Romanticism: Poetry, Novels, and the Rise of Emotion
Romanticism: An Era of Emotion
Poetry: The Dominant Genre
Poetry reigned supreme, expressing authors’ feelings and personalities. Lyricism permeated even other genres, blurring the lines between generations. Hölderlin’s novel Hyperion and tragedy The Death of Empedocles exemplify this lyrical infusion, where poetic emotion overrides narrative. Romantic poetry, rejecting rigid rules, championed freedom of expression. Some poets favored intimate tones (Novalis, Keats), while others embraced grand,
Read MoreVerb Conjugation Models
Model of the Verb Sing (1st Conjugation)
| Indicative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Perfect | Imperfect | Past Perfect | |
| Singular | ||||
| I | sing | I have sung | sang | had sung |
| You | sing | have sung | sang | had sung |
| He/She/It | sings | has sung | sang | had sung |
| Plural | ||||
| We | sing | have sung | sang | had sung |
| You | sing | have sung | sang | had sung |
| They | sing | have sung | sang | had sung |
| Simple Past | Periphrastic Past | Past Back | Past Anterior Periphrastic | |
| Singular | ||||
| I | sang | I sang | would have sung | I had sung |
| You | sang | you sang | had sung | you had sung |
| He/She/It | sang | sang | was sung | had sung |
| Plural | ||||
| We | sang | we sang | we had sung | we had sung |
| You | sang | you |
The Romantic Period in English Literature
The Romantic Period
Social and Historical Context
It would be convenient to believe that the Romantic Movement in Literature began with the storming of the Bastille in Paris. What had been unorthodox became orthodox. Romanticism developed its own rules and standards, and the rebels became the lawful government.
However, when we consider that the Romantics were really returning to the old way of writing (the Elizabethans and even the ballad-poets), we can then see the classical age in truer perspective.
Read MoreThe Grotesque in Valle-Inclán’s Bohemian Lights
Historical and Literary Context
In Spain, theatrical renewal attempts faced all sorts of obstacles, the biggest difficulty being their premiere. The public and employers gave their support to a theater that was aesthetically and ideologically conservative, while those who sought renewal were denied support and marginalized. The successful theater of the time included Benavente’s comedy, drama, and humorous verse drama.
It is more difficult to establish homogeneous blocks within the theater of renewal,
Read MoreSpanish Theater Before 1939: From Benavente to Lorca
Spanish Theater Before 1939
Theater Prior to 1939
The early 20th century saw Spanish theater dominated by “high comedy” in the style of Echegaray and melodramas aimed at thrilling audiences. Public taste and the reluctance of theater owners hindered attempts at innovation. The first third of the century was characterized by:
- Bourgeois comedy (rural and urban)
- Farcical comedies set in Madrid or Andalusia
- Poetic and symbolic theater
Renewed efforts at theatrical innovation arose with the Generation of ‘
Read MoreRomanticism in Spain: Drama, Prose, and Social Commentary
Romanticism: A Cultural and Artistic Movement
Romanticism was a significant cultural and artistic movement characterized by:
- Individualism: Exalted liberty and the importance of the individual, asserting freedom as a supreme value (moral, political, and artistic).
- Rebellion: Embraced “Titanism” (rebellion against established laws) and “Satanism” (rebellion against God).
- Subjectivity: Championed a subjective conception of reality.
- Existential Angst: Explored themes of human existence and suffering.
- Historicism