contrast to the standard literary practice of the eighteenth century. This period was termed as
Romantic Revival because it tried to recreate the Elizabethan romantic aura as against the Neo-
Classical framework of the early 18th century.
The reaction to the standard literary practice and critical norms of the eighteenth century occurred
in many areas and in varying degrees. Reason no longer held the high place it had held in the
eighteenth century; its place was taken by imagination, emotion, and individual sensibility. Writers
tended to regard themselves as the most interesting subject for literary creation; interest in urban
life was replaced by an interest in nature, particularly in untamed nature and in solitude. The
romantic writers turned back to their own native traditions. The romantic writers responded
strongly to the impact of new forces, particularly the French Revolution and its promise of liberty,
equality, and fraternity. The humanitarianism that had been developing during the eighteenth
century was taken up enthusiastically by the romantic writers. The combination of new interests,
new attitudes, and fresh forms produced a body of literature that was strikingly different from the
literature of the eighteenth century. The poets and the writers not only sought to free themselves
from the fetters of neo-classical rules but also experimented with the old forms, revived some of
them.
Wordsworth, the great champion of the spiritual and moral values of physical nature, tried to show
the natural dignity, goodness, and the worth of the common man. His Preface to Lyrical Ballads
published in 1798 is considered as the Bible of English Romantic Poetry; in the Preface he tried to
conceptualize his new kind of poetry.
The romantic revival took place with Victor Hugo’s concept “liberalism in literature”. The Romantic
Movement is marked by the following tendencies: 1. Strong reaction against reason, rule and
customs. The new poets felt themselves confined in neoclassical frameworks. So they tried to give
free reign to their theme and technique. For this they had to rebel against several hard and fast
tenets of 18th century neoclassical poetry. 2. Call back to nature. ”Return to nature” was their
motto. They turned away from the artificial urban life and found refuge in the country life and
nature. They worshipped nature. Love of nature for them meant love of mankind, humanism and a
more world view that encompassed the idea of freedom and 2 equality. 3. The poet put more
emphasis on imagination rather than intellect. They allowed free play of imagination in their
poetry. Their free flights of fancy often led them to the strange, unfamiliar and the distant. Their
emphasis on imagination and emotions made their poetry primarily subjective. This was in
contrast with the classical preference for objectivity in poetry. For them poetry was not genuine if it
was not personal. 4. Intense human sympathy – understanding of human heart. Poetry became
closer to everyday life of common man. The ‘poetic diction’ of the eighteenth century was rejected
as artificial and unnatural. 5. The interest in the old sagas and medieval romances. The attraction
for the remote, the exotic and the mysterious enkindled in the romantic poets a love for the
medieval. Just as the writers of the eighteenth century turned to classical writers for inspiration,
the poets of the romantic revival turned to medieval age for inspiration. They gave free reign to
their emotion and passion. They abhorred classical restraint and obsession with reason.
The romantic period includes the work of two generations of writers. The first generation was born
during the thirty and twenty years preceding 1800; the second generation was born in the last
decade of the 1800s. The chief writers of the first generation were Wordsworth, Coleridge, Scott,
Southey, Blake, Lamb, and Hazlitt. Keats and Shelley belong to the second generation, along with
Byron, who was older than they were by a few years. Among these the works of Wordsworth and
Coleridge proved to be paving stone for the emergence of mainstream Romantic poetry.
Wordsworth’s Lyrical Ballads (1798) began with Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,”
continued with poems displaying delight in the powers of nature and the humane instincts of
ordinary people, and concluded with the meditative “Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern
Abbey,” Wordsworth’s attempt to set out his mature faith in nature and humanity.
His investigation of the relationship between nature and the human mind continued in the long
autobiographical poem addressed to Coleridge and later titled “The Prelude” (1798–99). The
Prelude constitutes the most significant English expression of the Romantic discovery of the self as
a topic for art and literature. The poem also makes much of the work of memory, a theme explored
as well in the “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood.”
The work of both poets was directed back to national affairs during these years by the rise of
Napoleon. Both Wordsworth and Coleridge benefited from the advent in 1811 of the Regency,
which brought a renewed interest in the arts. The works of these two poets became reference
points for all the upcoming literary artists of first and second generation of the romantic literature
The Romantic Revival (1800 - 1850)
Historical Background
During the late 18th century, Democracy and opportunity for the masses was a thought that
was becoming more and more popular. Many citizens who had not benefited from the victory
of Parliament in the Civil War voiced their discontent. The United States declared
independence in 1776 and in 1789 the French Revolution violently ended the power of the
monarchy and aristocracy in France. The new philosophy of the rights of all men was
expressed both in politics and literature. This new form philosophy became one of the main
guidelines of a new school of Romantic poets, writers and philosophers.
It was at this time that the government extended the right to vote to the middle classes
because of the threat of a popular revolution. The working classes however were not allowed to
do so until the very end of the 19th century. The working class survived under awful
conditions. As the migration from an agricultural society to an industrial society gathered
force, towns became cities, the population grew out of control and more and more villagers,
forced by economic necessity to seek work in the growing factories, crowded together in dirty
slums. Men, women and children worked from sunrise to sunset for insignificant wages.
During this so called Industrial Revolution no child who was able to pull a cart in the polluted
coal mines or sweep a floor in a factory, was considered too young to work. The poor had
practically no access to education.
The Romantic spirit affected practically every aspect of English life reflected the effects of
revolutions abroad, the demand for more democratic government and a growing awareness of
social injustices. Artificiality was superseded by simplicity and naturalness as characterization
of this new era. There was a resurgence of interest in wild and lonely portions of forest or
mountains instead of manicured gardens. Architecture tried to recapture the mysterious
atmosphere of the Middle Ages and rejected the rigid Classical style. Dress, too, became more
simple and natural.
The Romantic sense that had in the past been so strongly felt during the Elizabethan Age,
and had been repressed during the Augustan Age, was back again. The British cast off the
Augustan restraint in a more daring and imaginative approach to both literature and life. The
Augustan idea of order and reason were not supported by the realities of life and thus were
rejected. Romanticism represents a revolt against Reason as the only supreme guide in all
areas of living and rejects the idea that life can be reduced to a few scientific formulas. The
prevailing point of view was a personal and subjective one.
The Development of the Language
Because 18th century English had often proved limited and artificial, poets and novelists of
the Romantic Period looked for inspiration to the folk ballads and the speech of everyday life.
The 18th century idea of creating majestic literary English which was different in style from
spoken English was rejected. Since the beginning of the 19th century, written English has
become progressively less formal and closer to the spoken language.
At this time Greek began to have a direct effect upon the language. Many new philosophical
and scientific words were being added to English. Combining two or more words or roots from
Latin or Greek was a popular way of forming scientific words. This process created words such
as Barometer and thermometer. Another way of creating new names was the addition of Greek
prefixes and suffixes such as micro- (small), macro- (large), tele- (far), per- (maximum), -oid
(like), -ic (smaller), -ous (larger), to names already in use. Therefore such modern words as
microskirt, macroeconomics, telephone, peroxide, paranoid, sulphuric and sulphurous were
added to the English Language. Clear across the Atlantic, in North America, English was also
changing; before 1750 American speech was probably very similar to that of England.
However, by the year 1800, differences in pronunciation began to take place. For example,
during the late 18th century, speakers in England had turned to using an 'ah' sound in words
like 'path', 'ask', 'glass'. Most speakers in America, which had recently become independent,
were not affected by the British trend and continued to pronounce these words with the flat 'a'
sound heard in 'cat' and 'man'. This difference, one of the most noticeable, can still be
observed today British and American differences in spelling also originated in this period.
Most of them are the due to the work of an American named Webster, who was interested in
spelling reform. He concluded that it would be more convenient as well as more practical to
use a simplified form of spelling certain words, for example, honor instead of honour, color
instead of colour, wagon instead of waggon. He registered these spellings in his dictionary
which was widely read and came to be regarded as the authoritative opinion on spelling in
America. What the Romantic Period most importantly contributed to the development of the
English language was its movement away from the rigidity of the Augustan Age to a much
more colorful and flexible language, similar to that which had existed during the Elizabethan
Age.
The Romantic revival refers to a period from the late eighteenth century through 1832 in
which poets, writers, and artists across Europe, but particularly in Germany and England,
reacted against the Neoclassicism that preceded them. Neoclassical poetry was rooted in
Greek and Roman models and used strict forms, such as carefully metered rhyming couplets
in poetry. It valued balance and emotional restraint and tended to concentrate on the deeds of
great men. The Romantics rebelled against all this, seeking a greater emphasis on emotions,
experimenting with freer verse (or artistic) forms, and focusing attention on common people
and nature. In poetry, the movement is most strongly associated with Goethe in Germany and
Wordsworth and Coleridge in England. While the preface to Lyrical Ballads is most often, and
rightfully so, used as a guide to the tenets of Romanticism, especially the emphasis on "the
spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings ... emotion recollected in tranquility," Wordsworth
gives other insights into his motivations for writing in "The Prelude," a long poem published
after his death but first drafted in 1805. In it, he speaks of his insight and conviction that as
poet-prophet he could describe the common person in a sympathetic light, a task important to
him after he witnessed the French Revolution turn into a bloodbath. He was one of many
artists of his period who felt a surge of interest in and sympathy for the common person and
for nature as solace in a corrupt civilization. Of course, nothing occurs in a vacuum, and the
seeds of the Romantic revival were sown throughout the eighteenth century. Notable
Romantic Poets
William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley
Shelly
Atheist, anti-religion
Poems about permanence of things that are true and beautiful
Common themes- hatred of kings, faith of natural goodness of man, belief in corruption of
present society, power of reason, rights of natural impulse, desire for a revolution, liberty
equality, and fraternity- all shaped by the French revolution.
Byron
No faith stood for destruction.
Admitted he resisted authority but offered no solution.
Poetry- deep feeling than deep thinking to make characters strong. Characters in complete
harmony with nature and therefore lose themselves in the immensity of the world. French
Revolution shaped his beliefs and opposition to monarchy.
Coleridge
Supported the
Was more open and receptive to the social and political world around him, was a versatile
man, led a life that covered many fields and his work displayed this. Was a poet of nature,
romance and the Revolution. Was a philosopher, historian, political figure-shaped through
French RevolutionPoem-“Destruction of Bastille”- contains the proud tone of a victor. The
speaker declares his victory “Go, Tyranny! Beneath some barbarous sky thy terrors lost, and
ruin’d power deplore!" This is an exhilarated cry taunting “Tyranny” and its loss of power over
the French people. This victorious and proud tone continues into the later stanzas. “Yes!
Liberty the soul of Life shall reign, shall throb in every pulse, shall flow thro’ every vein!” Now,
the speaker isn’t just talking about a victory over “Tyranny,” he is talking about hope for the
future though “Liberty.” A final aspect of this poem to consider are the questions in stanza six
“Shall France alone a Despot spurn? Shall she alone, O Freedom boast thy care?” The lines after
these expand upon this idea of universal revolution and political upheaval. This poem ends
considering the chance that Europe is presented right now, the chance for a loss of “Tyranny,”
a gain of.
“Liberty” and a new political order.
Wordsworth Supported the aristocrats but later supported the Revolution. Most profoundly
felt and expressed the connection of the soul to nature. Saw great value in immediate contact
with nature. French Revolution humanized Wordsworth-transitioned from extremely natural
experiences to facing the realities and ills of life- including society and the Revolution. His
focus became the interests of man rather the power and innocence of nature.