Literary Genres and Romanticism: Core Concepts

Prose Literary Forms

Journalism

Features articles advocating ideologies, scandalous information, travel reports, and serialized novels.

Travel Literature

Often depicts exotic or fantastic journeys and locales.

Sentimental Novel

• Conflict: Explores the tension between reason and feelings.
• Characters: Typically features middle-class individuals.
• Setting: Often takes place in the English countryside.
• Resolution: Usually concludes with a happy ending.

Novel of Privacy

Authors delve into the intimate secrets of human beings, focusing on internal life rather than external adventures.

Gothic Fiction

Characterized by themes of rebellion and an obsession with forbidden knowledge.

Historical Novel

Derived from historical documents, its main characters are often fictional (or real if secondary) and may have limited social relevance. Conflicts are typically resolved through mutual agreement.

Feuilleton

Prioritizes simplicity and ease of reading, divided into small chapters. Characters are often simple, and plots tend towards an accumulation of outrageous adventures and arguments.

Novel of Manners

A reaction to internationalism, emphasizing nationalism. Expresses disgust with the bourgeois social model and focuses on the study of tradition.

Storytelling Forms

The Fantastic Tale

Reflects the mysterious and scary elements found within everyday life.

The Folk Tale

Popular culture serves as the repository of a country's cultural identity.

Key Characteristics of Romanticism

• Individualism: The belief that true understanding resides within the individual.
• Nationalism: A strong emphasis on national identity and culture.
• Search for the Absolute: A quest for eternal truths and ultimate reality.
• Artist's Function: Art is seen as a profound form of knowledge and expression.
• Freedom: Considered the primary human characteristic.
• Discontent: The pursuit of freedom often leads to dissatisfaction or a sense of longing.
• Escapism: A tendency to seek refuge in the Middle Ages, mysteries, or dreamlike states.
• Nature: Viewed as a projection of human feelings and emotions.
• Style: Characterized by stylistic restoration and the development of rich narrative elements.

Stages of Romanticism

Preromanticism

This period encompassed both conservative and liberal tendencies. Authors began to prioritize emotions over pure reason, notably seen in the Sturm und Drang movement, which championed individual freedoms and intense feelings.

Romantic Poetry Principles

• Aspiration: Aims for the liberation of beauty.
• Form: Independent of traditional verse or prose structures.
• Reflection: Deeply reflects the author's inner world.
• Freedom: Embraces creative freedom, often disregarding conventional rules.
• Scope: Encompasses both intimate and epic, grandiose themes.

English Romantic Lyric Poetry

• Themes: Often features prophetic and religious visions.
• Critique: Actively attacks rationalism.
• Social Commentary: Expresses a condemnation of industrialization.

Notable Figure: Lord Byron

Known for his narrative poems where the poet is beholden only to himself, embodying a spirit of independence and self-reliance.