The Age of Reason

Early to Late Eighteenth Century

Click HereFor Music

Dominant Concepts

Discovering truth through human reason Perfectibility of Man Deism—God is benevolent but distant “Great Watchmaker” Theory Emphasis on Science Emphasis on Society

The Romantic Period

1785-1830

Click HereFor Music

The Romantic Period

1785-1830

Historical Background

Period of Revolution American and French Revolutions Democracy transformed to despotism Napoleonic Wars

Historical Background

Change from agricultural to industrial society Industrial Revolution—new technology Rise of urban centers of industry Creation of impoverished working

class

Historical Background

Pressure for Political, Social, and Artistic Reform Hunger riots, machine breaking Women’s movement First Reform Bill of 1832 Lyrical Ballads of 1798

Dominant Concepts

Emotion and Imagination “The spontaneous overflow of

powerful feelings” External objects transformed by poet’s

feelings Speaker/hero reflects the poet Poetry about formation of the self

Click HereFor Music

Dominant Concepts

Individualism Stresses individual over society Glorifies desire to go beyond human

limits Infinite longing Heroes are isolated nonconformists or

guilty outcasts

Dominant Concepts

Spontaneity and Naturalness Age of Reason regarded poetry as an

art For Romantics poetry should be

spontaneous and inspired Poetry should be free from rules and

artful manipulation

Dominant Concepts

Emphasis on Nature Nature as it reflects the “Mind of Man” Nature endowed with human qualities Natural objects symbolize greater

concepts Divine mysteries reflected in nature

Dominant Concepts

Glorification of the Commonplace Wordsworth’s democratization of

poetry Emphasize humble and rustic life Use plain style and common language Express the wonder and divinity of the

commonplace

Dominant Concepts

The Supernatural Achieves a sense of wonder through

supernatural incidents Supernatural events have

psychological significance

Dominant Concepts

The Supernatural Settings in distant past or exotic

locales Unusual modes of experienceFor more on the supernatural in

Romantic Literature, see the PowerPoint Presentation “Gothic Motifs”