Being the most accessible and widespread form of creativity, written literature has always been the most wonderful form of manifestation of the human soul. The former popularity of prose and poems was due to the fact that the authorities in the past restrained freedom of speech. As a result, the accumulated discontent demanded its manifestation, and therefore spilled on empty sheets of paper. Various styles and forms of literature have appeared. Techniques such as epithets and metaphors hid the main meaning of the works under their cover. Torn apart from dissatisfaction, the souls of artists united in whole literary directions and new styles. Now, perhaps, not everyone will remember what romanticism is in literature. The definition is briefly justified in the name of this movement.
The origins of romance thought
The main thing in the writer's work is the meaning and relevance. This confirms the assumption that the emergence of new styles is directly related to political and geographical changes in the countries of the world. One of the most colorful traces was left by 19th century romanticism in literature. This movement confirmed that every new political system, every important event for the people always leaves its specific mark in history in the form of modern authors.
Trying to ignore the debunked hopes that the population had on the French revolution, the representatives of romanticism in literature simultaneously tried to comprehend its consequences at a higher level. Feeling the discrepancy between the promised changes and the real state of affairs, the authors of a new literary movement declared a spiritual “protest” to the existing bourgeois system of “deceivers”. What is romanticism? In the literature, the definition of this trend does not have a clearly defined formulation.
Features of the new literary movement
Although each culture had its own calling card and the distinctive features of romanticism in literature, its isolation in a separate flow became real due to the concentration of the authors on the reflection of the human inner world. So the Germans expressed romanticism in a mystical literary form, English literature used the personal qualities of the heroes of the works, and the French used different outstanding stories. Be that as it may, the "romantics" tried to transform the surrounding reality, bringing it into line with their standards, or closed themselves in their fantasies, drawing readers' attention to the experience and struggle of the desired with the real. Romanticism of the 19th century in literature is noteworthy in that more attention was paid to reflecting the inner world of a person and his experiences.
Non-partisanship
Despite the political origins of romanticism, this trend is not related to any political system. This style was used by both supporters of the monarchy and dictatorship, feudalism and capitalism, as well as opponents of all existing forms of government and power. Romanticism of the 19th century in literature has become a tool for expressing thoughts and feelings, and not a tool for management and agitation. So, along with the adherents of the old foundations and the regime of the monarchy, there were also supporters of democratic thought, who protested in their works against feudal oppression.
Representatives of romanticism
French writers are the most ardent representatives of romanticism in literature. The use of this literary movement is most closely associated with the ideological struggle that was waged in France after the bourgeois revolution. A special trace in the literature of this direction was left by such French writers as Shotabrian and Germaine de Stael, Lamartine and Vigny, Hugo and Georges Sand. The first duet was distinguished by its fierce hatred of the revolution, singing in its works the former greatness of the French nation. Victor Hugo, inspired by the ideas and spirit of French democracy, on the contrary, spoke in support of the changes. This contrast makes it difficult to understand what romanticism is in literature. Defining a clear framework for style will lead to a dead end for any amateur.
The peak of romantic movement
The romantic movement reached its peak of development with the advent of a new genre - a historical novel that happened closer to the third decade of the 19th century. A role model for the French authors of that time was Walter Scott, whose greatness remained unattainable for them.
As for the image of the ideal hero - romance, it is usually provided in the form of a loner who, through his own forces, breaks through all obstacles in his life's journey. Usually, heroes experience two life segments that are shared by a meeting with a sobering reality. Similarly, the authors demonstrate a period of moral “aging” of their hero - the transition from a naive reassessment of their capabilities to a real awareness of the insuperability of obstacles. Primary impulses for exploits and changing the world turn into pessimistic views on external reality, accompanied by a new desire for danger. The main literary character of Byron from Childe-Harold became a peculiar standard of the classic hero.
Sensual and eccentric heroes embodied an unquenchable desire for resistance.
Romanticism in literature. Identification of features and traits
Experts note some of the main features of romanticism in literature, which must be present in each of their works. First of all, the author of the work must erase all boundaries between himself and his hero and narrow the distance as much as possible. The writer must “put on a mask” of the hero, feel his every emotion, feel the influence of every external factor that “irritates” his creation. The next distinguishing feature is that the author should never condemn his hero and his actions. Everything bad that is connected with the hero in the long run becomes the result of the fault of external factors.
Last but not least, the storyline should be connected with romance. Romanticism of the 19th century in literature is also notable for the abundant use of metaphors and the inspiration of the inanimate. For a clearer description of the character’s state of mind, analogies with natural phenomena and cataclysms are often used.
Unlimited possibilities
The new movement has gained great popularity also due to the fact that by its appearance it boldly has all the frameworks and creative foundations that existed under classicism, which fettered the authors. Practicing unlimited splashing of emotions on paper, novelists mixed different styles. Romanticism individualized literature, simplified it, and granted access to a larger circle of authors. Also, as a result of the emergence of a new style, the boundaries between high creativity and ordinary people have been erased. Therefore, it is relevant to understand what romanticism is in literature. This is the definition of inner uncertainty in the soul of a writer, the personification of his worries and anxieties through the inner world of his hero.
The influence of romanticism on creativity
Understanding what romanticism is in literature, the definition of high values ​​that were introduced by its followers, gives contemporaries the opportunity to trace the influence of this movement on subsequent generations. Having begun as a new literary genre, romanticism subsequently had a huge impact on music and painting. Inspired by the novelty and protest that the writers of this genre offered, musicians and artists set about introducing revolutionary thought into their work. As a result, as history shows, not only the authors were the winners, but also representatives of just people who had the opportunity to enjoy their works, immersed in a different reality.