《英国文学史》课程作品选读（PPT讲稿，英文版）Chapter 8 The Age of Romanticism（1798-1832）

ChapterⅧ The Age of romanticism 1798-1832 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 1 Chapter Ⅷ The Age of Romanticism 1798-1832

1. Historical background By the close of the eighteenth century, the world had witnessed several major political 1. the american and french revolutions 2. exceptional social upheavals 3. prominent changes in philosophical thought 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 2 By the close of the eighteenth century, the world had witnessed several major political 1. the American and French revolutions, 2.exceptional social upheavals, 3. prominent changes in philosophical thought. 1. Historical background

A Review of british literature French Revolution The time spirit described by Charles Dickens:(A Tale of Two cities 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 3 A Review of British Literature French Revolution: -----The time spirit described by Charles Dickens: ( A Tale of Two Cities)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to eaven, we were all going direct the other way 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 4 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way …

18th centu 19th centu Emphasized intuition as a Valued order and reason proper guide to truth Viewed the world as a great The world was a living machine with all its parts organism that was always operating harmoniously growing The city housed the centers of a rural setting as a place art and literature and set the where people could discover standards of good taste for the their inner self rationalistic mind Believed that truth could be attained by tapping into the Empirical and rationalistic core of our humanity or our methodologies transcendental natures 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 5 18th century 19th century Valued order and reason Emphasized intuition as a proper guide to truth Viewed the world as a great machine with all its parts operating harmoniously The world was a living organism that was always growing The city housed the centers of art and literature and set the standards of good taste for the rationalistic mind A rural setting as a place where people could discover their inner self. Believed that truth could be attained by tapping into the core of our humanity or our transcendental natures. Empirical and rationalistic methodologies

2 Romanticism r In a historical sense romanticism was a movement in philosophy, political theory, and the arts that developed in france and Germany in the latter half of the eighteenth century and flourished in England through to the first three decades in the nineteenth century. The most prominent historical event associated with romanticism was the french Revolution (1789-1799), which for many presaged the end of aristocratic rule and hereditary social divisions in Europe 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 6 2. Romanticism: In a historical sense, Romanticism was a movement in philosophy, political theory, and the arts that developed in France and Germany in the latter half of the eighteenth century and flourished in England through to the first three decades in the nineteenth century. The most prominent historical event associated with Romanticism was the French Revolution (1789-1799), which for many presaged the end of aristocratic rule and hereditary social divisions in Europe

2.1 Origins of Romanticism r The tone of Romanticism was shaped by the emotionalism of Rousseau, and the exotic legends and mythology found in Oriental and homeric literatures and 17th-cent travel writers 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 7 2.1 Origins of Romanticism The tone of Romanticism was shaped by the emotionalism of Rousseau, and the exotic legends and mythology found in Oriental and Homeric literatures and 17th-cent. travel writers

2.2 Rene Wellek: "The Concept of Romanticism in Literary History(1963) Romanticism is often associated with the primacy of imagination, the worship of nature, and the use of natural imagery and symbolism in myth making. 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 8 2.2 Rene Wellek: “The Concept of Romanticism in Literary History” (1963): Romanticism is often associated with the primacy of imagination, the worship of nature, and the use of natural imagery and symbolism in myth – making

r2.3 Common characteristics of the second generation of British Romantics Byron Shelley, and Keats They wrote swiftly, traveled widely, and died prematurely. They had a new intuition for the power of the wild landscape, and the spiritual correspondence between Man and Nature, 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 9 2. 3 Common characteristics of the second generation of British Romantics— Byron, Shelley, and Keats : They wrote swiftly, traveled widely, and died prematurely. They had a new intuition for the power of the wild landscape, and the spiritual correspondence between Man and Nature

3. William Wordsworth r3. 1 Preface to Lyrical Ballads It is Lyrical Ballads that ushers in the romantic age in english literature Not only does Wordsworth suggest a radical change in subject matter, but he also dramatically shifts focus concerning poetry's"proper language Unlike Pope and his predecessors Wordsworth chooses "language really used by [people everyday speech. Wordsworth redefines poetry itself For all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. Wordsworth highlighted poetry's emotional quality. Imagination, not reason or disciplined thought, becomes its core 2021/2/23

2021/2/23 10 3. William Wordsworth 3. 1 “Preface to Lyrical Ballads”: It is Lyrical Ballads that ushers in the Romantic age in English literature. Not only does Wordsworth suggest a radical change in subject matter, but he also dramatically shifts focus concerning poetry’s “proper language.” Unlike Pope and his predecessors, Wordsworth chooses “language really used by [people]’— everyday speech. Wordsworth redefines poetry itself: “For all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” Wordsworth highlighted poetry’s emotional quality. Imagination, not reason or disciplined thought, becomes its core