The Romantic Poets and the Dance Between Hope and Despair

The Romantic Period is the age of revolutions such as the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and American and Agricultural Revolution. The French Revolution, for example, created a vast idealistic movement in English Literature. People were happy at that time; they thought that liberty and equality were the qualities they would have from now on because France had a strict monarchy. With the French Revolution, people started to hope for change until the Reign of Terror. Moreover, this alluded to the second generation of poets rather than the first. The first generation had more hope because it was the start of the French Revolution, and of course, they were hopeful, but the second generation knew about the Reign of Terror, and it was not doing well, so they lost hope for humanity. The first generation of Robert Burns, William Blake, William Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge laid the foundation for Romantic ideals. The second generation, consisting of Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats, built on these foundations and brought their unique style and perspectives to the fore.

Eugène Delacroix, La liberté guidant le peuple, 1830.

Throughout the Romantic Period, frequent and highly violent protests were against the government. The government spied on poets and punished them. William Blake was kicked out of the city for a period, William Wordsworth had his private spy following him constantly, and various people also spied on Coleridge. In other words, they opposed the tyrannical administration and desired things to change. People were impoverished and increasingly poorer by the day. As a result, Romantics believed that everyone had the right to life.

The first generation of English Romantic poets emphasized the power of imagination, independence, and a close relationship with nature. Their works aimed to question existing standards while delving deeply into the human experience. William Blake, a visionary poet and artist, immersed himself in the spiritual realm, fusing vivid imagery and mystical symbolism. His poem The Tyger delves into nature's awe-inspiring strength and complexity, exposing the conflict between innocence and experience. Blake's revolutionary enthusiasm is evident in his collection Songs of Innocence and Experience, which gives opposing viewpoints on human nature and society. William Wordsworth is the most well-known Romantic poet. On the other hand, Samuel Taylor Coleridge struggled with abuse and had a distinct outlook on life. He collaborated with Wordsworth in Lyrical Ballads. Wordsworth speaks about everyday life, but the beauty and extravagance of everyday existence. He tells it in a simple yet natural and magical language. Wordsworth highlighted his emotional relationship with the scenery in Tintern Abbey, reflecting the region's transforming influence on his growth. In contrast, Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote about the supernatural yet described it as mundane. In his poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which discusses guilt, atonement, and the otherworldly, he touches on mystical and mysterious topics. Robert Burns, known for his lyrical poetry, highlighted the beauty of country life and the sufferings of regular people in his writings. In his poem To a Mouse, for example, Burns emphasizes the vulnerability and shared existence of all living things by empathizing with a mouse whose dwelling he unintentionally destroyed.

Gustave Dore's illustrations to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. 

The second generation of English Romantic poets, including Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats, carried on the Romantic tradition while bringing their viewpoints and experiences to the table. Their poems demonstrate a strong sense of independence, deep emotions, and a focus on current political and social topics. The first generation of Romantic poets was extremely fluidly scaled regarding society and their relationship to society and their surroundings. They believed that society may be viewed as an evil force. During their early years, they sympathized with equality and the French Revolution. They also led quite everyday life in their later years. On the other hand, second-generation poets were permanently alienated from society; they perished young and distant from home. They were genuinely disillusioned and disappointed, as evidenced by the contrast between the actual and the ideal. There is a chasm between ideal and reality that they cannot cross. Lord Byron, often considered the prototypical Romantic rebel, instilled passion, revolt, and a sense of exile in his poetry. Percy Bysshe Shelley was strongly invested in political and social principles, advocating for social reform and the freedom of the underprivileged via his poetry. John Keats went into the worlds of beauty, love, and mortality and was noted for his fine artistry and sensuous imagery. For example, Ode to a Nightingale and Ode on a Grecian Urn represents his examination of existence's sublime and ephemeral aspects. First-generation poets were mainly concerned with the individual's interaction with nature and expressing strong emotions. The works they created frequently honored the natural world's beauty and addressed themes of innocence, experience, and the otherworldly. On the other hand, second-generation poets broadened their subject concerns to encompass socio-political themes, rebellion, social justice, and a deeper examination of human existence.

Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar).

In conclusion, the first-generation poets strove to build a meaningful link between humans and the natural world, motivated by the ideals of the French Revolution. Their poems honored nature's strength and beauty, providing everyone with refuge and inspiration. Second-generation poets, on the other hand, developed during social and political turmoil, confronting their society's issues and injustices. Their poetry expressed a more rebellious and critical attitude, arguing for social change and questioning the status order. In terms of style, first-generation poets frequently used vivid descriptions and introspective language to depict nature's magnificent features and the depths of human emotion. On the other hand, the second-generation poets exhibited a more passionate and provocative style, using strong and often confrontational language to address societal issues.