University of Algiers 02 Course: Literature

Faculty of Foreign Languages Teacher in charge: Dr Z.Yousfi

Department of English Groups: 06 (2nd year)

Academic year: 2020/2021

ROMANTICISM

The Literary Movement

Literature 2.0 ROMANTICISM - 2nd year English Group 06 - Dr. Z. YOUSFI

Boost the Romantic experience with this Sturm and Drang musical composition by Motzart

Use the link, listen, and read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UhnfWzOCMo

Romanticism: the origin

Romanticism has its roots in the German Sturm & Drang from which writers
such as Goethe emerged.

Sturm & Drang translates to Storm and Stress a German literary movement of
the late 18th century that rejected the Enlightenment conventions. Sturm &
Drang encouraged extreme Individuality and passionate expression.

The late 18th century witnessed a transition from the classical ideas, rules and
ways of the Enlightenment and paved the way for a new movement known as
Romanticism in the 19th century.

Literature 2.0 ROMANTICISM - 2nd year English Group 06 - Dr. Z. YOUSFI

 Romanticism: the characteristics

Romanticism introduced new ideas that became its essential characteristics. We

distinguish 6 major romantic characteristics:

The Unconventional Protagonist: in Romantic Literature the protagonist’s

actions are less important than his thoughts and feelings/emotions. The romantic
protagonist becomes an Anti-establishment Figure representing the rebellious spirit
of the time.

Sensibility Over Sense , Reason and Action: emotions are central in

Romantic Literature, they evoke sympathy and accentuate Individualism.

The Superfluous Man: when Romanticism spread from Europe to Russia the idea
of the Superfluous Man emerged to mean the talented unconventional individual
who does not fit the social norms, hence he is isolated and alienated society which
nurtured the concept of escapism.

Affinity with Nature: Romantic Literature exhibits a spontaneous liking and

connection with the natural world which is why romantic literature tends to portray
the Beauty and Power of nature. This could be viewed as a clear reaction to the new
industrial world resulting from the Industrial Revolution.

Liberty and Freedom: Romantic Literature calls of individuality and personal

freedom to BE to THINK to FEEL freely and differently without social restrictions to
fit a certain social mould. This freedom was nurtured by the Romantics’ affinity with
nature where many instances of freedom truly exist.

Impulsiveness and Innocence: Romantic Literature puts an emphasis on

impulsiveness, childhood i.e. innocence of a child which recall purity like the one
found in nature, and the world that is lost due to industrialisation. Romantic Literature
tends to rely on reminiscence, memories of childhood, yearning for a past.

Literature 2.0 ROMANTICISM - 2nd year English Group 06 - Dr. Z. YOUSFI

 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)

 During the 19th century, Victorian became Queen, her reign is known as the
Victorian Era , Romanticism was the dominant movement and the Novel became the
most popular literary form.

 Jane Eyre was published under the author’s penname Currer Bell because at that time
critics considered any literary work by a female writer to be second-rate

 Jane Eyre was subtitled Autobiography since it borrows from 19th century
Bildungsroman (coming of age) which follows the protagonist from childhood to
adulthood overcoming different obstacles to reach maturity

 Jane Eyre tells the story of Jane Eyre (the protagonist), an orphaned girl living with
her aunt who treats her cruelly and sends her to a charity school. Jane is intelligent,
principled, and imaginative, she feels isolated because she strives for freedom and
defies social conventions. It is a story of self-discovery in a socially restricted
Victorian era. Jane moves from being a vulnerable child who depends on others for
support to becoming a self-respecting individual who credits her feelings.

 The novel can be viewed as a radial work since it presents women as equally complex
beings as men which opposed the typical fragile image of women as if they were
inferior beings defined only by their beauty.

 Jane Eyre portrayed women differently and moved from a general figure of aesthetic
beauty to a complex figure with a solid personality and identity.

Some Romantic Elements

(traced and illustrated in Jane Eyre)
Unconventional character:

“Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need
exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they
suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and
it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to
confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and
embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do
more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.” 4

Jane stands against the social norms imposed on women during the era, she expresses and
defends her standpoint.

Literature 2.0 ROMANTICISM - 2nd year English Group 06 - Dr. Z. YOUSFI

Sensibility over reason:

“Do you think I am an automaton?–a machine without feelings?… Do you think, because I am
poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much
soul as you,–and full as much heart!”
There is an emphasis on emotions and feelings while stressing her equality as an
unconventional female character.

Affinity with nature “I am no bird, and no net ensnares me”

Jane uses the natural world to reference her free spirit.

Liberty “I am a free human being with an independent will.”
Jane clearly asserts her freedom and individuality.

Meanwhile in the USA…

Transcendentalism

In American literature, we do not talk about Romanticism as much as we talk

about Transcendentalism (they share some characteristics such as individualism)

Transcendentalism is a 19th century movement in the U.S.A that saw the divine
and goodness in nature and tried to express it through literature. It evokes the
spirit of Liberty/ Freedom.

Homework:
Read To Autumn a poem by John Keats and Listen to The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi.
Try to compare both artsy pieces (this will be discussed in the videoconference or in class).
A PDF Format of the Poem is available for download on both Moodle&your Group FB Page.
Here is the Link to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1hEszuZ4lo
Spring: 00:00 mn – 10:40 mn
Summer: 10.41 mn – 21:09 mn
Autumn: 21:10 mn – 32: 44 mn
Winter: 32:45 mn – 42:03 mn

N.B. Avoid Plagiarism. Use your own words, style and ideas (you have plenty! And they
5
need to be expressed, heard, and read!)
Plagiarism is NOT ALLOWED. It will result in serious penalties.
Presentations & Papers (homework, test, and exam) won’t be corrected or accepted if
any sign of plagiarism is detected.

Literature 2.0 ROMANTICISM - 2nd year English Group 06 - Dr. Z. YOUSFI