Concetti Chiave
- Romantic poetry in England is categorized into two generations, with Blake, Wordsworth, and Coleridge in the first, and Byron, Keats, and Shelley in the second.
- Romantic poets viewed themselves as unique "bards," often feeling misunderstood and like outcasts, a sentiment stronger in the second generation.
- The first generation, especially Wordsworth and Coleridge, plays a crucial role in English literary history, while only Byron stands out in the second.
- Romantic poets were significantly influenced by the Middle Ages, viewing it as the origin of their cultural identity and heritage.
- There is a connection between the Sublime and Medieval themes, as both embrace elements of darkness and the macabre.
Generations of romantic poets
Romantic poetry in England is divided into two generations: the first one has as protagonists William Blake (but not everyone considers him as a romantic poet, some people think of him more as a precursor of romantic poetry), William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge (these last two are considered the founders of Romanticism); while the second one has as protagonists Lord Byron, John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
The bard and romantic identity
The central idea romantic poets have of themselves is that they’re “bards” (as is shown for example in the famous painting The bard by John Martin and contains all elements of romantic sensibility): he’s a unique being and because of it he’s an outcast, other people don’t understand them (idea rooted especially in the second-generation Romanticism). The first generation is more important in the history of english letterature; only Lord Byron is quite famous in the second one.
Medieval influence on romanticism
Romantic poets looks back to Middle Ages, because in that period their heritage and cultural identity were born (e.g. their language was born). Now even if we’re in the age of rationalism, poets look back and use the Middle Ages as a powerful source for their works. There’s a relation also between the Sublime and the Medieval, in fact the Sublime implies a like for darkness, macabre, and the Middle Ages are also called “Dark Ages”, because they weren’t illuminated by the light of knowledge and rationalism, there were lots of ignorant and uncultured.
Domande da interrogazione
- Who are considered the founders of Romanticism in English poetry?
- How do Romantic poets perceive their identity, and how is this reflected in their works?
- What role does the Middle Ages play in Romantic poetry, and why is it significant?
William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge are considered the founders of Romanticism, with William Blake often seen as a precursor rather than a full-fledged Romantic poet.
Romantic poets view themselves as "bards," unique and often misunderstood individuals, a concept especially emphasized in the second generation of Romanticism. This identity is depicted in works like John Martin's painting "The Bard," which embodies romantic sensibility.
The Middle Ages serve as a powerful source of inspiration for Romantic poets, who look back to this era for cultural identity and heritage. The period's association with the Sublime and its "Dark Ages" label, due to a lack of rationalism and knowledge, aligns with the Romantic fascination with darkness and the macabre.
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