Cornell Notes for “The Romantics” by Dr.
Stephanie
Forward
Title: The Romantics
Author: Dr. Stephanie Forward
Published by: The British Library
Essential Question
What were the core characteristics of the Romantic movement, and
how did Romantic writers challenge the conventions of the 18th
century?
Notes (Key Points)
Introduction:
• The Romantic period emerged in the late 18th century as a
reaction against the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason and
logic.
• Romanticism celebrated emotion, imagination, nature, and
individualism.
• Major Romantic writers included William Wordsworth,
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron,
John Keats, and William Blake.
Context and Historical Background:
• The movement was influenced by major historical events such
as the French Revolution (1789) and the Industrial
Revolution.
• The French Revolution inspired many Romantics with its ideals
of liberty, equality, and fraternity, though its violent aftermath
caused disillusionment.
• The Industrial Revolution, with its emphasis on progress,
machinery, and urbanization, led to a yearning for a return to
nature and a simpler life.
Key Characteristics of Romanticism:
1. Emotion over Reason:
• Unlike the Enlightenment, which valued logic and rationality,
Romanticism placed a greater emphasis on emotion,
spontaneity, and the depth of human feelings.
2. Nature as a Source of Inspiration:
• Nature was often depicted as a powerful, awe-inspiring force.
• Writers like Wordsworth saw nature as a source of spiritual
renewal and an antidote to the dehumanizing effects of
industrialization.
3. The Sublime:
• Romantics were fascinated by the concept of the sublime,
where nature’s beauty and grandeur evoke both awe and terror.
• The sublime was about experiencing emotions beyond human
comprehension—often found in vast landscapes or untamed
nature.
4. Individualism:
• Romantics emphasized the importance of the individual and
personal experience, particularly in contrast to societal norms.
• Self-expression and creativity were highly valued.
5. Imagination and Creativity:
• Romantic writers viewed imagination as a key faculty, one that
could transcend reality and create new worlds.
• Imagination was seen as more important than reason in
understanding the world.
6. Interest in the Supernatural and the Gothic:
• Romantic writers often incorporated supernatural elements
and explored the mysterious and the uncanny.
• This fascination is linked to the Gothic literature of the time,
which shared Romanticism’s interest in emotion and the darker
sides of human experience.
7. Rebellion and Revolution:
• Many Romantic writers were influenced by revolutionary ideas,
advocating for political change and social justice.
• They often positioned themselves against established norms
and traditions.
Key Figures and Their Works:
1. William Wordsworth:
• Major work: Lyrical Ballads (co-written with Coleridge).
• Celebrated the beauty and power of nature, and emphasized
that poetry should focus on ordinary people and simple
language.
• Known for works like “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above
Tintern Abbey” and The Prelude.
2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge:
• Major work: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan.
• Coleridge explored the supernatural and the power of the
imagination. His poetry often invoked dreamlike states and
mythical imagery.
3. Lord Byron:
• Major work: Don Juan, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.
• Known for his rebellious lifestyle and the creation of the
“Byronic hero” – a melancholic, brooding, and isolated figure.
• Byron was politically active, supporting revolutionary causes.
4. Percy Bysshe Shelley:
• Major work: Ode to the West Wind, Prometheus Unbound.
• Shelley’s work often reflected revolutionary ideals and a
rejection of societal conventions.
• His poetry is known for its passionate intensity and idealism.
5. John Keats:
• Major work: Ode to a Nightingale, Ode on a Grecian Urn.
• Keats’s poetry focuses on beauty, mortality, and the fleeting
nature of life.
• He was deeply influenced by classical mythology and the idea
of “Negative Capability”—the capacity to accept uncertainty and
doubt.
6. William Blake:
• Major work: Songs of Innocence and Experience.
• Blake’s poetry was visionary, combining religious mysticism
with social criticism.
• He explored the tension between innocence and experience,
good and evil.
Key Themes:
1. Nature vs. Industrialization:
• Romantics often criticized the rapid industrialization of society,
which they believed alienated individuals from nature and their
true selves.
• The natural world was seen as pure, while the industrial city
represented corruption and moral decay.
2. The Power of the Imagination:
• Imagination was regarded as a pathway to understanding
deeper truths beyond scientific knowledge.
• Romantic writers believed that the imagination could
transcend ordinary experience and reveal the profound.
3. Romantic Hero:
• The Romantic hero is often a solitary, passionate figure,
alienated from society and striving for deeper meaning.
• This hero often embodies the struggles of the individual
against society’s expectations.
4. Emphasis on Childhood and Innocence:
• Childhood was idealized as a time of purity and uncorrupted
emotion.
• Writers like Wordsworth believed that children had an innate
connection to nature and a purer understanding of the world.
Summary (Reflection):
The Romantic movement marked a significant shift in literature,
prioritizing emotion, nature, and individualism over the rationalism
of the Enlightenment. It challenged the societal norms of its time,
celebrating imagination, rebellion, and personal freedom. The key
figures of the period—Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, Keats,
and Blake—each brought their unique voices to the movement,
contributing to its lasting influence on Western literature and
culture.
Questions (For Further Study):
1. How did the French and Industrial Revolutions influence the themes of
Romantic literature?
2. In what ways does Romanticism’s emphasis on nature contrast with the
Enlightenment’s focus on science and reason?
3. How did Romantic poets’ views on the imagination challenge the norms of
their time?
