Assignment : 103 : Exploring Romantic literature and its major Writers

Exploring  Romantic literature and its major Writers

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 : Exploration of Romantic literature and its major Writers

Paper & subject Coad  : 103: Literature of the Romantics 22394

Date of  Submission :  20 November 2024

Table of contents 

• Introduction

• What is romanticism? 

• Romanticism in English literature

• Romantic poetry

Romantic poet

• First Generation

• Second Generation

Insights of Keats, Byron and Shelly

Introduction 

The Romantic period in English literature, spanning from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, marked a profound shift in both artistic expression and intellectual thought. A reaction against the industrial revolution, the rise of rationalism, and the constraints of classical tradition, Romanticism championed individualism, emotion, imagination, and a deep connection with nature. Three of its most prominent figures—John Keats, Lord Byron, and Percy Bysshe Shelley—embodied these ideals in their poetry and personal lives. Through their works, they explored themes of transcendence, the sublime, political change, and the power of the human spirit, leaving a lasting legacy on the development of English literature. This exploration delves into the distinctive contributions of these poets, examining how their works reflect and shape the ideals of Romanticism, while also revealing their unique responses to the social, cultural, and personal forces of their time.

What is Romanticism in English literature  ? 

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.

Romanticism in English literature Romantic Poetry Romantic poet 

Romanticism in English literature started in the late 18th century, with the poets William Blake, William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It continued into the 19th century with the second-generation Romantic poets, most notably Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats and Lord Byron.

In contrast to the reasoned detachment of the Enlightenment, the poetic works of Blake, Wordsworth and Coleridge were characterised by their emotional sensitivity and reverence for nature.

Romantic Poetry

Romantic poetry is the poetry of the Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. It involved a reaction against prevailing Enlightenment ideas of the 18th century, and lasted approximately from 1800 to 1850. Romantic poets rebelled against the style of poetry from the eighteenth century which was based around epics, odes, satires, elegies, epistles and songs.

Here are the names of some famous Romantic poems:

1. "Ode to a Nightingale" - John Keats

2. "She Walks in Beauty" - Lord Byron

3. "Ozymandias" - Percy Bysshe Shelley

4. "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" - William Wordsworth

5. "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

6. "To a Skylark" - Percy Bysshe Shelley

Romantic Poet  

First Generation  

1) William Wordsworth (7 April 1770 – 23 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication Lyrical Ballads (1798).

Notable work : 

• Lyrical Ballad (1798) 

• Lines composed  a few miles above Tunter Abbey

• Daffodils

2) Samuel Taylor Coleridge (21 October 1772 – 25 July 1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets with his friend William Wordsworth. He also shared volumes and collaborated with Charles Lamb, Robert Southey, and Charles Lloyd.

Notable works :

• The rime of Ancient Mariners

• Kubla Khan

Second Generation  

The second generation of Romantic poets includes 

• 1. Lord Byron (1788–1824),  
• 2. Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)  &
• 3. John Keats (1795–1821).

Exploration of Romanticism 

The Romantic period in English literature, emerging in the late 18th century and flourishing through the early 19th century, marked a significant departure from the rationality and order of the Enlightenment. This literary movement emphasized emotion, individualism, nature, and the sublime. Among its most influential figures were John Keats, Lord Byron, and Percy Bysshe Shelley—three poets whose works captured the essence of Romantic ideals while offering unique insights into human experience.

Exploration of English Literature insight From Keats , Byron and Shelley  

The Romantic period, which spanned the late 18th and early 19th centuries, marked a dramatic shift in Western literature, philosophy, and art. This movement was a reaction against the rationalism, order, and restrained emotional expression of the Enlightenment era. Romanticism celebrated imagination, individualism, nature, and the sublime—emphasizing the emotional and subjective aspects of human experience. At its heart, Romanticism was concerned with freedom, the beauty of nature, the power of the human spirit, and the exploration of deep emotions. Among the most influential figures of this period were John Keats, Lord Byron, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, whose works encapsulated the core themes of Romanticism while also pushing its boundaries.

John Keats : Beauty and Imagination

John Keats (1795–1821) is often regarded as the quintessential Romantic poet. His work emphasizes the idea of beauty as a transcendent and timeless force, while also grappling with the fleeting nature of life. Keats's poetry, deeply sensuous and richly descriptive, often explores the intersection of beauty, art, and death. His works reflect a profound engagement with the concept of negative capability, the ability to exist in uncertainty and embrace the unknown without the need for rational explanation.

Keats's famous odes, such as "Ode to a Nightingale" and "Ode on a Grecian Urn", reflect his contemplation of mortality and the desire to escape the limitations of human existence. In "Ode to a Nightingale", the nightingale becomes a symbol of freedom and immortality, contrasting with the poet's awareness of his own finite life. The nightingale's song represents an idealized world of eternal beauty and joy, which the speaker longs to join. However, the poem ultimately returns to the awareness that such a world is inaccessible to human beings, marked by Keats's recognition of mortality and impermanence.

"Ode on a Grecian Urn", one of Keats’s most celebrated poems, explores the tension between the timeless world of art and the transient nature of human life. The urn, with its frozen images of beauty and life, becomes a metaphor for the permanence of art, suggesting that while life is fleeting, art preserves moments of beauty and emotion forever. In his poetry, Keats creates a delicate balance between the yearning for permanence and the acceptance of life's transitory nature.

Lord Byron  : Individualism , Byronic Hero And the Romantic Hero

Lord Byron (1788–1824) was one of the most charismatic and controversial figures of the Romantic period. His poetry often explores themes of defiance, the isolation of the individual, and the contradictions within the human soul. Byron's works reflect his personal sense of rebellion against societal norms, as well as his fascination with the darker aspects of human nature. His works contributed to the Romantic ideal of the Byronic hero—a brooding, rebellious, and often tragic figure who rejects conventional morality in favor of personal freedom.

One of Byron’s most famous works, "Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage", is a narrative poem in which the speaker, Childe Harold, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting both the external world and his internal emotional landscape. The poem's themes of loneliness, alienation, and the search for meaning in a turbulent world resonate with the Romantic ideals of individualism and introspection.

In "She Walks in Beauty", Byron captures the ethereal nature of a woman’s beauty, blending physical appearance with spiritual purity. The poem's idealization of feminine beauty serves as an example of Byron’s fascination with the sublime, portraying a beauty that transcends the material world. The delicate balance between inner and outer beauty reflects the Romantic preoccupation with the connection between the individual and the greater universe, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual dimensions of human experience.

P.B Shelley : Idealism , Revolution and The Power of the  Imagination

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) is one of the most radical voices of the Romantic movement, known for his passionate political views, rejection of authority, and belief in the transformative power of the imagination. Shelley's poetry often deals with themes of revolution, both personal and social, and the quest for human freedom. His works also emphasize the role of the poet as a visionary figure, capable of bringing about change through the power of words and ideas.

One of Shelley's most famous poems, "Ozymandias", explores the fragility of human power and the inevitable decline of all empires. The poem tells the story of a traveler who encounters the ruined statue of a once-great king in the desert, whose proud inscription now seems ironic as the kingdom has fallen to dust. In this brief, yet powerful poem, Shelley critiques the arrogance of rulers and the transient nature of human achievement, drawing attention to the futility of pride and the passage of time.

In "To a Skylark", Shelley contrasts the carefree freedom of the skylark with the suffering and limitations of human existence. The skylark, symbolizing the unbridled joy and freedom of nature, serves as a metaphor for the poet’s aspiration to transcend earthly concerns and achieve a higher state of being. Through the skylark, Shelley expresses his longing for spiritual and emotional liberation, a central theme in his work.

Conclusion

The Legacy of Keats, Byron, and Shelley

Keats, Byron, and Shelley—each in their own way—embodied the core principles of Romanticism, using their poetry to explore profound questions of beauty, morality, nature, and the individual's place in the world. Their works continue to resonate today because they address universal themes of longing, struggle, and the search for meaning. Through their poetry, they invited readers to embrace their emotions, challenge societal conventions, and contemplate the sublime power of nature and art.

While Keats focused on the beauty of art and the inevitability of death, Byron sought to express the complexity and defiance of the human spirit, and Shelley championed radical change through the transformative power of imagination. Together, they defined a new era in English literature, one that emphasized freedom of thought and expression, and their works remain central to the study of Romanticism. Their exploration of individual experience, emotional depth, and the vast possibilities of the human imagination has left an indelible mark on literary history.

Reference

Dunbar, Clement. “Current Bibliography.” Keats-Shelley Journal, vol. 43, 1994, pp. 226–67. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30210488. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Paolucci, Anne. “Dante’s Satan and Milton’s ‘Byronic Hero.’” Italica, vol. 41, no. 2, 1964, pp. 139–49. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/476984. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Molinari, Lori. “Revising the Revolution: The Festival of Unity and Shelley’s ‘Beau Ideal.’” Keats-Shelley Journal, vol. 53, 2004, pp. 97–126. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30210531. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Lees, Daniel E. “Berkeley Redux: Imagination as Ethical Power in Shelley’s ‘Mont Blanc.’” Texas Studies in Literature and Language, vol. 58, no. 3, 2016, pp. 278–304. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26155305. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Ryan, Robert M. “Keats and the Truth of Imagination.” The Wordsworth Circle, vol. 4, no. 4, 1973, pp. 259–66. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24039167. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Havens, Raymond D. “Of Beauty and Reality in Keats.” ELH, vol. 17, no. 3, 1950, pp. 206–13. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2871954. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.