Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism in Literature

Romanticism

Romanticism is an ideological and cultural movement whose roots lie in the eighteenth century. The French Revolution in 1789 laid the foundations for this movement with ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Romanticism in Spain is a belated movement. Ferdinand VII's absolutist reaction slowed down this movement, and the Spanish liberals were forced into exile. After the death of Fernando VII in 1833, Romanticism settled in Spain.

Features of the Romantic Movement

The Romantic movement is cultural, literary, and an attitude toward life. The romantic is defined as a genius who has the gift of inspiration. The traits of Romanticism are:

• The desire for freedom and rejection of any social or artistic standard.
• Individualism and subjectivism: Literature adopts a subjective position.
• Nationalism.

Romantic Poetry

Narrative poetry tells stories and evokes the past and traditional legends. By recovering the romance and lyric poetry, the author recreates his feelings in a melancholic tone common to that time.

Realism

Realism is a literary movement that triumphed in Europe by 1850 and seeks to reflect the social reality of the time.

Key Features of Realism

The key issue is the reality surrounding the writer, who must bear witness to the body and act as a chronicler. The middle class became the focus of attention concerning the writer. The style is simple and sober. With language, it is intended to replicate the way characters talk and their social status. The objective, omniscient narrator (i.e., knowing the characters in depth) is used to show feelings and thoughts using interior monologue and free indirect style.

Naturalism

Naturalism is a realistic form of literature that emerged in France from the hand of Émile Zola. It is part of the philosophical and scientific doctrines of the time.

Defining Traits of Naturalism

• Biological and social determinism: Human behavior is determined by their biological heritage and the surrounding social circumstances.
• Experimental method: The writer works as a senior scientist with his characters.
• Materialism: The forms of human action respond to their psychic reactions and physiological organic reasons.