DISCUSS the romantic periodhOW IS THE rOMANTIC PERIOD LITERATURE DIFFERENT?

The poets of the Romantic period were a product of their
times. There was a surge in expression of the individual and his experiences and ideas.
The focus shifted from the exclusive to the ordinary and this showed in the language
that was used and subject matter that was chosen. Politically, there were upheavals in
governments across the world and revolutions were taking place in France and spread to
other states. Socially, and economically, the industrialisation of major companies
ensured the rise of a new monied class that could afford an education and that pushed
the old way of life out of existence.

The Romantic Poets
lived colorful lives attracting as much attention by their social activities as by their
poetry. Wordsworth and Coleridge advocated that poetry should be within the reach of the
common man and wrote in simple everyday speech of people anyone would meet. They showed
that the english language could be beautiful without recourse to learned allusions and
mythological inclusions and traditional devices. Wordsworth wrote prodiguously and
through his method of 'emotion recollected in tranquillity' could turn the ordinary
things of each day into something poetic. Coleridge was gifted with the ability to
create rhythms with ease and introduce a dream-like quality to his work. Keats, probably
the most sensitive poet of England, brought a sensuous sensibility of feeling that was
straight from his heart and the unshaken belief that he would be among the great poets
of England no matter what his critics said. Shelley was intellectual and inspired and
lyrical. It is said that no one has explained the way a cloud forms and dissipates as
well as he has. Byron lead a colorful life and was misunderstood and maligned more than
he deserved in all probability. He took society by storm with his good looks and poetry.
As a lord, he took care of his inheritance with acumen and was interested in making a
contribution in the government. Finally for undisclosed reasons he left England, tired
of its insularity and toured the Continent before joining the rebels in Greece. Keats,
shelley and Byron died young. But they made a mark for all
time. 

So much of what is accepted in our culture derives
from the efforts of the Romantics. We think nothing of expressing individual ideas or
valuing the opinions of others without basing our judgments on issues of class or
learning.