This essay aims to show how far the Romantic period in German and English literature can be seen as a transitional phase from the Enlightenment and to the point of Modernity. Given the fact that all consecutive literary periods cannot be divided by mere points in time and certain general features, it is going to be shown that the given eras melt into each other; that earlier periods, in this case first of all Romanticism, but also the Enlightenment, the Classical era, established characteristics which would then be absorbed, redefined or rejected by the succeeding ones, namely Romanticism and Modernity.
The main focus will be to differentiate between, as well as to equalise certain features of Romanticism and Modernity, which must include a deeper look at the past they emerged from. To do so, it will also be necessary to include a high amount of literary criticism, all dealing with the relevant periods and to exemplify the evidences provided by referring to primarily “Frankenstein”, “Die Räuber”, “Die Verlobung in St. Domingo”, and “Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte”.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Romanticism
3. Modernity
4. The Rise and Fall of the Individual
5. Romanticism as part of Modernity
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay examines how the Romantic period in German and English literature functions as a critical transitional phase between the Enlightenment and the emergence of Modernity. The core objective is to analyze the interconnectedness of these eras, demonstrating that Romanticism provided essential aesthetic and critical tools that shaped the modern mind and its responses to societal shifts.
- The transitional dynamics between Enlightenment, Romanticism, and Modernity.
- The role of secularization and the rise of capitalist structures in literary history.
- The failure of the Romantic individual to integrate into alienating modern societal norms.
- The lasting impact of Romantic critical thinking on modern literary expression.
- Comparative analysis of protagonists in seminal works like Frankenstein, Die Räuber, and Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte.
Excerpt from the Book
The Rise and Fall of the Individual
The Romantic rationality is very well displayed by the Creature, during his time living close to the De Lacey family, finding out about “the strange system of human society” (Shelley, 2008, p.96):
“I learnt that the possessions most esteemed by your fellow-Creatures were, high and unsullied descent united with riches. A man might be respected with only one of these acquisitions; but without either he was considered, except in very rare instances, as a vagabond and a slave, doomed to waste his powers for profit of the chosen few. And what was I?” (Shelley, 2008, p.96)
Lacking a higher belief system, the Creature is forced to realise that society is to a high degree based on the possession of prestige and money, indicating an early stage of modern capitalism. In opposition to the Creature the reader finds Victor, representing the other part of the process of secularisation, being irrational and driven by an external force: “Oh! When will my guiding spirit, in conducting me to the daemon, allow me the rest I so much desire; or must I die, and he yet live?” (p.177). Victor, even though considering that he represents Modernity by his characteristic as a scientist, eventually has to die due to his incapability to explain his internal and external world properly, he is simply not fit for the upcoming modern world. However, the Creature has to fail as well because the social norms during the Romantic period were not yet ready to integrate such a hideous being. In the modern cosmos of H. G. Wells the Creature might have easily survived.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the essay's goal to position Romanticism as a vital bridge between the Enlightenment and Modernity by examining shared features and literary shifts.
2. Romanticism: This chapter defines Romanticism through its common features, such as subjectivism and the cult of emotion, while highlighting the movement's rejection of Enlightenment rationality.
3. Modernity: This section explores the historical and philosophical emergence of Modernity, arguing that Romanticism is the period most closely linked to modern developments.
4. The Rise and Fall of the Individual: This chapter analyzes the struggle of Romantic protagonists to find personal freedom and community within the rigid, often capitalist, structures of their societies.
5. Romanticism as part of Modernity: The final chapter discusses how Romantic criticism of the status quo continues to influence modern literature and the ongoing negotiation of values in a capitalist world.
Keywords
Romanticism, Modernity, Enlightenment, Secularization, Individualism, Capitalism, Literary Criticism, Subjectivity, Social Norms, Alienation, Aesthetic Expression, Industrialization, Rationality, Transcendental, Narrative Fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the literary and philosophical transition from the Enlightenment to Modernity, positioning the Romantic era as a crucial period that provided the critical framework for the modern experience.
What are the primary fields of study addressed?
The study centers on literary history, cultural studies, and the history of ideas, specifically focusing on the intersection of aesthetics, social change, and human experience.
What is the central research question?
The essay investigates to what extent the Romantic period can be viewed as an essential transitional phase that both absorbed features of the Enlightenment and prefigured the challenges of Modernity.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a qualitative literary analysis approach, incorporating extensive literary criticism and close textual analysis of selected seminal literary works to support the historical and philosophical arguments.
What is examined in the main body of the work?
The main body investigates the tension between personal freedom and societal structures, the impact of secularization, and the recurring theme of the "failed" individual in Romantic literature.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Key terms include Romanticism, Modernity, Enlightenment, Individualism, Secularization, and Alienation, among others that highlight the evolving relationship between the individual and the modern world.
Why does the author focus on characters like Karl Moor and Frankenstein's Creature?
These characters serve as case studies to demonstrate the conflict between the individual's inner world and the external pressures of a society increasingly defined by capitalism and rigid norms.
How does the author define the relationship between Romanticism and Modernity?
The author argues that Romanticism does not merely precede Modernity but actively shapes it, providing a form of "self-criticism" that helps define modern values and aesthetics.
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- Jens Stuhlemer (Autor:in), 2014, Romanticism as a Transition to Modernity, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/379267
