Assignment : 105 : Classicism & Romanticism

Classicism & Romanticism

Personal Information

Name :  Makwana Bhargav Arvindbhai

Roll No : 01

Batch: M.A Sem 1 (2024-2026) 

Enrollment Number : 5108240018

Email : bhargavmakvana221@gmail.com

Assignment Details 

Topic : Classicism & Romanticism 

Paper & subject Coad  : 105 A  History of English Literature - From 1350 to 1900 : 22396

Date of  Submission :  20 November 2024

Table of contents

Classicism

• Meaning

• Time period of classicism

• Characteristics

• Literature of classicism

• Impact of classicism

Romanticism

• Meaning

• Time period

• Characteristics

• Literature of classicism

• Impact of classicism

• conclusion

Introduction 

Classicism and Romanticism are two contrasting movements that have significantly influenced art, literature, and philosophy. Classicism, rooted in the ideals of ancient Greece and Rome, emphasizes reason, order, harmony, and adherence to established rules. Emerging during the Renaissance and flourishing in the 17th and 18th centuries, it values universal truths and objective beauty, focusing on human rationality and the perfection of form. Classicist works often reflect a disciplined, formal approach, highlighting themes of balance and the collective over individual expression.

In contrast, Romanticism, which gained prominence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, rejected the rigidity of Classicism. It celebrated emotion, individuality, imagination, and the sublime power of nature. Romantic artists and writers sought to convey personal experiences, spiritual exploration, and the mysteries of life, often prioritising the subjective over the universal. This shift marked a profound change in cultural attitudes, transitioning from a focus on reason and tradition to an embrace of passion and creativity. Together, these movements encapsulate the ongoing tension between order and freedom in human expression.

Classicism

Meaning

                  An artistic and literary movement characterized by principles of order, balance, simplicity, and adherence to classical values and forms.

Time period 

            Classicism, as a cultural and artistic movement, primarily flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Characteristics of classicism

         Classicism is aesthetic attitudes and principles based on culture, art and literature of ancient Greece and Rome, and characterized by emphasis on form, simplicity, proportion, and restrained emotion. Characteristics of Classicism are belief in reason, civilized, modern, sophisticated, interest in urban society, human nature, love, satire, expression of acceptance, moral truth, realism, belief in good and evil, religion, philosophy, generic obstruction, impersonal objectivity, public themes, formal correctness, idea of order.

Here’s an elaboration of the characteristics of Classicism in points:

1. Belief in Reason : Classicism emphasizes rational thought and logic over emotion or superstition. It values clarity, order, and discipline in both art and literature.

2. Modern and Sophisticated : Classicism often celebrates contemporary ideals, valuing progress and modernity. It champions the idea that society should evolve based on rational principles.

3. Interest in Urban Society : Writers and artists in the Classical tradition show a fascination with urban life, often focusing on the dynamics of city living, its complexities, and its social structures.

4. Focus on Human Nature : Classicism pays close attention to the nature of human beings, exploring themes of morality, virtue, vice, and human behavior. It often highlights universal truths about humanity.

5. Satire : A major feature of Classicism, satire is used to critique society, politics, and human follies. Writers like Juvenal and Horace employed satire to expose the flaws and absurdities in society.

6. Expression of Acceptance : Classicism reflects a belief in accepting the natural order of the world, promoting the notion that humans must live in harmony with nature and social rules.

7. Moral Truth : Classicism often seeks to present moral lessons, with an emphasis on virtue, honor, and integrity. Works typically explore what is morally right and wrong, reflecting the belief in objective truths.

8. Realism : Classical works focus on depicting the world as it truly is, avoiding exaggeration or idealization. The goal is to present reality in a clear, accurate manner.

9. Belief in Good and Evil : Classicism maintains a strong dichotomy between good and evil, emphasizing moral responsibility and the consequences of one’s actions.

10.Religion : Although not necessarily religious in content, Classicism often reflects religious values, exploring the role of divine power and human connection to higher forces.

11.Philosophy : Classical works often incorporate philosophical concepts, reflecting on topics such as ethics, politics, and human existence. Philosophers like Aristotle and Plato were major influences on the classical worldview.

Literature of  Classicism

The literary classicism drew inspiration from the qualities of proportion of the major works of ancient Greek and Latin literature.

The 17th–18th centuries significant Classical writers (principally, playwrights and poets) include Pierre Corneille, Jean Racine, John Dryden, William Wycherley, William Congreve, Jonathan Swift, Joseph Addison, Alexander Pope, Voltaire, Carlo Goldoni, and Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock.

Literature of Romanticism

Meaning

Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The purpose of the movement was to advocate for the importance of subjectivity, imagination, and appreciation of nature in society and culture in response to the Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution.

Time period

Romanticism originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century.

Characteristics

What  Are  the  Characteristics  of  Romanticism  in  Literature  ?

Although literary Romanticism occurred from about 1790 through 1850, not all writers of this period worked in this style. There are certain characteristics that make a piece of literature part of the Romantic movement. You won’t find every characteristic present in every piece of Romantic literature; however, you will usually find that writing from this period has several of the key characteristics.

1. Glorification of Nature

Nature, in all its unbound glory, plays a huge role in Romantic literature. Nature, sometimes seen as the opposite of the rational, is a powerful symbol in work from this era. Romantic poets and writers give personal, deep descriptions of nature and its wild and powerful qualities.

Natural elements also work as symbols for the unfettered emotions of the poet or writer, as in the final stanza of “To Autumn” by John Keats. Keats was aware that he was dying of consumption throughout much of his short life and career, and his celebration of autumn symbolizes the beauty in the ephemeral.

Where are the songs of spring? Ay, Where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,

And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn

Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

2. Awareness and Acceptance of Emotions

A focus on emotion is a key characteristic of nearly all writing from the Romantic period. When you read work of this period, you’ll see feelings described in all forms, including romantic and filial love, fear, sorrow, loneliness, and more. This focus on emotion offered a counterpoint to the rational, and it also made Romantic poetry and prose extremely readable and relatable.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein offers a perfect example of this characteristic of Romanticism. Here, Frankenstein’s monster shows great self-awareness of his feelings and offers a vivid emotional description full of anger and sadness.

 3. Celebration of Artistic Creativity and Imagination

In contrast to the previous generations’ focus on reason, writers of the Romantic movement explored the importance of imagination and the creative impulse. Romantic poets and prose writers celebrated the power of imagination and the creative process, as well as the artistic viewpoint. They believed that artists and writers looked at the world differently, and they celebrated that vision in their work.

You can see this in William Wordsworth’s poem, “The Prelude."

Imagination—here the Power so called

Through sad incompetence of human speech,

That awful Power rose from the mind’s abyss

Like an unfathered vapour that enwraps,

At once, some lonely traveller. I was lost;

Halted without an effort to break through;

But to my conscious soul I now can say—

“I recognise thy glory:” in such strength

Of usurpation, when the light of sense

Goes out, but with a flash that has revealed

The invisible world….

4. Emphasis on Aesthetic Beauty

Romantic literature also explores the theme of aesthetic beauty, not just of nature but of people as well. This was especially true with descriptions of female beauty. Writers praised women of the Romantic era for their natural loveliness, rather than anything artificial or constrained.

A classic example of this characteristic is George Gordon, or Lord Byron’s, poem “She Walks in Beauty."

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

5. Themes of Solitude

Writers of the Romantic era believed that creative inspiration came from solitary exploration. They celebrated the feeling of being alone, whether that meant loneliness or a much-needed quiet space to think and create.

You’ll see solitary themes in many literary works from this period, including in this excerpt from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “Frost at Midnight."

The Frost performs its secret ministry,

Unhelped by any wind. The owlet’s cry

Came loud—and hark, again! loud as before.

The inmates of my cottage, all at rest,

Have left me to that solitude, which suits

Abstruser musings: save that at my side

My cradled infant slumbers peacefully …

6. Focus on Exoticism and History

Romantic-era literature often has a distinct focus on exotic locations and events or items from history. Poems and prose touch on antiques and the gifts of ancient cultures around the world, and far-away locations provide the setting for some literary works of this era.

One great example is Percy Byssche Shelley’s poem “Ozymandias."

I met a traveler from an antique land,

Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

7. Spiritual and Supernatural Elements

The writers of the Romantic era did not turn away from the darker side of emotion and the mysteries of the supernatural. They explored the contrast between life and death. Many pieces have Gothic motifs, such as manor houses in disrepair, dark and stormy nights, and more.

Some of the supernatural elements serve as symbols for emotions of guilt, depression, and other darker feelings, as you can see in this excerpt from The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe.

8. Vivid Sensory Descriptions

Another essential characteristic of nearly all Romantic-era literature is vivid sensory descriptions. The poems and prose of this period include examples of simile and metaphor, as well as visual imagery and other sensory details. Poets and other writers went beyond simply telling about things and instead gave the information readers need to feel and taste and touch the objects and surroundings in Romantic-era writing.

Wordsworth uses vivid descriptions, including similes and metaphors, in his famous poem, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud."

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze …

9. Use of Personification

Romantic poets and prose writers also used personification in their work. You can see examples of personification of everything from birds and animals to natural events or aspects. These works even personify feelings like love or states like death.

10. Focus on the Self and Autobiography

Many works of Romantic-era literature are deeply personal, and they often explore the self of the writer. You’ll see autobiographical influences in poems and prose of the period. One characteristic of this movement was the importance placed on feelings and creativity, and the source of much of this emotional and artistic work was the background and real-life surroundings of the writer. This self-focus preceded confessional poetry of the mid-1900s, but you can see its profound influence on that movement.

Poetic Forms of Romanticism

If you are studying poetry of the Romantic era, it’s helpful to know the forms that were popular during this time. These included odes, sonnets and lyrics. Take a look at examples of odes by Romantic poets like Keats, as well as sonnet examples by the likes of Percy Shelley. Understanding these poetic forms and their relationship to Romanticism will give you a deeper appreciation of this work. 

Difference Romanticism And Classicism

Reason vs. Imagination

Classicism: Emphasizes reason and logic. Classicists believed that everything, including human nature, can be understood through rational thought.

Romanticism: Focuses on imagination and creativity. Romantics believed that emotions and feelings are more important than logic.

The Three Unities in Literature

 Classicism: Follows the three unities of time, place, and action. This means the story happens in one location, within a single day, and follows one main plot.

Romanticism: Only follows the unity of action (main plot) but does not restrict time or place, allowing stories to be set in different locations and across various time periods.

Language and Style

Classicism: Uses formal, strict, and logical language. The focus is on sophisticated themes and structured writing.

Romanticism: Uses simple language and everyday words. Romantic writers aimed to connect with common people by using the language of everyday life.

View of Nature

Classicism: Sees nature as a machine that can be understood through reason, like a well-oiled watch.

Romanticism: Views nature as a living organism, full of mysteries. Romantics believed that nature is always changing and cannot be fully understood.

Worldview and Themes

Classicism: Believes in a structured, orderly world. Literature reflects everyday values, tradition, and the established laws of society. Classicists resisted change, valuing traditions that had stood the test of time.

Romanticism: Believes in limitless human potential and the power of individual expression. Romantics focused on exploring new ideas, social progress, and spiritual growth, breaking away from rigid traditions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Classicism and Romanticism represent two distinct yet influential cultural movements, each shaped by different philosophical ideals and artistic expressions. Classicism, rooted in the ideals of ancient Greece and Rome, emphasizes reason, order, and restraint, often favoring harmony and clarity in art, literature, and architecture. It values tradition and adherence to established forms. On the other hand, Romanticism arose as a reaction to the perceived limitations of Classicism, advocating for emotional depth, individualism, and a reverence for nature. Romanticism celebrates imagination, intuition, and the sublime, often emphasizing the personal and subjective over the universal.

While Classicism sought to reflect the rational and ordered structure of the world, Romanticism embraced the unpredictable and the irrational, prioritizing the emotional and the imaginative. These movements not only shaped the arts but also reflected the changing social and political climates of their respective eras. Ultimately, both continue to influence contemporary thought and culture, offering contrasting but complementary visions of human experience.

Reference 

Zerner, Henri. “Classicism as Power.” Art Journal, vol. 47, no. 1, 1988, pp. 35–36. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/776903. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Bakst, Léon, and Robert Johnson. “Bakst on Classicism: ‘The Paths of Classicism in Art.’” Dance Chronicle, vol. 13, no. 2, 1990, pp. 170–92. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1567738. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Burgum, Edwin Berry. “Romanticism.” The Kenyon Review, vol. 3, no. 4, 1941, pp. 479–90. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4332291. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Antal, Friedrich. “Reflections on Classicism and Romanticism.” The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs, vol. 66, no. 385, 1935, pp. 159–68. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/866028. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.