ROMANTIC: Solitude, nature, sublime.

 Romantic age: 1785-1832, Covers a broad control layer: Art, literature, philosophy.

~Deeply connected to philosophical ideas, political notions, and also cultural values` Ideas that are gaining traction.

Proliferation of poetry in this period may spark and inflation of sorts. Declining standards of poetry; an influx of overflowing talent. The moment society becomes more fast paced; Technological advancements in the field of printing, fueled by the Industrial revolution; Books were produced not just for the elite but also for the general public. + People did not have much time to dial in to have your literature = Much of printed material as a consequence would become of low quality: Paving the way to instant gratification. Literature produced will be catered and watered down to the needs and inferior tastes of the masses. 

Only period which isn't defined by a term of political monarchy (Queen Elizabeth in the Elizabethan period, King Charles the first for the Caroline period, King James the first for Jacobean period, Victoria for the Victorian period et cetera.) or A temporal marker; timelines in the openings and endings of centuries. Define by a particular cultural attitude, A way of being, a cultural idiom.

defined by the political significance during that particular period. They are decidedly English years, Mark by events in English history, Rather than in western history in general. Years associated with rebellion and revolution on one hand and on the other, reform.

1776 marks the declaration of independence By the second continental congress in America , 

1785 Marks the year when William Pitt the Younger, Prime Minister of Britain Introduce the reform act to the British parliament for the abolishment of Rotten boroughs, but was defeated. Later it succeeded with the re-representation of Parliamentary positions, Because you're broke up the monopoly of power the Conservative land owners had, Making the reform bill replaced and the beginning of a new age, Leading to words the Democratisation of English society, And that the centralisation of power in the hands of a few.  

these are aspects of the romantic age focusing on democracy, equality, and populous vision which we see to some extent In Wordsworth preface to the lyrical ballads Where he places emphasis on the common man. 

1789 Marks the start of the French revolution, Influence English romantic writers, thinkers artists and leaders of Europe. Inception of the modern world, modernity: Liberty justice Equality, democracy. (People want their voices to be heard and their rights to be fulfilled) 

Revolutions invoke feelings of rebellion and sparks thought and new dimensions of understandings through this major conflict; new perspectives, Shift in thinking. Fervour for a transformation and freedom. Changing and shuffling of the English class structure.

So the political climate influences the social and cultural atmosphere during the time which then defines the aspects of the romantic period.

 The sublime produces wonderment, awe, and a feeling of horror. It feels the mind until one could not ruminate on anything else but the sublime. Refine this and romantic literature both in the natural sphere and the supernatural sphere; The rhymes of the ancient mariner, Kubla Khan by Samuel Coleridge, And also in Gothic novels of the time. 

It Focuses on the troubled artist the genius the misunderstood youth.
Emblematic example: Thomas Chatterton who died at age 17; He was an influence on Romantic artists of the period such as Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth and Coleridge.

A defense of poetry 1821: 
Percy Bysshe Shelley 4 August 1792 – 8 July 1822) was one of the major English Romantic poets.[3] Harold Bloom calls him “a superb craftsman, a lyric poet without rival, and surely one of the most advanced sceptical intellects ever to write a poem.”[4] A radical in his poetry as well as in his political and social views, Shelley did not achieve fame during his lifetime, but recognition of his achievements in poetry grew steadily following his death and he became an important influence on subsequent generations of poets including Browning, Swinburne, Hardy and Yeats.[5]

germany: philosophers such as

August Wilhelm Schlegel, Immanuel Kant, 
Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling-------------Key players in the romantic movement in Germany. 

Also influencing English romanticism, Coleridge.

Coleridge focuses more on the human psyche and the imagination, through the medium of nature poetry.

Compared to Wordsworth, who puts nature on a pedestal, venerating it. But what exactly are we learning? Reminds us of spiritual nature that is being forgotten in late 18th century England. to rebel against the industrial revolution that make people more and more disconnected with nature, themselves and also life.
The human mind is not just passive, receiving from nature. But it has a role that it plays in this communion with nature (Nature can also be a foil, teacher, mirror)

Human is co-creator with nature.

Morality is the product of experience-- David Hartley

But this isn't enough. Human does not only receive but also digest and reflect, introspect and make the mind an active agent to intelligently form knowledge and wisdom through interaction with nature.

leading to the Personal evolution of individual- in Wordsworth philosophy. 

(Tintern Abbey)-memory plays an important part to compare and make sense of experiences in nature.

How do Wordsworth’s ideas about the relationship between human beings and nature as well as his philosophy of poetry, appear in “Lines Written in Early Spring”, “I wandered lonely as a cloud” and “Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey?” What is Wordsworth saying about human nature, the natural world and the poet? 

Obsessed with how Minds of human beings affected by nature, soul as a memory bank. Romantic period going in deep~ sublime, bringing out inherent goodness in a human being.

He ruminates on nature and sees the beauty that is so intricate, probably from his self-isolation in nature. The raw connection to the sublime, etched in memory, aiding through tough times.

Tintern: nature as a moral compass 

From this green earth; of all the mighty world

Of eye, and ear,—both what they half create,

And what perceive; well pleased to recognise

In nature and the language of the sense

The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,

The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul

Of all my moral being. 

Symbiotic relationship human and the human mind. The precursor to the modern way of looking, multiplicity of perspectives, put together to provide a big picture (postmodernism), but each perspective, each colouring of reality is different for each eye or frame of thought.

Nature I embedded in memory, a reminder to him that it is always a part of him.

Reflecting on youth, comparing past and present, through the beauty of nature (should be worshipped)

Nature is a personal journal, it stays immovable, and shows you what the changes are in yourself without changing itself. 

https://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/tintern-abbey-shows-the-three-stages-of-development-in-wordsworth%E2%80%99s-attitude-to-nature-discuss/ 

1) Compare Wordsworth’s and Coleridge’s depiction of nature using one or two poems from each poet as references. You can also include another theme (in addition to nature) with which to compare the two poets’ work. 

Coleridge: strong, tension, polarizing, contrasting, colourful, push and pull. Vibrance, Saturation.  uses imagination to escape the condition as a child, go-to place, wants the child to have a natural relationship with nature, only gets to learn about nature through friendship with Wordsworth. (TIME: flows fast, waterfall, impact) the human mind is an active agent. turn inward is inspired by the external atmosphere sets the tone.

Wordsworth: Comforting, muted, Calming, soothing, milder/sanctuary choice of diction (TIME: delicately interwoven into structure, sanctuary, intricate moments frozen in place) uses to reflect on nature's lessons

Both interested in the same subject, but different starting points.

Comment on the depiction of children in poems by William Blake, William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge. You may use one or two poems from each poet. 

A comparison of children in differing poems 

 

WILLIAM BLAKE: Chimney sweeps: experienced, melancholic, pitiful, Children were pure, uncorrupted, and are more in touch to nature and human nature in its untainted form. 

Neglecting Authority: Adults/Divine being that neglects the livelihood of the child, from the child’s POV. 
 

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH: Tintern, We are 7: less abrasive, naïve, but still sombre  

Questionable Authority: Adults/Divine being does not give a helping hand, but instead leads to more accusatory and purely didactic in negative terms. POV of both elder and yonger. 

 

SAMUEL COLERIDGE: Frost at Midnight: innocent, conducive growth, positive parenthood, wholesome,  

Guiding Authority: Guardian Cares, and provides love for the child, POV of guardian, the child is looked after. 

 

https://www.ibdocuments.com/LitCharts/Frost-at-Midnight-LitCharts.pdf

2) In imitation of Wordsworth’s “Preface”, what would your manifesto for literature or poetry for today’s age look like? You need not write full paragraphs. Simply list down key points. 

New manifesto talking about a new form of poetry

Poetry is a form of artistic writing that is known for its evocative effect that centres on the Economy of language and pursuit of truth. 

With this in consideration, I believe that there should be more focus on poetry that has potential to be directed at the masses; evocative to read in this time and age, and yet still maintains a pursuit of truth.

Visual poetry, focusing more on typography, can be integrated into the experience of mass media in order to file down hard-to-swallow ideas into bite-sized pieces of wisdom that can be absorbed in order to maximise impact in this fast-paced society when people find it hard to slow down. Poetry will then find its practicality in aiding people in their introspective growth, but as we said, this can only be achieved when people find their way to poetry by themselves when curiosity is sufficiently aroused. 

Individual Reflection for the Reflective Journal

1) Take a moment to pause and reflect on what ideas from the Romantic Age resonate with you. Which ideas stand out for you the most, and why?