Romanticism (Background studies) Useful for B.A. Part I English (Hons.) students Miss.Shiuli Bhattacharya Associate Professor Department of English Women's College,Samastipur L N M U,Darbhanga Email id- shiulib02 @ gmail's. Com 9835238000 The history of English literature shows the dominance of two distinctive trends alternately deciding the course of literature: Classicism and Romanticism. These are the two artistic movements that alternately enriched and influenced the world of literature and art. Classicism had its roots entrenched in Greek and Roman culture. The classicists define beauty in terms of balance and order, while Romanticism is largely a reaction against the rigid adherence to rules and conventions of Classicism. Contrary to classical styles, Romantics expressed beauty through high imaginations and powerful emotions. Romanticism advocates a deep appreciation of the beauties of nature; high imagination, subjective expression and "spontaneous overflow of emotion". These characteristics can be found in the Romantic literature of the 19th century. Reacting against rationalism, utilitarianism and physical materialism, the Romanticists stressed emotion over reason, sense over intellect and sought spiritual truth in the grand designs of Nature. Romantic idealism began unfolding itself from the second half of the18th century, also referred as the era of Pre-Romanticism. It is from renewed appreciation of medieval romance that the Romantic Movement derived its name. In 1762, Jean Jacques Rousseau declared "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains". These words of the 18th century philosopher had given impetus to the liberal spirit of Romantic literature. "Liberty," "Equality" and "Fraternity", the key slogans of the French Revolution inspired Romantic idealism. Picking the threads from William Blake, the Romantics denounced the exploitation of the poor. The importance of the individual is another prime concern of Romantic literature. Distancing themselves from the preceding era of enlightenment, the poets of the 19th century wrote to inspire and to bring changes in society. The Romantics believed in the healing power of Imagination. Romantic age found its first full-blown expression in the 'Preface to Lyrical Ballads' of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Wordsworth was critical of the elitism of earlier poets. He demanded that poetry should be accessible to all, so it must be composed in 'the language really spoken by men'. His poetry gave voice to the marginalised and downtrodden of the society. Coleridge like Wordsworth found in Nature the 'Great Universal Teacher'. However, they differed in their approach. Poetry of both the first generation (Blake, Wordsworth and Coleridge) and the second generation of Romantic poets (Shelly, Keats and Byron) transcended feelings into a sublime experience. 1 | P a g e .