Romantic Poetry

1. List and describe at least two historical events that occurred during or right before the Romantic Period (2 paragraphs).

Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution occured in the late 18th, and early 19th century. During the Industrial Revolution there were many technological advances. An example is textile manufactering. They created Devices that did much more efficient work than the previous manual labor. Another great introduction of this time period was the steam engine. This engine is the forerunner of gasoline engines. Steam engines were put to use in boats to create more efficient transportation.

French Revolution
The French Revolution also took place in the late 1800s. This was a period of time in which France decided to move away from anarchy, and more toward a republic govermnment with right of the people. The infamous Reign of Terror took place during this time and there were many violent uprisings and exuctions. The guillitine, a device that dropped a blade and deheaded its victim, was frequently used in these public executions. Between 18-40,000 people were executed during this time.


2. After reading about these events, what do you think life was like for normal people during this time? (1 paragraph)

I think life in this time was very hectic. You would have to supress your individual belief's if it disagreed with the personell in charge. Justice was in the eyes or morality, even though that might still be true today, it was more evident then. I think life would fall much under the dog-eat-dog mentaliity. You would either have to live a very recessive life, in fear and bending to others. The only other choice was to live to live, and not live just to stay alive. By this i mean be disregarding of public opinion and stand up for what you belive. However, you would be living that way knowing you were a lot closer to death.

3. What did the Romantic poets want to express in their work? You should be able to list three or four qualities of Romantic poetry. These will be the things you will need to find examples of later. The purple anthology can help you here. (3-4 sentences for each quality you find)

I researched that poets of the Romantic Period wanted to stress intuiton over reason. This is believe what you think is right, not what you come to a conclusion about. You might even say that stressed following your "heart" over your mind. Sounds Romantic enough to me. "the filtering of natural emotion through the human mind in order to create art, coupled with an awareness of the duality created by such a process." This is the main theme of romantic period, as you can see poets appeared to be very intelligent, and seeking unity with nature.

The poem i chose to read by William Black was "ON ANOTHER'S SORROW". It was a poem that spoke of sorrow and grief. It questioned that if you see someone in sorrow, does this mean you can see them withought feeling sorrow for them as well. It asked was it possible for a mother to see an infant weeping, and not weep beside it. He thinks that it's not possible, and that the caringness of the world forces a mother to weep alongside an infant until she cures it's grief, and brings it joy.

I think this is a good example of a poem from the romantic period, because you can see how the poet speaks and believes people should act. In a way that displays much natural emotion, intuition, and unity with nature, all very important qualities. It is a human's natural intuition to help one who is in harm. Regardless of whats going on in their mind, they should still follow their heart and intuition. Sounds romantic enough to me.
"Can a mother sit and hear
An infant groan, an infant fear?
No, no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be! "

The Poem i chose to read by william wordsworth was "The Solitary Reaper", it is a poem of a woman who sings joyously while she works, bringing joy to all traveler's passing by. I think this show's that even though she is working hard, she is trying to bring joy and happiness to herself and the world. I believe this was important during the romantic period.
"Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending;--
I listen'd, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more."
She was also working in a field, which i believed to show that she was in touch and at peace with nature. She sung euphoriously and seemed consent with being in nature.

The poem i chose to read by George Gordon Byron, also known as Lord Byron, was "I saw thee weep." It was a relatively short poem, with only four stanzas. However, it held many of the important ideas of the romantic period. It talked about someone who wept, however even when they cried it looked beautiful. He says that when they smile they have the power to change the moodiest heart into a joyous one.

"I saw thee weep---the big bright tear
Came o'er that eye of blue;
And then methought it did appear
A violet dropping dew"

I think this has a lot to do with intuition and being intouch with nature as well, however i think this one focuses more on following your heart. These poets wrote a lot of emotional poetry, and from a lot of it i get an image of a hippy family running through a field. All of this poems seem to share that happy, nature filled imagery. Quite frankly im getting sick of it.

The poem i chose to read by Percy Bysshe Shelley was "On a Dead Violet". I think that this poem speaks of a lost love of Percy, however it could just be figuratively speaking. However it turns away from that Hippy imagery, but shares the same beliefs of the Romantic Period. This poem speaks of a violet that he wishes would come back to life, it taunts his heart by laying upon it. His eyes trick him that what he misses is still there, and that it will come back, but it wont.
A shrivelled, lifeless, vacant form,
It lies on my abandoned breast;
And mocks the heart, which yet is warm,
With cold and silent rest.
I weep--my tears revive it not;
I sigh--it breathes no more on me:
Its mute and uncomplaining lot
Is such as mine should be.
I believe that is a good example of romantic period because the poem talks soley about love. If not so simplified you would say he was atleast missing the flower, or what the flower symbolized. Possibly it even states he misses whom the flower reminds him of. Whichever of the causes, it leads back to him being led by his heart, which isnt so good in this situation. Regardless, he is following his heart. Romantic...? yup.

The final romantic poem i chose to read was "The Human Seasons" by John Keats. Withought even reading this poem you notice that it refers to the Seaons of the year. A direct relation to nature, a key theme in Romanticism. In this poem he talks of how man acts differently in each of the seaons, enjoying each differently. I think that this quality of enjoying nature is very important in linking this poem to romanticism.
"He has his lusty Spring, when fancy clear
Takes in all beauty with an easy span:
He has his Summer, when luxuriously
Spring's honied cud of youthful thought he loves
To ruminate, and by such dreaming high
Is nearest unto heaven: quiet coves."

It speaks much from a view in which people live in a nature filled world. Which is true, we live in nature today, however. They take the time to sit back and admire nature, to enjoy it and play in it. Where I and many people of today just live, for the sake of living and doing new things. I think there is a much less important emphasis on nature, and more emphasis on living life to the fullest regardless of whats going on. Maybe this because nature was more consistent then, as where now its hot on a november day?