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Module 5: The Romantic Period Major Themes of Romanticism Nationalism: Due to key events like European colonialism, the French Revolution, and the establishment of the United States, many Western countries sought to distinguish their identities, leading Romantic artists to express their national identities with pride through their works. Exoticism: As cross-continental transportation became easier and colonialism became more widespread, Europeans became more exposed to nonwestern cultures that fascinated them. Exoticism was the artistic expression of that fascination, though often Europeans misrepresented the foreign and suppressed cultures they enjoyed. Revolution: Romantics generally supported revolution against tradition, political reform that would grant rights to oppressed groups and equality for all. Heroism: The Byronic hero, or Romantic hero, was the embodiment of the revolutionary thought and introspective concerns that Romantics faced in this era. Such heroes were gifted loners who challenged traditions and brooded on personal passions. Passion: Romantic artists explored the full spectrum of uninhibited human emotion and generally favored the strong sentiments of affection, sorrow, and romantic longing over the rational and logical. Individualism: Romantics celebrated and promoted the righteousness of human individuality and developed a newfound respect for the figure of the imaginative genius. Nature: Many Romantics found wisdom and solace in the natural world and sought to represent the strange emotions that occur when encountering the sublime.

Contexts: The Romantic Period Romanticism was a break from the intellectual framework of the Enlightenment and was a shift to a more expressive mode that emphasized the boldly heroic, the individual, the imagination, and the irrational. Romantic artists stressed passion, emotion, and exotic settings with dramatic action. Three major events that took place during the Romantic Period were the Industrial Revolution, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution: The Industrial Revolution: A time of tremendous industrial growth in Europe signaling a dramatic shift from an agriculture-based economy to one centered around industrialization, mechanized labor, and urbanization. The American Revolution: The American Revolution, encompassing the American Revolutionary War, resulted in the Declaration of Independence and established the United States as its own country. The French Revolution: A revolutionary movement that gained momentum with the storming of the Bastille in Paris in the summer of 1789. The French Revolution was a heated, bloody call for political change and an end to high taxes, food shortages, and the rising cost of bread.

Because political change was pervasive during this time period, many of the Romantics embraced Prometheus, a figure from Greek mythology who defied the gods to give fire to humanity. For Romantic artists and writers, Prometheus was a symbol of freedom and autonomy. Another important figure for Romantics was the Byronic hero. Lord Byron provided a living model for Romantic heroism. The Byronic hero possesses great talent, passion, and intelligence, but is at the same time flawed. Like Prometheus, the Byronic hero defies authority, rebelling against social constraints in pursuit of individual interests.

Philosophy of the Romantic Period Romantic philosophers were significantly influenced by social, political, and philosophical trends that were popular during the Enlightenment. Some of the important philosophical movements of the Romantic Period include idealism, transcendentalism, and nationalism. Idealism states that reality is a mental construct, and therefore, the only knowledge we have of the world is knowledge of our mental experiences. There is no objective reality but rather a subjective reality as perceived by a human being, existing only in relation to that person's experience. According to transcendentalists, society and social institutions ultimately corrupt individuals, stripping them of their natural freedom. Transcendentalists believe that people must become free and self-reliant by returning to nature. According to nationalism, the political legitimacy of a state is derived from some inherent unity or cohesion among the people that live in the area governed by that state. This unity is the result of some commonalities shared by the people, including things like race, culture, and language. Key Romantic Philosophers: Among the important Romantic philosophers are Friedrich Nietzsche and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Literature in the Romantic Period Romantics sought new modes of representation and crafted innovative ways to signal their departure from previously held beliefs, traditions, and literary forms. As such, Romantic Literature is iconoclastic in nature; it sought to break down conventions and societal norms. Romantic literary themes included: a movement away from rationalism to embrace the imagination a focus on the superiority of nature a contemplation of the divine or higher moral purpose a focus on the self and introspection English Romanticism English Romantic poets expressed a love of nature, an interest in exoticism, a reveling in the senses, and an investigation into the darker side of human emotion and humanity in their works. Central figures of the English Romantic literary period include: William Wordsworth: He is one of the foundational English Romantic poets. His work articulates the beauty of nature and explores the craft of writing. He believed in writing in "common speech" to reach all members of society.

His autobiographical poem, The Prelude, describes his own creative journey, demonstrating the introspection that characterizes Romanticism. John Keats: He is considered one of the core Romantic poets and is best known for his poetry, including "Ode on a Grecian Urn." In his work, Keats often found exceptional beauty in the ordinary. Keats drew heavily from historical themes and merged diverse concepts, such as love and death, in his poetry. Lord Byron: Famous for his flamboyant style and numerous love affairs, Lord Byron helped create the notion of the Byronic hero. The Byronic hero first appeared in Byron's epic narrative poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" and is best exemplified in his poem "The Corsair." American Romanticism American Romantic writers share their English counterparts' investment in nature, introspection, and the sublime. American Romantics, however, anchor their thought in distinctly American themes and American frames of reference. Herman Melville: He was a prolific American novelist, short story writer, and poet. His best known work is his epic novel Moby Dick; or the White Whale, in which Captain Ahab sacrifices all in a futile quest to dominate nature in the form of the elusive white whale, Moby Dick. Walt Whitman: He is often considered the Father of American poetry and was a key figure in the Transcendentalist movement. Whitman included Romantic themes in his work, such as a reverence for nature, an appreciation of the common man, and poetic expression that abandoned traditional forms. His work promoted egalitarianism His seminal work, Leaves of Grass, contains "Song of Myself," in which Whitman expressed his personal connection to diverse aspects of humanity. The Gothic Gothic literature sought to address larger Romantic themes in a darker way. While other Romantic writers celebrated the potential for harmony between nature and the human soul, Gothic writers explored what happens when there is disharmony. Mary Shelley: She was an English writer who began her career editing for her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley. She became a respected author with her novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus In Shelley's story, scientist Victor Frankenstein uses his mastery of the sciences to create a living being in pursuit of the meaning of life. By attempting to master nature and to take on a divine power (that of human creation), Victor has created something truly terrifying. The Brontë sisters: The Brontë sisters were prolific English poets and novelists. Emily Brontë wrote Wuthering Heights, a Gothic novel about doomed love set on an English moor.

Charlotte Brontë wrote Jane Eyre, in which the title character negotiates the limitations of class and gender. Slave Narratives Slave narratives combined reason, sympathy, and empathy to make a statement about the plight of slaves in the United States and to provide a narrative rallying cry for abolitionist action. Like their contemporaries, these writers appealed to emotion and logic to outline the importance of liberty, democracy, individualism, and the power of education, reform, and the imagination. Frederick Douglass: He became the most visible African American abolitionist of the era through his eloquent speeches and the publication of his autobiography The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. This autobiography detailed the abuse and inhumanity of slavery while accentuating the hypocrisy it represented in a nation that claimed freedom and Christianity as fundamental elements of its culture. Harriet Jacobs: She was an African American writer and prominent abolitionist speaker. She detailed the horrors of slavery in her narrative Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl in an attempt to inspire abolitionist actions. In her narrative, she declared her dream to create a home for herself and her children, a desire that 19th century female readers would have connected with strongly. Sojourner Truth: She was an abolitionist and former slave who advocated for African American women's rights. She brought the plight of African American women to the mainstream women's movement when she delivered her speech, "Ain't I a Woman?" (1851), which demanded that the rights of African Americans play a role in the political goals of the American women's movement.

Art and Architecture in the Romantic Period The artists of the Romantic Period mirrored the Romantic movement as a whole by celebrating the wild and irrational aspects of humanity. Romantic artists stressed passion, emotion, and exotic settings with dramatic action. There was a focus on heroic subject matters employing intense colors and loose brush strokes. Romantic painters also addressed political matters. Examples of this include Eugène Delacroix and his painting Liberty Leading the People. Other prominent artists of the period include Théodore Géricault, Francisco de Goya, J.M.W. Turner, and Caspar David Friedrich. The architecture of the Romantic Period demonstrated an embrace of Gothic Revival, a movement that celebrated the religiosity of older Gothic buildings. Romantic architects also experimented with different building materials, such as iron, steel, and glass.

Music in the Romantic Period The music of the Romantic Period replaced the restrained style of classical music with more expressive and emotional music.

Romantic composers found inspiration in heroic and nationalistic themes. They wrote pieces that demonstrated an appreciation of nature, a turn towards the mystic and the supernatural, and an embrace of strong, irrational emotions over logic and reason. During the Romantic Period, orchestras expanded to include percussion and keyboard instruments in addition to woodwinds, brass, and strings. Opera dealt with Romantic themes as well and emphasized more elaborate solos. Key Romantic composers included Johannes Brahms, Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Richard Strauss, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Richard Wagner.

Cultural Exchange and Diversity in the Romantic Period Cultural exchange and diversity during the Romantic Period stemmed from the European interest in exoticism, the glorification of cultural aspects from nonwestern civilizations. Due to improvements in transportation technology, Romantic writers, artists, and musicians traveled through the East in search of new inspiration In France, artists such as Antoine Jean Gros and Theodore Gericault made strong political statements and used exotic figures and locations in their paintings. French artists Eugène Delacroix and Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres conjured exotic images drawn from the Middle East and Africa. In England, John Nash designed the Royal Pavilion, which reflected a new exoticism in the use of Mughal and Islamic architectural elements. In America, artists such as George Caleb Bingham and George Catlin depicted cultural aspects of the Native Americans. American composers of hymns and church music looked abroad for inspiration, drawing from the works of the great classical composers of Europe.

Romantic Influences on Contemporary Life Art, music, and literature of the Romantic Period have created a lasting impression on the contemporary creative mind. The 1975 song "All By Myself", written and recorded by Eric Carmen, is an example of the Romantic Period's influence on contemporary music. Like much Romantic music, the melody and inner voices of "All By Myself" feature chromaticism, the movement or displacement of notes by a half-step. Chromaticism can often result in music that sounds emotionally unsettled. This is typical of music of the Romantic Period. Many who have performed "All By Myself" have capitalized on this feature in their performances....