What is Romanticism in Literature: Definition. Romanticism of the 19th century in the literature: features, representatives

Being the most accessible and widespread kind 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 held back freedom of speech. As a result, the accumulated dissatisfaction required its manifestation, therefore it was spilled onto empty sheets of paper. Various styles and forms of literature have appeared. Such devices as epithets and metaphors concealed the main meaning of the works under their veil. Torn from the discontent of the soul of artists united in whole literary trends 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 Romanic 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 the political and geographic changes in the countries of the world. One of the most colorful tracks left romanticism of the 19th century in the literature. This movement confirmed that every new political system, every important event for the people, always leaves its specific trace in the history in the form of modern authors.

Trying to abstract from the debunked hopes that the population assigned to the French revolution, the Romantic representatives in literature 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 the new literary trend declared a spiritual "protest" to the established bourgeois system of "deceivers". What is Romanticism? In the literature, the definition of this flow does not have a clear formulation.

Features of the new literary movement

Although each culture had its own business card and distinctive features of romanticism in literature, its isolation in a separate stream became real due to the concentration of authors on the reflection of the inner world of man. So the Germans expressed romanticism in mystical literary form, English literature used the personal qualities of the heroes of works, and the French used various extraordinary stories. Be that as it may, the "romantics" tried to transform the surrounding reality, bringing it into conformity with their standards, or they locked 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 it paid more attention to the reflection of the inner world of man and his experiences.

Non-partisanship

Despite the political origins of Romanticism, this current has nothing to do with any political system. This style was used as supporters of monarchy and dictatorship, feudalism and capitalism, and opponents of all existing forms of government and power. Romanticism of the 19th century in literature has become an instrument for expressing thoughts and feelings, and not as an instrument of management and agitation. So, along with adherents of the old foundations and 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 trend is most closely connected 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 George Sand. The first duet differed with an intense hatred for 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 that have come about. Such contrast makes it difficult to understand what Romanticism is in literature. The definition of a clear framework of style will lead to a dead end any amateur.

Peak of romantic movement

The highest peak of development of the romantic movement has reached with the advent of a new genre - a historical novel that happened closer to the third decade of the 19th century. A model of imitation for the French authors of the time was Walter Scott, whose greatness remained unattainable for them.

As for the image of the ideal hero - a romantic, it is usually provided in the form of a loner who, through his own forces, breaks through all the obstacles on the path of life. Typically, the characters experience two life segments that share a meeting with sobering reality. Similarly, the authors demonstrate the period of moral "aging" of their hero - the transition from a naive reassessment of their capabilities to a real awareness of the unreachability of obstacles. Primary impulses to feats and change of the world pass into pessimistic views on external reality, accompanied by a new desire for danger. The main literary character of Byron from the work of Child-Harold became an original standard of the classic hero.

Sensual and eccentric heroes embodied the unquenchable desire for resistance.

Romanticism in literature. Definition of features and features

Experts note some of the main features of Romanticism in literature, which must necessarily 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 to narrow the distance as much as possible. The writer must "put on the mask" of the hero, feel each of his emotions, feel the influence of every external factor that "irritates" his creation. The next distinctive feature is that the author should never condemn his hero and his actions. All the bad that is associated with the hero in the long run, is the result of the fault of external factors.

The last but not least important feature is that the plot line of the work should be related to romance. Also romanticism of the 19th century in literature is 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 opportunities

The new trend was also very popular due to the fact that by its appearance it boldly allowed all the frameworks and creative foundations that existed in the framework of the classicism, which constrained the authors. Practicing unlimited splashing emotions on paper, novelists mixed different styles. Romanticism individualized literature, simplified it and provided access to it for a larger circle of authors. Also, as a result of the emergence of a new style, the boundaries between high creativity and ordinary people eroded. Therefore, it is relevant to understand what romanticism is in literature. This definition of internal uncertainty in the writer's soul, 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, which were introduced by its followers, gives contemporaries an opportunity to trace the impact of this movement on subsequent generations. Having begun as a new literary genre, Romanticism subsequently had a huge impact on music and painting. Encouraged by the novelty and protest that writers of this genre offered, musicians and artists set about introducing revolutionary thought in their work. As a result, as history shows, not only the authors, but also the representatives of just people who got the opportunity to enjoy their works, have plunged into a prize, plunging into a different reality.