The essential elements of the romantic spirit were curiosity and the love – the one of beauty and the more ‘natural’, down-to-earth form – passion and eroticism; and it is only as an illustration of these qualities, that it looked for in the Middle Age, because, in the overcharged atmosphere of the Middle Age, there are unworked sources of romantic effect, of a strange beauty, to be won, by strong imagination, out of things unlikely or remote.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter One: Romanticism
- Defining the Subject
- Romantic Literature and its Characteristics
- Chosen Motifs and Themes in Romantic Literature
- Imagination
- Nature
- Symbolism and Myth
- The Everyday and the Exotic
- Summary
- Chapter Two: The Romantics
- First Generation of Romantic Poets
- William Wordsworth
- William Blake
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- First Generation Romantics' Notion of Love
- First Generation of Romantic Poets
- Chapter Three: Second Generation of Romantic Poets
- Lord George Byron
- Percy Bysshe Shelley
- John Keats
- Second Generation Romantics and the Theme of Love
- Erotic Love
- Lost Love
- In Praise of True Love
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this paper is to compare the poets and writers of the First and Second Generation of British Romantics, focusing on their attitudes towards love. The paper provides a detailed account of the historical literary period and detailed portraits of the poets themselves.
- The characteristics of Romanticism as a literary movement.
- The differing approaches to the theme of love in the works of the First Generation Romantics.
- The differing approaches to the theme of love in the works of the Second Generation Romantics.
- A comparative analysis of the First and Second Generation Romantics' treatment of love.
- Key motifs and themes within Romantic literature, including imagination, nature, symbolism, and the contrast between the everyday and the exotic.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter One: Romanticism: This chapter introduces Romanticism as a literary movement, contrasting it with the preceding Enlightenment era. It emphasizes the shift from reason to emotion, the valuing of the individual over society, and the preference for nature over artifice. The chapter grapples with defining Romanticism, acknowledging the complexities and varied interpretations of the term. It establishes the key themes and motifs prevalent in Romantic literature, laying the groundwork for subsequent chapters analyzing specific poets and their works. The extensive use of quotations reflects the authors' belief in illustrating the period's nuances through direct engagement with primary sources.
Chapter Two: The Romantics: This chapter focuses on the First Generation of British Romantic poets, including Wordsworth, Blake, and Coleridge. It examines their individual styles and contributions to the Romantic movement, analyzing how each poet addressed the theme of love in their writings. The chapter explores the nuances of their poetic expressions of love, providing a deeper understanding of their individual perspectives within the broader context of the Romantic era's ideas about love and passion.
Chapter Three: Second Generation of Romantic Poets: This chapter shifts focus to the Second Generation of British Romantic poets – Byron, Shelley, and Keats. It provides a thorough analysis of how each poet approached the theme of love, examining the diverse expressions of erotic love, lost love, and celebrations of true love. The chapter delves into the subtleties of their works and how their unique experiences shaped their perspectives on love, offering a detailed comparative analysis of the distinct treatments of this central theme.
Keywords
British Romanticism, Romantic poetry, First Generation Romantics, Second Generation Romantics, William Wordsworth, William Blake, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, love, imagination, nature, symbolism, theme, comparison, literary analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of First and Second Generation British Romantic Poets
What is the main focus of this text?
This text provides a comparative analysis of the First and Second Generation British Romantic poets, focusing primarily on their diverse approaches to the theme of love within their works. It also explores broader characteristics of Romanticism as a literary movement and key motifs prevalent in the period.
Which poets are discussed in this text?
The text examines the works of William Wordsworth, William Blake, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge (First Generation) and Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats (Second Generation).
What are the key themes explored in the text?
Key themes include the characteristics of Romanticism as a literary movement, the different perspectives on love presented by the First and Second Generation Romantics, and a comparative analysis of their treatment of love. Further thematic explorations include imagination, nature, symbolism, and the contrast between the everyday and the exotic within Romantic literature.
How is the text structured?
The text is structured into three main chapters. Chapter One introduces Romanticism as a literary movement and its defining characteristics. Chapter Two analyzes the First Generation Romantic poets and their approach to love. Chapter Three similarly analyzes the Second Generation Romantic poets and their approach to love, offering comparisons between the two generations.
What is the objective of this paper?
The objective is to compare and contrast the attitudes towards love expressed by the First and Second Generation British Romantic poets, providing detailed accounts of the historical literary period and detailed portraits of the poets themselves.
What are some key motifs explored within the Romantic literature discussed?
Key motifs explored include imagination, nature, symbolism, and the contrast between the everyday and the exotic.
What is the scope of the comparative analysis?
The comparative analysis focuses on how the First and Second Generation Romantic poets approached the theme of love, highlighting their differing styles and perspectives on various aspects of love (e.g., erotic love, lost love, idealized love).
What type of analysis is employed in this text?
The text employs literary analysis, comparing and contrasting the works of individual poets and exploring the thematic and stylistic nuances within the context of the broader Romantic movement.
What kind of sources are used in the text?
The text makes extensive use of quotations from primary sources (the works of the poets themselves) to illustrate the nuances of the Romantic period.
What are the keywords associated with this text?
Keywords include British Romanticism, Romantic poetry, First Generation Romantics, Second Generation Romantics, William Wordsworth, William Blake, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, love, imagination, nature, symbolism, theme, comparison, and literary analysis.
- Quote paper
- MA Marta Zapała-Kraj (Author), 2010, Romanticism and Romantics. A Brief Introduction, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/288401
