19C - Romantic Poetry in the Nineteenth Century Lesson

Romanticism does not fixate around the modern-day meaning associated with "romance". Instead, in British Literature, Romanticism was a movement characterized by a shift in attitudes from a reasonable and logical view of the world to a more subjective and individualistic one. Romanticism was a response to the Age of Enlightenment, which valued science, reason, and innovation. Heavily influenced by the American and French Revolutions, the Romantic poets valued the power of nature, emotion, imagination and individual experience. Many of their poems deal with the sublime, the awe-inspiring power and beauty of the natural world. This focus on nature can be seen as a response to the Industrial Revolution and the transformation in England from an agrarian to an industrial society.

The Romantic Movement in England began with the publication of Lyrical Ballads, a collection of poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Along with William Blake, these poets make up the first generation of Romantics. Wordsworth wrote a Preface to Lyrical Ballads, in which he explained his philosophy of poetry. These notions set forth a new literary age.

Let's take a look at some of the common themes of Romanticism.

Reading Assignment

William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth, who lived from 1770-1850, is known as one of the poets who marked the beginning of the Romantic Period in English literature with the publication of Lyrical Ballads in 1798. His parents encouraged the memorization of poetry from well-known authors such as Shakespeare and Milton. Wordsworth used his personal experiences, such as the beautiful natural surroundings of his childhood, as inspiration for his poetry. He also hiked through England and Europe which developed his ideas about the significance of the common man and rural life.

"Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey"

One of Wordsworth's most celebrated poems is "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey"—the final poem of Lyrical Ballads. Wordsworth wrote this poem after a walking tour with his sister. In the poem, the speaker revisits a spot that he had visited five years before and reflects on the changes he has undergone during that time.

The poem develops many of the themes that Wordsworth sets forth in his preface to Lyrical Ballads. Wordsworth uses the poetic medium to express how nature holds the power of tranquility and provides an out of body experience for the individual.

It is now time to read "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey."  When reading the poem, analyze how Wordsworth incorporates the themes of Romanticism such as the influence of natural surroundings and the focus on the individual.

"The World Is Too Much With Us"

In the sonnet "The World is Too Much With Us," Wordsworth criticizes society for the prevalence of materialism and the First Industrial Revolution. He argues that the industrialized world has prevented people from fully appreciating the beauty of the natural world and that humanity cannot progress spiritually without getting in touch with nature. The title of the poem indicates that the world is too overwhelming for humanity to appreciate due to the obsession with money.

Read "The World is Too Much With Us." Links to an external site. 

When reading, notice the various elements Wordsworth incorporates that reflect on the past and bring the poem to life:

• Sonnet Form
• Rhyme Scheme
• Metaphors
• Imagery
• Punctuation that creates pause

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who lived from 1772-1834, is also known as one of the poets who marked the beginning of the Romantic Period in English literature with the publication of Lyrical Ballads in 1798. Educated and rich in literary knowledge at a young age, Coleridge held a deep appreciation for reading. However, Coleridge suffered from anxiety and depression among other illnesses which led to his opium addiction. Regardless, Coleridge still remains one of the most influential literary figures in the Romantic period, and his close friendship with Wordsworth helped to inspire the Romantic themes in Coleridge's poems. 

"Kubla Khan"

"Kubla Kahn", published in 1816, stems from opium-induced dreams Coleridge experienced. The epic poem is about the visions he encountered while asleep under the influence of opium. The poem was never finished because a visitor interrupted Coleridge's writing, and by the time the visitor left, Coleridge could not remember the entirety of his dream. Therefore, the poem expresses both the beauty of his visions and the regret for the portions that he lost in his mind.

It is now time to read "Kubla Khan."  When reading, notice the point at which the poem moves from the beauty of the vision to the expression of lament for the lost portion of his dream. Note his commentary on how inspiration seems fleeting at times.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, published in 1798, is arguably one of Coleridge's most famous poems and the poem chosen by Coleridge and Wordsworth to start Lyrical Ballads. The narrative poem detailing a sea voyage gone awry due to the violation of nature contains dark imagery and elements of the supernatural; the murder of the albatross leads to the downward spiral of the mariner's journey. Due to the popularity of the poem, the phrase "albatross around one's neck" has become an idiom in the English language that means "a heavy burden of guilt that becomes an obstacle to success."

Read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. When reading, note how the murder of the albatross symbolizes the destruction of nature in general and represents the backlash of the Industrial Revolution in England. 

Second Generation Romantic Poets

Influenced by Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Blake, the second generation of romantic writers - Lord Byron, Percy Shelley and John Keats all embodied the same Romantic ideals in their lives and poetry as the first generation romantic poets. The second generation poets often used a more complex style with elevated language and included more mythological references from classic literature. Most of the poets from the second generation unfortunately died young and in tragic ways.

Lord Byron, George Gordon

Lord Byron, who lived from 1788-1824, was a popular Second Generation poet from the Romantic period. He was notorious for his multiple affairs and excessive lifestyle but remains praised for his epic poems, which include Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan. In these poems, and through the example of his life, Byron introduces what has come to be known as the "Byronic Hero." The Byronic Hero is different from the Epic Hero; recall that the "Epic Hero" was popular throughout past works of literature. Let's examine the Byronic Hero characteristics vs. the Epic Hero's characteristics.

"She Walks in Beauty"

"She Walks in Beauty", published in 1815, is an extended metaphor that describes Byron's reaction to seeing a beautiful woman at a party.

Read "She Walks in Beauty." Links to an external site.When reading, notice the use of imagery and the underlying meaning of the extended metaphor.

Don Juan Canto I

Byron's most famous hero is Don Juan, the hero of his masterpiece of the same name. In Don Juan, Byron satirizes the legend of Don Juan in which Don Juan is a great seducer of women by making his Don Juan someone who is easily seduced by women. Published in 1819, the poem's racy content made it both controversial and extremely popular. The following excerpt is the first of the 16 Cantos of Don Juan, and describes the scandalous circumstances that bring about the beginning of his journey.

Read Don Juan Canto I Links to an external site.. When reading, notice the variation on the epic form that Byron create. Similarly, try to note how Don Juan reveals characteristics of the Byronic Hero created by Lord Byron.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley, who lived from 1792-1822, was a talented poet and intellectual as well as the most politically radical of the Romantics. Although he only lived until age 29, he had a prolific output of writings. His radicalism stems from an early age; he was kicked out of Oxford for publishing a pamphlet defending atheism. Following his expulsion from Oxford, he published Queen Mab, a long political and philosophical poem that advocated socialism, revolutionary change, and vegetarianism among other ideologies. Later in his short life, influenced by his friendships with Keats and Byron, Shelley moved beyond political discourse to publish more lyrical poems. He drowned in a shipwreck shortly before his 30^th birthday.

"Ozymandias"

Published in 1818 and written in sonnet form, Shelley's inspiration for "Ozymandias" came from a British Museum's acquisition of a portion from a statue. 

Read "Ozymandias Links to an external site.." When reading, note how Shelley reflects on the past and reveals themes of how all greatness must come to an end.

"Ode to the West Wind"

"Ode to the West Wind", published in 1820, serves as Shelley's medium to praise the wind that will spread his message of reform and revolution. The poem represents a type of allegory that paints the role of the poet as the voice of political and moral change.

Read "Ode to the West Wind." Links to an external site. When reading, note how Shelley emphasizes how nature serves as a catalyst for change by carrying the voice of the poet.

John Keats

John Keats, who lived from 1795-1821, achieved a remarkable level of poetic accomplishment in his short life. Keats originally set out to study medicine in the hopes of becoming a druggist, but by the time he finished his studies his passion had turned to poetry. His early poetry was savagely reviewed by the critics of the time, but Keats was not dissuaded. In 1817 Keats met Percy Shelley, who became a great friend and influence. Around the same time he also met and married 18 year old Fanny Brawn, who would serve as an inspiration for much of his poetry although they were often forced apart by circumstance and illness. He contracted tuberculosis from his brother in 1818 and published his most famous and successful poetry in the remaining three years of his life while terminally ill. His sense of his own mortality permeated his work and contributed to the power of his poems.

Keats' Odes

Keats is considered a master of the ode. An ode is a lyrical poem that is dedicated to a single theme, person or topic. In a sense, they are poetic meditations. Keats' Odes are generally considered the best examples of the form in the English language. Note how they focus on the object to reveal some kind of truth about life.

Read "Ode on a Grecian Urn."

Read "Ode to Autumn."

Romantic Poetry Self Assessment

After reviewing the various poems, practice your understanding of the Romantic poetry from the module.

Please note: You will be responsible for analyzing and explaining the elements of the poetry in this lesson.