Concetti Chiave
- The Romantic age, spanning from 1790 to 1850, is marked by its diverse characteristics across different countries and a focus on emotional and imaginative aspects of life.
- Romanticism emerged as a reaction against neoclassical ideals, emphasizing mysticism, the exotic, the unreal, and individualism, often in response to societal changes from the Industrial Revolution.
- William Wordsworth, considered the greatest poet of nature, drew inspiration from natural landscapes more than literature, and was initially influenced by the French Revolution.
- Wordsworth, alongside Coleridge, published "Lyrical Ballads," marking a shift from 18th-century formal poetic diction to a more passionate and imaginative style.
- His poem "The Solitary Reaper" captures the emotional resonance of a mysterious song sung by a solitary girl, reflecting Wordsworth's ability to evoke vivid imagery and emotion.
The romantic age covers a period from 1790 to 1850.
Its characteristics are not easy to be defined, because there are different aspects for different countries.
Romanticism is a reaction against the neoclassical and razionalistic ideals and the realization of the emotional and imaginative aspects of life.
The tipical romantic poet naturally inclines to misticism,the exotic, the strange, the unreal, the marvellous and the abnormal.
The social conditions of England had changed greatly,as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution and it was more sharply divided into hostile factions of rich and poor. The poets become aware that they cannot speak to the whole society so the tend to revolt against it.
This is the case of the major romantic poets: Coleridge, Shelley, Byron and Wordsworth.
William Wordsworth
Can be considered the greatest poet of nature. He was born in 1770; he was educated at a grammar school and St.John’s College in Cambridge but he delighted in nature more than in books.
He spent a year in France where he embraced the cause of the French Revolution but he changed his ideas after the excesses of the terror and the rise of France under the imperialistic power of Napoleon.
Togeter with Coleridge, another great poet, he published the “Lirical Ballads” which remained as the manifesto of the romantic movement. They mark the end of the formal poetic diction of 18th century and the beginning of a more passionate and imaginative kind of poetry.
In Germany he started writing «The Prelude» which is an autobiographical poem.
During his best creative period he wrote a number of odes, sonnets and lyrics collected in «Poems in 2 volumes». He died in 1850 at the age of 80.
Now I want to read «The solitary reaper»,which is a poem of 32 verseses divided into 4 strophes. In this poem Wordsworth tells about a solitary reaper which is singing a melancholy and misterious song. The girl’s voice was thrilling, but the theme of the strain was unknown.
The author listened to the girl and he bore the music in his heart after it was heard no more.
I liked this poetry so much, because it made me listened to the girl singing and because Wordsworth describes the landscape with hidden words; besides the verses are musical and this poetry is relaxing.
Domande da interrogazione
- Quali sono le caratteristiche principali del Romanticismo?
- Qual è il contributo di William Wordsworth al movimento romantico?
- Come ha influenzato la Rivoluzione Industriale i poeti romantici in Inghilterra?
- Di cosa tratta la poesia "The Solitary Reaper" di Wordsworth?
Il Romanticismo è una reazione contro gli ideali neoclassici e razionalistici, enfatizzando gli aspetti emotivi e immaginativi della vita. I poeti romantici tendono al misticismo, all'esotico, allo strano e all'irreale, cercando di sfuggire alla realtà e diventare sognatori e individualisti.
William Wordsworth è considerato il più grande poeta della natura. Insieme a Coleridge, ha pubblicato le "Lyrical Ballads", che segnano la fine della dizione poetica formale del XVIII secolo e l'inizio di una poesia più appassionata e immaginativa.
La Rivoluzione Industriale ha cambiato notevolmente le condizioni sociali in Inghilterra, creando divisioni tra ricchi e poveri. I poeti romantici, consapevoli di non poter parlare a tutta la società, tendono a ribellarsi contro di essa.
"The Solitary Reaper" racconta di una mietitrice solitaria che canta una canzone malinconica e misteriosa. La voce della ragazza è emozionante, ma il tema del canto è sconosciuto. Wordsworth ascolta la ragazza e porta la musica nel cuore anche dopo che non si sente più.
Accedi a tutti gli appunti
Tutor AI: studia meglio e in meno tempo
