The Romantic Period 1798 1832 Restoration 1660 1800

The Romantic Period 1798 -1832

Restoration (1660 -1800) • 1660 - Charles II assumes the throne to begin the Restoration • 1665 - More than 68, 000 Londoners die from the plague • 1666 - Great Fire of London destroys much of the city • 1687 - Sir Isaac Newton establishes his laws of gravity • 1689 -Glorious Revolution (no blood); James II is succeeded by a Protestant monarch (William and Mary) • 1695 - Laws established to deny Catholics of civil rights • 1707 - England, Scotland, and Whales are unified as Great Britain • 1754 - Seven Year’s War ends-Britain controls most of North America • 1775 - American Revolution • 1798 - Small Pox Vaccine

Rationalism vs. Romanticism Rationalism • Inspiration- logic, science, Classical Greek and Roman literature • Attitudes/Interestsscience, technology, exploration, tradition, elegance • Social Concerns- social hierarchy, stability and harmony, aristocracy Romanticism • Inspiration- feelings, emotions, imagination, Medieval literature • Attitudes/Interestsmysterious and supernatural, romanticized past, spontaneous, appreciated folk traditions • Social Concerns- favored democracy, concerned with common people

What’s Going on in England? • 1793 - France declares war on Britain • 1804 - Steam engine is used to drive a locomotive • 1811 - New Idea of Anatomy is publishedexploration of brain and nervous system • 1811 - Napoleon surrenders to Britain at Waterloo • 1825 - Railroad locomotive invented • 1829 - Catholics are allowed to hold public office • 1831 - Charles Darwin expedition • 1833 - Slavery is abolished in Britain

Revolution Spreads • Many social, economic, and political changes—marked by violence • Many people feared literature was based off imagination • This literature was called the Romantic Period – Turned to nature, the past, or a dream world

Romantic Poets William Wordsworth • Thought to be extraordinary people— vital to society • Poetry dominated during this time • Famous Poets- Keats, Wordsworth, Blake, and Shelley William Blake John Keats

Basic Characteristics • English Romanticism begins in 1798 with the publication of Wordsworth and Coleridge’s The Lyrical Ballads • Believed poetry could purify individual souls and society. • Focused their writings on inner feelings, emotions, & imagination

• Three Main Influences: – Political Rebellion – Rustic Life – Personal Feelings • Tried to provide a model for a better way of life. • Three distinguishing qualities: – Turned away from reason and embraced imagination – Writings spoke of personal experience and emotions – Nature transformed them. Nature and human mind mirrored each other.

Romantic Authors • The novel was still popular • Jane Austen, Sir Walter Scott, and Maria Edgeworth were influential

Industrialization • England was the first to undergo industrialization • Factories were popular urban populations increased poor living conditions • Farms taken over by owners unemployed farmers migrated to the cities • Laissez Faire- “let people do as they please” – Rich got richer

Industrialization and Literature • Britain was adrift and frightened – The response- eerie and supernatural literature • Gothic writing – Helped express the helpless feelings – Used ghosts, death, violence, eerie settings – Purge fears through literature