- "Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) is an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century."
The style of writing by romantic writers, including emphasis on emotion, individualism, imagination, and a rejection of Enlightenment ideals.
Romanticism: A literary movement that emerged in the 18th century and emphasized emotions, individualism, and nature as opposed to rationality and tradition.
Romantic poetry: Poetry that reflected the themes and ideas of the Romantic movement, such as emotions, nature, and imagination.
Gothic literature: A genre of literature that combines elements of horror and romance, often set against a backdrop of medieval or supernatural themes.
Transcendentalism: A 19th-century philosophical movement that emphasized spiritual connections between nature and the individual.
Imagination: A major theme in Romantic literature, exploring the imagination and its ability to connect the individual to nature.
Nature: Nature was central to Romantic literature, and was often seen as a source of inspiration and transcendence.
Individualism: A key theme of Romanticism, which emphasized individual autonomy and self-expression.
Romanticism in art: Romanticism also had a profound impact on art, with artists embracing vibrant, emotional imagery that often centered on nature and human emotion.
Sublime: The concept of the sublime, which evokes feelings of awe, wonder, and transcendence, was a major theme in Romantic literature and art.
Nationalism: Romanticism was closely tied to the rise of nationalism in Europe, and Romantic writers often celebrated the unique culture and heritage of their respective nations.
The supernatural: Another key theme in Romantic literature, exploring the mysterious, magical, and supernatural aspects of the world.
Feminism: The Romantic movement also had a significant impact on women's rights, with many female writers using Romantic themes and ideas to promote greater gender equality.
Melancholy: A common emotional tone in Romantic literature, reflecting a sense of sadness, longing, and nostalgia.
Love: Romantic literature explored the complexities of love in all its forms, often emphasizing the emotional and spiritual connections between individuals.
Heroism: Romantic literature often celebrated brave, noble, and heroic figures who embodied the ideals of the Romantic movement.
Escapism: The literature of the Romantic age focused on an escape from the harsh realities of everyday life into a world of imagination, beauty, and emotion.
Individualism: Romanticism emphasized the unique individual experiences and emotions. Romantic writers often focused on personal stories, and the individual person's unique contribution to the world.
Imagination: Imagination was highly valued in the Romantic age. Writers focused on the exploration of the inner world of the mind and emphasized the power of the imagination to create beautiful and complex works of art.
Nature: Romanticism celebrated the natural world and saw it as a source of inspiration and truth. Nature was often depicted as a spiritual entity that could provide solace and meaning.
Emotion: Strong emotions were an essential part of literary works during the Romantic Era. Romantic writers often explored extreme emotions, including love, despair, joy, and passion.
Medievalism: Romanticism looked back to the medieval era as a golden age of creativity and imagination. Writers often drew inspiration from medieval themes, stories, and concepts.
Supernatural: Romantic literature was filled with the supernatural—ghosts, witches, and other mysterious and spooky elements. Gothic literature was a popular form of Romantic writing.
Nationalism: Romanticism encouraged pride in the individual artist's national identity and cultural heritage. Many countries used literature as a way of creating a distinct national culture.
Subjectivity: Romantic literature was highly subjective, with writers reflecting their personal experiences and emotions in their works.
Rebellion: Many Romantic writers embraced the idea of rebellion against traditional values and authority. They believed that individual freedom was paramount and called for the breaking of social norms and conventions.
- "Romanticism was characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of the past and nature, preferring the medieval to the classical."
- "Romanticism was partly a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, and the prevailing ideology of the Age of Enlightenment, especially the scientific rationalization of Nature."
- "It was embodied most strongly in the visual arts, music, and literature; it also had a major impact on historiography, education, chess, social sciences, and the natural sciences."
- "Romantic thinking influenced conservatism, liberalism, radicalism, and nationalism."
- "The movement emphasized intense emotion as an authentic source of aesthetic experience."
- "It granted a new importance to experiences of sympathy, awe, wonder, and terror."
- "Romantics stressed the nobility of folk art and ancient cultural practices, but also championed radical politics, unconventional behavior, and authentic spontaneity."
- "In contrast to the rationalism and classicism of the Enlightenment, Romanticism revived medievalism and juxtaposed a pastoral conception of a more 'authentic' European past with a highly critical view of recent social changes, including urbanization, brought about by the Industrial Revolution."
- "Many Romantic ideals were first articulated by German thinkers in the Sturm und Drang movement, which elevated intuition and emotion above Enlightenment rationalism."
- "The events and ideologies of the French Revolution were also direct influences on the movement; many early Romantics throughout Europe sympathized with the ideals and achievements of French revolutionaries."
- "Romanticism lionized the achievements of 'heroic' individuals – especially artists, who began to be represented as cultural leaders."
- "Romanticism also prioritized the artist's unique, individual imagination above the strictures of classical form."
- "In the second half of the 19th century, Realism emerged as a response to Romanticism, and was in some ways a reaction against it."
- "Romanticism suffered an overall decline during this period, as it was overshadowed by new cultural, social, and political movements, many of them hostile to the perceived illusions and preoccupations of the Romantics."
- "However, it has had a lasting impact on Western civilization."
- "Many 'Romantic', 'neo-Romantic', and 'post-Romantic' artists and thinkers created their most enduring works after the end of the Romantic Era as such."