Outline of English Literature3.docVIP

Part Ⅶ The Romantic Period I. Historical Background The French Revolution The Industrial Revolution II. Introduction to Romanticism Romanticism as a literary movement came into being in England early in the latter half of the 18th century. English Romanticism began in 1798 with the publication of Wordsworth and Coleridge’s The Lyrical Ballads and ended in 1832 with Walter Scott’s death. English Romanticism is a revolt of the English imagination against the enlightenment reason. Features of the Romantic Movement Dissatisfaction with the bourgeois society. Their writings filled with strong-willed heroes, formidable events, tragic situations, powerful conflicting passions and exotic pictures. Pay attention to spiritual and emotional life of man. Interest in the past, the unusual, the unfamiliar, the bizarre Strong desire to escape from the reality Concerned much about the influence of nature Their writings free from any rules, they fight against order, harmony, balance, reason. They ask for the freedom of expression. A feeling of loneliness and a note of melancholy. The glorification of the commonplace Characterized by 5 “I”s: Imagination, Intuition, Idealism, Inspiration, Individuality. III. Literature Poetry the Age of Poetry Schools of Romantic Poets: A. Pre-romantic poets Robert Burns: Scottish dialect, ballads William Blake: mysterious, philosophical, visionary Songs of Innocence Songs of Experience Marriage of Heaven and Hell B. Lake Poets (Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey) radical youth; conservative old age; long life William Wordsworth: Lyrical Ballads Samuel Taylor Coleridge: The Rime of Ancient Mariner老水手之行 Kubla Khan 忽必烈汗 C. Some Romantic poets held out an ideal of future society free from oppression and exploitation. Byron, Shelley and Keats Prose essay writer: Charles Lamb novelists: Jane Austen Walter Scott (Ivanhoe 艾凡赫，Waverley, 威弗利