Glossary
Emphasis on Emotion
A core tenet of Romanticism that prioritized feelings, intuition, and personal experience as sources of truth and inspiration, over strict reason and logic.
Example:
A Romantic painter might depict a stormy sea with turbulent waves and dark skies to convey the raw power of nature and human vulnerability, showcasing a strong emphasis on emotion.
Enlightenment
An intellectual and cultural movement of the 18th century that emphasized reason, logic, and scientific inquiry, which Romanticism emerged as a direct reaction against.
Example:
While Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire championed rational discourse and scientific inquiry, Romantics sought to explore the depths of human feeling and the mysteries beyond pure logic.
Individualism
A key Romantic value that celebrated the unique individual, their inner world, and the expression of personal identity and genius.
Example:
The archetype of the solitary artist or poet, driven by their unique vision and feelings rather than societal expectations, perfectly embodies the Romantic ideal of individualism.
Jane Austen
A novelist whose focus on the inner lives and emotions of her characters, and exploration of personal relationships, places her within the broader Romantic tradition despite her association with realism.
Example:
While known for her sharp social commentary, Jane Austen's novels like Pride and Prejudice delve into the emotional complexities of love and self-discovery, aligning with Romantic themes of individual experience.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
An Enlightenment philosopher whose arguments for the importance of emotions and natural human goodness laid foundational groundwork for the Romantic movement.
Example:
Rousseau's belief that society corrupts individuals, and that true morality stems from innate feelings, influenced later Romantics to seek truth in nature and personal Jean-Jacques Rousseau-ian intuition rather than societal norms.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
A prominent German writer whose novel *The Sorrows of Young Werther* is a prime example of Romantic literature, focusing on intense emotions and unrequited love.
Example:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's influence extended beyond literature, as his exploration of human passion and the individual's struggle resonated deeply with the broader Romantic movement across Europe.
Liberty Leading the People
A powerful painting by Eugène Delacroix that exemplifies Romantic art through its dramatic depiction of revolution, combining passion, movement, and national identity.
Example:
The iconic figure of Marianne, leading the charge with the French flag, makes Liberty Leading the People a timeless symbol of revolutionary fervor and the emotional power of collective action.
Nature
For Romantics, nature was a profound source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual truth, often seen as an escape from the perceived artificiality of urban or industrial life.
Example:
William Wordsworth's poetry often celebrated the sublime beauty of the English countryside, finding profound spiritual insights and solace in the wildness of nature.
Reverence for the Past
A Romantic fascination with history, folklore, and myth, often idealizing earlier eras and traditional narratives as sources of wisdom and inspiration.
Example:
The Gothic revival in architecture, drawing inspiration from medieval cathedrals and castles, reflected a widespread reverence for the past among Romantics.
Romantic Art
Art characterized by bold colors, dramatic scenes, and expressive brushstrokes, used to convey intense emotions and often featuring wild landscapes, heroic figures, or exotic settings.
Example:
Caspar David Friedrich's painting Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, depicting a lone figure gazing at a vast, misty landscape, is a quintessential example of Romantic Art that evokes awe and introspection.
Romantic Literature
Literature that explored emotions, inner thoughts, and rejected rationalism, often idealizing nature, imagination, and rural life while using common language.
Example:
The works of Edgar Allan Poe, with their dark psychological explorations and focus on intense emotional states, exemplify the depth and often melancholic beauty found in Romantic Literature.
Romanticism
A powerful artistic, literary, and intellectual movement from the late 18th to 19th centuries that reacted against the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, championing emotion, imagination, and individuality instead.
Example:
Lord Byron, a quintessential Romantic poet, embodied the movement's spirit through his passionate verses and adventurous life, often portraying characters consumed by intense Romanticism and personal freedom.
The Sorrows of Young Werther
A novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, considered a prime example of Romantic literature due to its deep dive into the protagonist's overwhelming emotions, unrequited love, and connection to nature.
Example:
The widespread emotional impact of The Sorrows of Young Werther led to a phenomenon known as 'Werther Fever,' where readers deeply identified with the protagonist's intense feelings and despair.
The Supernatural
A Romantic attraction to the mysterious, the occult, and the unexplained, often explored in literature and art to evoke awe, terror, or wonder.
Example:
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, with its themes of reanimation and the monstrous, delves deeply into the Romantic fascination with the supernatural and the boundaries of human knowledge.