Jane Austen Wrote in the Romantic period, but her work is neoclassical Characters become happy by controlling emotions

and developing rational attitude Plot/Structure careful ordering & great precision Ironic and witty Novels of manners of the narrow circle of gentle people living in the country Characters are dealing with problems such as: Social pressure, marrying the right person and filling time pleasurably. Small and uneventful world Miniaturist Comments on her characters actions Critical of the world (and the narrow mindedness of people) Heroines are young girls. They make grave mistakes and are led by false views. go to a process of ripening. 6 novels (including Pride and prejudice (about marriage) and Emma)

William Blake Pre-romantic wrote his work before the Romantic period, but is highly romantic in spirit Outsider in the literary world Early work: The simple joy of children, the overwhelming beauty of nature and the misery of social outcasts. Poems sound like songs (they very often rhyme, which a lot of classic poetry does not.) Direct and simple Aggressive or nave tone Rebel & dreamer Later work: More complicated and poetic. Sounds almost like a modern poet. Did not think in good and evil, but referred to there as passivity and energy. (not opposed) (Later) work is hard to understand (what he means). Sounds like a dream of the future. Prophetic tone and apocalyptic vision. Practically ignored in his own time. Songs of innocence and experience: relatively simple poems.

The romantic period Traditionally seen as a reaction to the cultural standards and views of the neoclassical period Overflow of powerful emotions Creating new ways of expression, developing new ideas about man, showing new interests and original and unusual tastes. Relative stability in religious thinking, social structure, cultural expression and economic activity. Change to a much more industrial and dynamic society. Many people moved from the country to towns. Rise of problems associated with capitalism (exploitation of labouring classes, unemployment, sordid poverty, poor housing, increase of crime, child labour and social outcasts.) French Revolutions liberty, equality and fraternity (appealed to Wordsworth, Coleridge and Shelley) English ruling class feared a revolution. (danger averted once the bloodshed became known.)

Neoclassical poetry Characterized by great symmetry and order, strict observance of accepted rules, subjects of general interest. Well balanced poetic diction and polished style Dictionary meaning of words Writers were practical, sensible, down-to-earth and unimaginative. Logically, meaningful and general. Wrote about things that were considered important and useful (politics, proper behavior, good manners, good taste.) Nature is essentially imperfect, therefore it has to be kept under restraint. Romantic poetry Characterized by experimental form, individual approach and originality of subject. Emotional power of words Associative and individual. Writers were interested in individual experiences like the world of dreams, working of the subconscious, the grotesque, magical, primitive or morbid aspects of life. The world of children and madman etc. Nature is perfect if allowed to have its own way. Noble savage: human nature when allowed to develop freely will ultimately attain perfection. Idealistic, personal, emotional and original tone.

William Wordsworth Poet of nature First generation romantic poet Wrote poems intended to be completely different from the convention poetry of the time. Wrote lyrical ballads and a few other poems in co-operation with Samuel Taylor Coleridge Does not merely describe nature Natural beauty is a manifestation of god Appreciation of simple life Spend time roaming the countryside and enjoying nature. French revolution aroused his interest supporter of the French republicanism. Great creative period ended in 1805 Wrote long and short poems Writes about people who are very intimate with nature Believed Children are aware of gods presence. Man loses this awareness but compensated by the memory of it. The prelude philosophical The Lucy poems short, very joyful poems. (joy and pleasure)

Samuel Taylor Coleridge Poet of the supernatural Found himself unable to finish anything Lived with the Wordsworths for a while Addicted to opium Interested in supernatural things

Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner ballad telling the story of a mariner who shoots an albatross. This brings misfortune, including the death of the ships crew. The mariner is cursed and is doomed to tell everyone his story. Christabel full of magic and witchcraft unfinished Kubla khan written after opium dream.

Percy Bysshe Shelley Prophetic poet Second generation romantic poet Lived an adventurous and unconventional life Young radical with free independent spirit Writings inspired by a desire to liberate man from the conventional limitations of religion and political and social structure. Life characterized by rebellion and scandal Nonconformist view of politics, religion and philosophy Married two times Idealistic Critical of church and priesthood Drowned Pamphleteer and political activist Lyrical power, radial outlook, visionary and idealistic tone.

John Keats Poet of beauty Low birth Gave up medicine to become a poet Fell in love with Fanny Brawne Died of tuberculosis at the age of 26 Did not care for religious or philosophical truth, but found great delight in the expression of something that was pure and lovely. (whether natural or artistic.) Moderately successful in his own time One of the greatest sonneteers Also wrote odes

The Victorian age Queen Victoria England most powerful nation in the world Middle class became most important (clear division of classes) Most important to be considered respectable and refined; proper thinking and correct behaviour. Change from agricultural to industrial country Overpopulation and very poor conditions for the working classes. (hardly any education) Child labor was common Strong sense of optimism Use of steam Railways, machines mass production Darwin people began questioning religion For a long time novel had not been taken seriously as a form of art Novel becomes the most important form of literature.

Victorian novel Enormous length published in serial form in newspaper Lot of characters and events Stories move from one climax to another very complex Not difficult to recognize the good and bad characters Always poetic justice Highly moral

Charles Dickens Novelist Great entertainer Uses careless stroke, his canvas appears unfinished and chaotic. Setting = urban Weaknesses in his work Often too sentimental or melodramatic. Stories are not well structured and often very unrealistic. Too much an entertainer and too little an artist. Limited and nave vision of good and bad. At his best great comedian, keen observer of behavior and a brilliant master of language. Critical author who knows how society functions. Simple philosophy important to behave decently. Themes: Neglected children who are made to suffer by grown-ups, deplorable situation of the poor, cruel treatment of social outcasts, abuses by the law, arrogance of authorities. Early work: light hearted. Either great amusement or gross sentimentality. Oliver Twist orphaned child made to suffer by grown-ups. Later work: more serious, ironic and sometimes bitter More complex, more insight, more structure and plotting Fascinated by childhood

George Elliot Novelist Chose a male pseudonym to be taken more seriously as a writer. (so shes a woman) Most artistic novelist of the Victorian age Plots are very realistic and well structured. Very realistic characters. Setting = rural areas (slow moving world, very uneventful but highly fascinating.) Much more complete moral vision than Dickens simple philosophy. Middlemarch best work. Very complex story about ambitions, the search for ones vocation, the frustration of individual will and the complexities of marriage.

Alfred Lord Tennyson One of the best-known poet of the Victorian age, most popular Writes in smooth musical lines Poetry of Victorian age continuation of Romantic poetry, but less extreme Told the Victorian reading public what to do in matters of religion, science, daily life and to the destiny of nations. Musical and polished verse First poems what the Victorians have taken over from the Romantic movement: Musical, slow moving and suggestive poetry with a rather sad mood. Uses images from nature, but uses them to create a mood

Experimented with the verse form Worried a lot

Robert Browning Deliberate rough lines. Took over many of Shelleys liberal ideas All his poetry sold badly until 1868 The ring and the book suddenly successful story in verse Makes a man reveal the whole truth about himself Presented both real and imaginary characters, did this very cleverly Didnt worry a lot Interested in the Italian late-Renaissance