Thеmе: english romanticism and its development content introduction chapter I. Romanticsim in english literature

Literature as an example of developing society

Literature of Romanticism focused on the emotions and inner life of the writer, and often used autobiographical material to inform the work or even provide a template for it, in contrast to the traditional literature of the time. English literature celebrated primitive and exalted "ordinary people" as worthy of celebration, which was a novelty at the time. Moreover, focused on nature as a primordial force and encouraged the concept of isolation as necessary for spiritual and artistic development. The greatest poets of English romanticism – Byron and Shelley, the poets of the "storm", passionate about the ideas of struggle. Their element is political pathos, sympathy for the oppressed and destitute, and protection of individual freedom. Byron remained true to his poetic ideals until the end of his life; death found him in the midst of the "romantic" events of the Greek war of independence. Images of rebel heroes, individualists with a sense of tragic doom, for a long time retained an influence on all European literature, and the following of the Byron ideal was called "byronism".
George Gordon Byron (1788-1824) is the largest and most prominent figure of English romanticism on a European scale. "The poet of pride", according to Pushkin's definition, dazzled and puzzled his contemporaries. Byron's creative personality, the "living flame" of his poems, and his dramatic fate met with a fervent and wide public response, sometimes enthusiastically sympathetic, sometimes maliciously hateful, sometimes filled with confusion. The work of the great English poet Byron has entered the history of world literature as an outstanding artistic phenomenon associated with the era of romanticism. An ardent defender of the national liberation movement of peoples, denouncer of tyranny and the policy of aggressive wars, Byron became one of the leading initiators of the progressive trend in romanticism. The innovative spirit of Byron's poetry, his artistic method of romance of a new type, was picked up and developed by subsequent generations of poets and writers of various national literatures.
“The work on the poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" completely captured him. The hero of the poem, who repeats his journey, the poet gives the features of his contemporaries, young people from an environment well known to him. Childe Harold is tired of fun and thoughtless pastime, he is burdened with friends on carousels, women who readily respond to love. Disappointed in everything, recognizing that his life is empty and meaningless, he decides to leave for unfamiliar lands. With the personality and creativity of Byron was associated a special concept-byronism, the impact of which spread to many countries and made itself felt at least until the 40s of the XIX century. Then, instead of even interest or delight-worship of Byron's poetry came criticism, which was often not just a re-evaluation, but the destruction of both byronism and Byron himself. Meanwhile," you can't use the word byronist to swear, " as Dostoevsky noted, although he revised many of the ideals of his youth. Dostoevsky expressively outlined byronism, Recalling the power of its influence. This, according to him, is a protest of a colossal personality, an expression of infinite longing, of the deepest disappointment, an appeal that has awakened the consciousness of many.”
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At the same time romantic poems, Byron created a romantic and heroic poetry, which refers to the cycle of "Hebrew melodies." The poet knew and loved the Bible well from childhood and in" Jewish melodies", referring to the biblical motives in the poems" On the sacred harp..."," Saul"," Daughter "," Vision of Belshazzar " and in a number of others, preserving the imagery and plot basis of episodes taken from this monument of ancient literature, conveyed their lyricism. In the cycle there are poems that are inspired by personal memories and experiences of the poet, such as" She goes in all her glory"," Oh, if there is beyond the heavens"," she died "my Soul is dark". The whole cycle combines a General mood, mostly of sadness and melancholy. "Hebrew melodies" were written for the composer Isaac Nathan, who together with the composer put them to music. It was during this period, after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo and the subsequent political events in England and France, that Byron wrote a number of works about Napoleon – "Farewell to Napoleon", "From the French", "Ode from the French", "Star of the Legion of Honor". References to the French source were made by the author in order to deflect from the Newspapers where these writings were published charges of disloyalty to the government. In the cycle about Napoleon, Byron took a clear anti-chauvinist position, believing that England, waging war with France and Napoleon, brought many disasters to its people.
The next poet who influenced on developing romanticism in English literature was Keats.