This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 103 - Literature of the Romantics , Sem - 1, 2024.
personal Information:-
Name:- Krishna Vala
Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2024-2026)
Enrollment Number:- 5108240037
E-mail Address:-krishnavala2005@gmail.com
Roll Number:- 13
Assignment Details:-
Topic:- Indian Drama
Paper & subject code:- 103- Literature of the Romantics.
Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar.
Date of Submission:- 20 November,2023
Words : 1,856
Table of contents
- Introduction
- French Revolution
- Cause of revolution
- Impact of revolution
- Romanticism
- Romanticism and French revolution
- A closer look at the influence of the French revolution on selected romantic poet
- Importance of French revolution on Romantic Literature
- Artwork of romanticism
- Conclusion
Topic : French Revolution and Romanticism
Abstract
Introduction
The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a watershed moment in history, characterized by the overthrow of monarchy, the rise of democratic ideals, and profound social upheaval. It marked a shift in the political and cultural landscape of Europe, influencing art, literature, and philosophy. This revolutionary spirit aligned with Romanticism, a literary and artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th century as a reaction against Enlightenment rationalism and industrialization.
Romantic poets, inspired by the Revolution's ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, embraced its vision of a transformed society while grappling with its complexities and contradictions. The emotional fervor, focus on individualism, and celebration of human potential that defined both the Revolution and Romanticism created a unique interplay, profoundly shaping the themes and expressions of Romantic literature.
This essay examines the French Revolution's influence on Romantic poets, exploring how their works reflect its ideals, tensions, and enduring impact on the literary imagination.
French revolution
The French involvement in the American Revolution of 1776 was a costly affair that left the country in a state of near bankruptcy. King Louis’s extravagant spending also did not help matters.
Empty royal coffers, poor harvests and a rise in food prices had created feelings of unrest among the poor rural and urban populace. The matter was further worsened by the imposition of taxes that provided no relief. As a result rioting, looting and general strikes became the norm
Towards the end of 1786, a universal land tax was proposed by the controller general, Charles Alexandre de Calonne. This tax reform would no longer exempt the privileged classes like the clergy and the nobility as had been the case for centuries
The King summoned the Estates-General to pass these measures. The Estates-General was an assembly that represented the French nobility clergy and the middle class. The last time the Estates-General was called was in 1614.
The date of the meeting was fixed on May 5 1789, where grievances of the three estates would be presented to the king.
Causes of French Revolution of 1789
Social – The social conditions in France in the late 18th century were extremely unequal and exploitative. The clergy and the nobility formed the first two Estates and were the most privileged classes in French society. They were exempt from payment of taxes to the State. On the other hand, the Third Estate which consisted of peasants and workers formed the majority of the population. They were burdened with excessive taxes with no political and social rights. As a result, they were extremely discontent.
Economic – As a result of numerous wars waged by Louis XVI the State coffers were empty. The situation was made even more complex by France’s involvement in the American War of Independence and the faulty system of taxation. While the privileged classes were excused from paying taxes the Third Estate was more and more burdened with them.
Political – The Bourbon king of France, Louis XVI was an extremely autocratic and weak-willed king who led a life of obscene luxury. This led to a lot of disenchantment among the masses who then were leading life of extreme poverty and widespread hunger.
Intellectual – The 18th century was marked by a conscious refusal by French thinkers of the ‘Divine Rights Theory’. Philosophers like Rousseau rejected the paradigm of absolute monarchy and promulgated the doctrine of equality of man and sovereignty of people. They played a pivotal role in exposing the fault lines of the old political system, i.e. the ancien regime, and articulating the popular discontent.
Result
For all its faults, the French Revolution is highly regarded as the turning point in modern history as the rise of new ideas steeped in liberalism, enlightenment and democracy. These ideals were carried throughout Europe by French armies that fought many wars to preserve the Republic’s existence. It inspired the common folk in Europe to rise against their own Monarchs in a wave of revolutionary fervour. Although most were harshly put down, the revolutions would continue into the early years of the 19th century which saw the fall of many absolute Monarchy all over Europe.
Romanticism
Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The purpose of the movement was to advocate for the importance of subjectivity, imagination, and appreciation of nature in society and culture in response to the Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution.
Romanticism and French revolution
Romanticism originated in the second half of the 18th century at the same time as the French Revolution. Romanticism continued to grow in reaction to the effects of the social transformation caused by the Revolution. There are many signs of these effects of the French Revolution in various pieces of Romantic literature. By examining the influence of the French Revolution, one can determine that Romanticism arose as a reaction to the French Revolution. Instead of searching for rules governing nature and human beings, the romantics searched for a direct communication with nature and treated humans as unique individuals not subject to scientific rules.
A Closer Look at the Influence of the French Revolution on Selected Romantic Poets
The French Revolution’s ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity resonated deeply with the Romantic poets, inspiring their creativity and shaping their themes. However, their reactions to the Revolution varied, reflecting their personal ideologies and the evolving political landscape. Here is an overview of five prominent Romantic poets and how the Revolution influenced their works:
William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
Wordsworth, however, is the Romantic poet who has most profoundly felt and expressed the connection of the soul with nature. He saw great value in the immediate contact with nature. The French Revolution helped to humanize Wordsworth as his works transitioned from extremely natural experiences to facing the realities and ills of life, including society and the Revolution. From then on, his focus became the interests of man rather than the power and innocence of nature.
Notable poems :
Ode to duty
The Daffodil
Samuel Tylor Coleridge (1772-1834)
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was also profoundly affected by the French revolution. Unlike Wordsworth, Coleridge was more open and receptive to the social and political world around him. He was a very versatile man and he led a life that covered many fields and his work displayed this.He was a poet of nature, romance, and the Revolution. He was a philosopher, a historian, and a political figure.The French Revolution played a great role in shaping Coleridge into each of these things.
Notable poems :
The Rime of Ancient Mariners
Kubla Khan
John keats (1795-1821)
Keats was less politically engaged and focused primarily on themes of beauty, transience, and personal emotion. Keats’s poetry often reflects a deep awareness of human suffering and the fleeting nature of life, themes that resonated with the broader cultural shifts brought about by the Revolution. His famous odes, such as Ode to a Nightingale and To Autumn, emphasize the search for beauty amidst impermanence, capturing the Romantic spirit of introspection and emotional depth.
Notable poems :
Ode to Nightingale
Ode to psyche
Ode to Autumn
Ode to Gracian Urn
Lord Byron
In Byron's poetry, he incorporated deep feeling, rather than deep thinking, to make his characters strong. Often, Byron portrayed his characters as being in complete harmony with nature, causing the character to lose himself in the immensity of the world. The French Revolution played a huge role in shaping Byron's beliefs and opposition to monarchy.
Notable poems :
She walks in Beauty
Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Ever since he was young, Percy Shelley was very nontraditional. He was born a freethinker and "in spite of all his lovable and generous traits he was a born disturber of the public peace". At school he was known as "Mad Shelley, the Atheist". Common themes that Shelley incorporated into his works include the hatred of kings, faith in the natural goodness of man, the belief in the corruption of present society, the power of reason, the rights of natural impulse, the desire for a revolution, and liberty, equality and fraternity.These are all clearly shaped by the French Revolution.
Notable poem :
Ozymandias
Ode to the West Wind
To A Skylark
Importance of French revolution on romantic literature
The French Revolution profoundly shaped Romantic literature by inspiring themes of liberty, equality, and rebellion. It marked a shift from aristocratic traditions to a focus on the dignity of the common man, individual freedom, and emotional intensity. Writers like Shelley and Byron embraced its ideals of revolution and resistance, while Wordsworth and Coleridge reflected on its impact through themes of nature and human suffering. Although the Revolution’s violence disillusioned some, it enriched Romanticism by blending optimism with a deeper exploration of societal flaws, making it a movement that celebrated human potential and the complexities of change.
Artwork of romanticism
.jpeg)
conclusion
In conclusion, the French Revolution left an indelible mark on Romantic literature, fueling its emphasis on individualism, emotional depth, and the challenge to oppressive authority. By inspiring themes of liberty, equality, and the dignity of the common man, the Revolution helped Romantic writers explore the transformative potential of humanity while also grappling with its complexities and contradictions. Through the works of poets like Shelley, Byron, Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Keats, Romanticism captured the spirit of an age defined by both hope and upheaval, creating a literary legacy that continues to resonate with readers today.
Reference
kennedy, Maev. “Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s remains rediscovered in wine cellar.” The Guardian, 12 Apr. 2018, www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/12/samuel-taylor-coleridge-poet-remains-rediscovered-wine-cellar.
“The French Revolution : Lefebvre, Georges, 1874-1959, author : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive.” Internet Archive, 1962, archive.org/details/frenchrevolution0000lefe_m6h9/page/n451/mode/1up.
Milnes, Tim. Imagination and Growth: Coleridge and Wordsworth in Germany (1798-99). 2007, era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/2599.
No comments:
Post a Comment