2_APEH TOPICS 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9

Chapter 1: Introduction to Romanticism

• Definition and Importance

  • Romanticism is a critical essay topic on the AP exam.

  • Essential to memorize key figures and analyze their works for effective essay writing.

• Cultural Context

  • Romanticism emerged as a reaction to Enlightenment rationalism, aligning with emotional and subjective experiences rather than objective scientific realism.

  • It broke from neoclassical traditions, emphasizing intuition and emotion.

• Nature and Spirituality

  • Romantics glorified the beauty and power of nature, viewing it as interconnected with human emotion.

  • A shift away from deism towards a more personal and spiritual relationship with nature and God.

• Cultural Re-evaluation

  • Rejected Enlightenment's perspective on progress, valuing the Middle Ages and themes of honor and faith (e.g., Sir Walter Scott’s novels).

  • Celebrated folk traditions and peasant life as integral to cultural identity.

• Core Values

  • Emphasis on personal freedom, individual expression, and self-discovery within the romantic spirit.

Chapter 2: Promoted Romantic Nationalism

• Influential Thinkers

  • Jean Jacques Rousseau

    • Argued society corrupts human nature and advocated returning to nature for true freedom.

  • Immanuel Kant

    • Bridged Enlightenment rationalism and romantic ideals, focusing on reason, freedom, and faith.

• Cultural Influences

  • Romanticism embraced the nationalism and heroism stemming from the French Revolution.

  • Influence of Sturm und Drang in German romanticism, emphasizing intense emotion and rejecting classical forms.

• Key Figures

  • Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

    • Developed the dialectical method and explored self-consciousness, influencing future philosophies.

  • Johann Gottlieb Fichte

    • Promoted romantic nationalism with a focus on German identity and antisemitic elements.

• Impact on Literature and Politics

  • Romantic writers reacted to the Industrial Revolution and political upheavals, shaping a distinct literary voice alongside evolving political ideologies.

Chapter 3: Key Romantic Themes

• Pursuit of Knowledge and Pleasure

  • Johann Wolfgang Goethe

    • Explored themes in Faust reflecting on the excesses of knowledge and pleasure.

• Poetic Expression

  • Poets such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge emphasized individualism through simple language and deep emotional connection to nature.

  • Lord Byron represented the romantic hero with themes of rebellion and personal struggle.

• Literary Rebirth

  • Sir Walter Scott revived chivalric themes in novels like Rob Roy and Ivanhoe, vitalizing historical romantic narratives.

  • Victor Hugo depicted social justice struggles in works like Les Misérables, combining love, fate, and revolution.

Chapter 4: Celebrated Romantic Painters

• Francisco Goya

  • Critiqued war through The Third of May 1808, depicting the horrors of revolution.

• Caspar David Friedrich

  • Captured sublime aspects of nature in works like Wanderer Above the Mist.

• Eugène Delacroix

  • Known for dramatic works, including Liberty Leading the People, symbolizing revolutionary spirit.

• J.M.W. Turner

  • Explored nature's chaos in paintings like The Slave Ship, reflecting on human suffering and the slave trade.

Chapter 5: Conveying Deep Emotion

• Emotional Depth in Art

  • Romantic music highlighted emotional expression and national identity, moving away from classical traditions.

• Influential Composers

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    • Bridged musical eras with emotive works like Symphony No. 9.

  • Franz Schubert

    • Pioneered lieder, blending poetry with music.

• Programmatic and National Themes

  • Composers like Hector Berlioz and Frederic Chopin further developed nationalist themes through distinctive musical forms.

Chapter 6: Conclusion

• Evolution of Artistic Expression

  • Romanticism challenged previous artistic norms and focused on emotion, national identity, and historical narratives.

  • The Gothic Revival in architecture reflected romantic ideals through imaginative designs, as seen in the British Houses of Parliament.