The document provides an overview of the Romantic period in literature, focusing on key figures William Blake, William Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It discusses how Romanticism was a reaction against Enlightenment thinking, with a focus on nature, emotion, and the individual. It summarizes some of Blake, Wordsworth, and Coleridge's most important literary works, how they influenced the start of the Romantic period in literature, and their philosophies on poetry and the role of emotion and nature.

1. The RomanticPeriod A reaction to the enlightenment

2. Romanticism Reaction to the Enlightenment way of thinking Working class growing larger Royalty getting weaker French Revolution Led to a perspective focused on the “Common” people

3. Enlightenment Romantic Scientific objectivity Classic Greeks & Romans Optimistic about present Followed standards and traditions Social Hierarchy Society as a whole Nature controlled by man Inner feelings Middle Ages Idealistic Romanticized past Sought new forms of expression Favored democracy Concerned with Individual Nature should be untamed

4. William Blake Saw GOD outside his window at 4 yrs old Saw trees filled with Angels Spiritual nature encouraged by parents

5. William Blake Was a great artist as well as a poet Self-taught Brought back “metal etching” as an art form

6. WilliamBlake Incorporated both words and paintings onto metal plates used in printing process. Very time consuming

7. Literary Works Greatest literary works—Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience Songs of Innocence- tried to recapture the wonder and joy of childhood Songs of Experience- attempt to recognize evils all around us Each poem had a counterpart in the other Believed man must accept the union of the two

8. William Wordsworth Intended to make a distinct break w/ past Believed poetry was a living form of artistic expression Wrote for the common man in the common tongue One main focus of works—Man’s relationship with nature (sometimes called “nature’s priest”) He & Samuel Taylor Coleridge began Romanticism with Lyrical Ballads One of the most quoted of all English poets

9. Samuel Taylor Coleridge Close friend of William Wordsworth friendship fell apart Co-wrote Lyrical Ballads Started as collaboration on“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” but they couldn’t work together Included“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

10. Samuel Taylor Coleridge Expert on philosophy, Shakespeare, art, psychology, dreams and other areas Wrote “Kubla Khan” inspired by a dream never completed dream or poem. Believed the literature was a magical blend of thought and emotion with the ability to make the unreal seem real.