Romanticism Poetry
The Funeral of Shelley by Louis Edouard Fournier
"I have said before that poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin in emotion recollected in tranquility: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of reaction, the tranquility gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind" - William Wordsworth in Lyrical Ballads
- 1800-1850
- Characteristics of Romantic Poetry
- Rather than being a product of intellect and reason. Romantic poetry was more of a product of the poets own emotions and feelings. Born the modern way we see poets. (melancholy and tortured)
- “What the imagination sees as beauty must be truth.” - John Keats. Poets use the imagination as a spiritual force that could force there poetry to change the world.
- Nature was used as a source of inspiration. They believed there was an important union between man and nature.
- Poets were drawn to the nostalgic, exotic, remote and obscure places of the middle ages.
- William Wordsworth
- Born in 1770 in England
- His mother died at the age of eight. Has a huge impact on his work.
- Officially appointed as the Poet Laureate until his death in 1850.
- Most famous work is The Prelude
“The earth was all before me. With a heart
Joyous, nor scared at its own liberty,
I look about; and should the chosen guide
Be nothing better than a wandering cloud,
I cannot miss my way.”
― William Wordsworth, The Prelude
Joyous, nor scared at its own liberty,
I look about; and should the chosen guide
Be nothing better than a wandering cloud,
I cannot miss my way.”
― William Wordsworth, The Prelude
- Percy Shelley
- Born 1792, died 1822.
- Attended Oxford and was married to Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein.
- Publishers were scared of his work, a lot of it was underground.
Music, When Soft Voices Die
Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory;
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heap'd for the belovèd's bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.
Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory;
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heap'd for the belovèd's bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Born 1809 in Boston, died 1849.
- Inventor of the detective fiction.
- First known American to make a living on writing alone.
- He believe the meaning in literature should be just below the surface, and that works with obvious meaning are not art.
Sonnet-Silence
There are some qualities—some incorporate things,
That have a double life, which thus is made
A type of that twin entity which springs
From matter and light, evinced in solid and shade.
There is a two-fold Silence—sea and shore—
Body and soul. One dwells in lonely places,
Newly with grass o’ergrown; some solemn graces,
Some human memories and tearful lore,
Render him terrorless: his name’s “No More.”
He is the corporate Silence: dread him not!
No power hath he of evil in himself;
But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)
Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,
That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod
No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!
There are some qualities—some incorporate things,
That have a double life, which thus is made
A type of that twin entity which springs
From matter and light, evinced in solid and shade.
There is a two-fold Silence—sea and shore—
Body and soul. One dwells in lonely places,
Newly with grass o’ergrown; some solemn graces,
Some human memories and tearful lore,
Render him terrorless: his name’s “No More.”
He is the corporate Silence: dread him not!
No power hath he of evil in himself;
But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)
Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,
That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod
No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!
Romanticism Cuisine
- Vegatarianism
- Anthropology and phisogomny advanced during this time and the similarities between human and animal were starting to become apparent. This gave the sense that because animal bodies are similar to human bodies, that I was morally wrong to eat them if they have the same feelings as we do.
- There was a growing concern of the classes and the union between man and nature was growing, making this diet more natural and at one with the environment. Meat was also seen as a product of the wealthier class.
- The relationship between human and animal also gave rise to the belief of reincarnation.