Romantic Poetry 4HV

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4

In Class today:

• Romantic Poetry presentation: In finals week 
• Romanticism: presentation
• Next class and poem

Romantic

Romanticism  - 1789-1848

“If poetry comes not as naturally as the leaves  to a tree, it had better not come at all.” (Keats)

Neoclassical painting

= Age of Enlightenment (or: Age of Reason)

The Oath of the Horatii (1785)

Louvre, Paris.

By Jacques-Louis David.

Romantic painting

The Hay Wain

(John Constable, 1821)

Romanticism

• Starts with the French Revolution
• Visible in art, music, poetry, politics, philosophy
• Dead Poets Society : Mr. Keating = representation of romanticism

Question:

Example: We will listen to a short piece of classical music. Think of the following questions:

• Do you recognize this piece of music from Dead Poets Society? If so, describe where you think it is present in the movie.
• What sounds do you hear that remind you of romanticism? (think of the French Revolution)

Do you recognize this piece of music from Dead Poets Society? If so, describe where you think it is present in the movie.
What sounds do you hear that remind you of romanticism? (think of the French Revolution)

Neoclassical poetry (Enlightenment)

= didactic (teaches people)

Essay on man - Alexander Pope

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; 

The proper study of Mankind is Man. 

Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, 

A being darkly wise, and rudely great: 

Romantic poetry

= personal feeling (art for the sake of art, expression of emotions)

I wandered lonely as a cloud - William Wordsworth

For oft, when on my couch I lie 

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.  

What is this poem about? What does it describe?

Romantic themes in art/literature

• liberty 
  
• nature 
  
• the exotic 
  
• the supernatural 
  
• creative process / imagination 
  

Characteristics Romanticism

1. individual, personal
   
2. feeling / Imagination
   
3. common life
   
4. spontaneity
   
5. ordinary language
   
6. pleasure
   
7. nature as background and inspiration
   

How does a Romantic poet write?

• Poet’s own feelings important (personal, subjective, individual) 
•  Poem is composed spontaneously cf. Wordsworth: poetry is “the spontaneous  overflow of powerful feelings, taking its origin  in emotion recollected in tranquility.” 
• Keywords: inspiration, imagination, originality 
  

What characteristics of Romanticism do you see?

What characteristics of Romanticism do you see?

In which period would you like to have lived: Enlightenment or Romantic?

Poetry Presentation:

• Today: Make groups (1, 2,3, 4, or 5 students)
• Make sure your group is clear before next class
• Next class: receive a Poem and instructions on the Poetry presentations. 
• Work on poetry presentation in class (week 6 will be a work on your own week as well, write your essay and work on your presentation)