Britlit 1

1785-1832

Romantic Era years

1832

Year of First Reform Bill

Romantic horror and mystery subgenre that blends fear, the supernatural, and deep psychological tension.

What makes literature gothic?

Steam power, industrial revolution

Primary Source of power that replaced water and wind

William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Blake

First big three poets of romantic era

Lord Byron/George Gordon, Percy Shelley, John Keats

Last big three poets of romantic era

Women wrote it, aimed for poor people

Why was novel seen trashy?

They felt they weren’t meant for creativity, they hate women

How did men view women and female authors?

“spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”

Wordsworth describes all good poetry should be what?

William Wordsworth and Samuel T Coleridge

Two poets that were gay & wrote lyrical ballads

nature, natural spirituality, growth, independence

Themes of Romantic Literature

Common man

Wordsworth brought poetry and thought it should be written for?

The French got too violent and Britain took extreme measures to prevent that, like limiting public gathering, suspending habeas corpus.

British history as it relates to France. Poets and authors support french rev and then stop. Why?

Poetry, novels (later in pd), newspaper, essays, pamphlet, journals (now like magazines), literary criticism, biographies

Popular forms of writing

Short Stories

Form of literature that wasn’t around until mid 1860s because of edgar allen poe:

Had big family (One of 8 children), long lost lover her parents didn’t want (broke), didn’t accept other proposal because it wasn’t love

Jane Austen major life events

Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen published 1 book with her own money

She was a woman writer, made the novel not trashy anymore (respectable and accepted literature), and her characters have thoughts

Why was Jane Austen famous?

Everyday life and family

What did Jane Austen make important?

Eyes, Sun, Moon

Motifs in Rime of the Ancient Mariner

sin, the natural world, the supernatural, guilt, and the redemptive power of storytelling

Themes in Rime of Ancient Mariner

The Mystery of Creation and the Creator's Nature, duality, innocence vs. experience

Theme of William Blake’s Lamb and Tyger

The healing and joyful power of memory and nature, where the visual recollection of the flowers brings deep emotional warmth in solitude

Wordsworth’s I wander Lonely as a Cloud theme

the transcendent power of art, music, and nature to leave a permanent, imprint on the human soul

Theme of Solitary Reaper