Paper no 5 Romantic Literature

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Name : Ami Trivedi

Roll no : 03

Class : M.A

Sem: 2

Enrolment no : 2069108420170029

Topic : Definition of romantic poetry, Wordsworth as a romantic poet and his works.

Year : 2016-2018

Email id : amitrivedi4288@gmail.com

Submitted to : SMT.S.B.Gardi

Dep. of English M.K.B.University

Background :
 

The Romantic Revival or Romanticism is a name given to a movement in European literature which spread in the last quarter of the 18th century. It was a revolt against classicism. It was a revolt that produced the romance of Scott and the poems of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Shelley and Byron.

Definition of 'Romanticism' :

“Romanticism is the opposite, not of classicism but of realism.”

                       -Victor Hugo

“Romanticism means the renaissance of wonder.
           -Walter

What is Romantic poetry.? : 
 

Romantic poetry is the poetry of the Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century.

         William Wordsworth was actively engaged in trying to create a new kind of poetry. Wordsworth himself in the preface of his and Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Lyrical Ballads defined that good poetry as,

“ Spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”

Characteristics of English Romantic poetry :

1. Romanticism:
   
   Romantic poetry contrast with neoclassical poetry, which is poetry of intellect and reason, while romantic poetry is the production of emotions, sentiments and the heart. According to William J Long
   “ The Romantic Movement was marked, and is always marked, by a strong reaction and protest against the bondage of rule and custom which in science and theology as well as literature, generally tends to fetter the free human spirit.”

2. Imagination :

Belief in the importance of romantic poets such as John Keats, Samuel Coleridge and P.B.Shelley. Keats said,

“ I am certain of nothing but of the holiness of the Heart's in both Wordsworth and William Blake. The imagination is related to morality and they believe that literature, especially poetry, could improve the world. The secret of great art, Blake claimed, is the capacity to imagine.”

3. Nature Poetry :

Love for nature is another interesting feature of romantic poetry, a wellspring of inspiration, satisfaction and happiness. This poetry involves a relationship with external nature and places, and a belief in Panthism. However, the romantic poets differed in their views about nature. Wordsworth recognized his epic poem The Prelude. In his poem “ The Tables Turn” he writes :

“ One impules from the vernal wood

Can teach you more of man,

Of moral evil and good,

Than all sages can.”

Shelley was another nature poet, who believed that nature is a living thing and there is a union between nature and man. Wordsworth approaches nature philosophically, while shelley emphasiese the intellect. John Keats is another a lover of nature, but Coleridge differs from other romantic poets of his age, in that he has realistic perspective on nature. He believes that nature is not the source of joy and pleasure, but rather that people's reactions to it depends on their mood and disposition. Coleridge believed that joy does not come from external nature.

4) Medievalism :

It is another important characteristic of romantic poetry, especially in the works of John Keats and Coleridge. They were attracted to exotic, remote and obscure places, and so they were more attracted to Middle Ages than to their own age.

Wordsworth as a romantic poet and his works :

William Wordsworth's poetry exhibits Romantic Characteristics and for his treatment towards romantic elements, he stands supreme and be termed a Romantic poet on a number of reasons. The romantic movement of early nineteenth century was a revolt against the classical tradition of the eighteenth century; but it was also marked by certain positive trends. Wordsworth was of course, a pioneer of the Romantic Movement of the nineteenth century. With the publication of Lyrical Ballads, the trends become more or less established. However, the reason for why Wordsworth can be called a Romantic poet given below.

Imagination : Where the eighteenth century poets used to put emphasis much or 'wit', the romantic poets used to put emphasis on 'imagination.' Wordsworth uses imagination so that the common things could be made to look strange and beautiful through the play of imagination. In his famous 'Intimation Ode', it seems to his as to the child “ the earth, and every common sight” seemed “apparelled in celestial light”.

Nature : Wordsworth is especially regarded as a poet nature. In the most of the poems of Wordworth nature is constructed as both a healing entity and a teacher or moral gurdian. Nature is considerd in his poems as a living personality. He is true worshiper of nature: nature's devotee or high priest.

Wordsworth says nature “never did betray the heart that loved her.”

Subjectivity : Subjectivity is the key note of Romantic poetry. He expresses his personal thoughts, feelings through his poems. Nature becomes all in all to the poet. The sounding cataract haunted him like a passion. Nature was his beloved. He loved only the sensuous beauty of nature. He has also a philosophy of nature.

Wordsworth's Theory of Poetry :

The creative process is explained by Wordsworth in following words :-

“ Poetry is spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it takes origin from emotion recollected in tranquility; emotion is contemplated till, by a species of reaction, the tranquility gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind.”

His famous works :

• ' Daffodils '
• ' The Prelude'
• ' An Evening Walk '
• ' Descriptive Sketches '
• ' Lyrical Ballad '
• ' The Excursion '