The Romantic Movement as – “the Renaissance of Wonder” or “the addition of strangeness of Beauty”

Introduction

         The publication of ‘Lyrical Ballads’ in 1798, proved to be landmark in the history of revival of Romantic Movement in England. It was also revolt against the Neo-Classical tendencies dominant in English literature. They were correctness, following rules and regulations, didacticism and intellectualism. Though the pope was dominating, there was a reaction against the classicism. The Pre Romantic poets paved for a full and complete revival of romantic tendencies in the early nineteenth century. Infect, the Wordsworth and Coleridge hoisted the flag of Romantic Revival.  The movement lasted for the first three decades of nineteenth century.

Definition of Romanticism:

       Certain critics have given good definition of Romanticism. They were really popular and clear.

According to Walter Pater – “Romanticism is the addition of strangeness and beauty.” And the Dunton calls it – “the Renaissance of wonder.” These simple phrases means that the element of wonder is revived in the English literature – poetry. During the Romantic Movement, it’s also means the revival of child’s vision.

Expressions of Child like Innocence:

        The romantic revival is also the revival of Child's vision. It had already dean noticed in the every poems of Blake. His Songs of innocence expresses the innocence of child like. It contains some most charming lyrics ever written in English. There is a little realistic observation of the world around us.

        Blake’s treatment of childhood found an echo of Wordsworth’s treatment of childhood. Coleridge one remarked that – “…. To carry the feeling of childhood in to the years of the manhood is the mark of genius.”

        We don’t find such a quality in the poetry of the age of the pope. The poets of the age of the pope believed that the world was “the film and familiarity”. They never tried to know the wonder and mystery which was hidden in the common object of the life. The Romantic poet found out the world through the imagination. They were struck of the newness of things and presented them in delightful colours. They opened new fields and cameras.

The Role of Imagination:

       Romanticism is also known as – “An extra ordinary development of imaginative sensibility.” [C. H. Harford]. 

        It’s this imaginative sensibility opened the new fields and sights which were the source of wonder for both the poets and the readers. There was a kind of escape. Coleridge escaped in the world of supernatural. Scott derived inspiration from The Middle Ages. Keats took shelter from the Middle Ages. Even Byron and Shelly also revolted against the realistic world and labored hard to usher in ‘the Golden ape’. When priest’s, King’s, and Tyrone’s world yield to wishes of the underdogs of the society, the poor and the down trodden.

Coleridge and his Supernatural:

        Coleridge was the greatest among the Romantic poets. He was lives in the world of dream and imagination. He was to write about the hidden imaginative and romantic subject with supernatural and superhuman power. His popular poems are – Christabel, Kubla khan, and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

     They are all the wonder of delight, feast of imagination and a height of romanticism. They contain element of supernatural among three poems. In all his poems we find the world of awe and wonder. We see the sunny domes, caves of ice, remote places like Xanadu, Depth of valleys, food of honey, dew girl   sitting on the ice place and looking for his demon lover etc. In the Ancient Mariner, we find human thought gallop, spurt of emotions, fancy flies and imagination rushed riot. We also find the circle of awe and wonder. Kubla khan is also most enchanting poems.

Supremacy of Coleridge:

Even before Coleridge, Shakespeare, Spencer and Marlowe also dealt with the supernatural elements like witches, spirit, ghosts. But the Coleridge was different and superior in treatment. His treatment of Supernatural was neither shocking nor appealing. It is highly suggestive, psychological, refined and elegant. He naturalized supernatural and made it convincing. He has deftly created atmosphere of mystery and indefiniteness by subtle suggestion like –

 Water, Water everywhere,

And all the boards did sink;

Water, Water everywhere,

Not any drop to drink.

[The Rime of the Ancient Mariner]

Wordsworth and his nature:

Wordsworth was the high priest of nature. He wrote about the simple subject and in simple diction. The subject of his poem is mostly nature. In his treatment of natural object, humble life and common object of ordinary world. We find ‘touch of wonder and curiosity.’  He does not present the photographic picture of the nature, but he creates it by imagination. Even such a common subject as – A solitary reaper, a cuckoo, the skylark, the daffodils breathe as a sense of wonder.

Medievalism and Hellenism

Among the Romantic poets Coleridge, Scott and Keats went to the Middle Ages to create an effect of wonder. According to Keats ancient Greece was full of art and beauty. Keats has great adoration of beauty both in its physical and spiritual aspects. His adoration of Hellenic way of life is glorified in his immortal odes. He went to the Romantic past to discovered beauty and mystery in unfamiliar to the gratification of scenes.

Conclusion

The beauty is worshiped by the Romantics. It has a touch of the unfamiliar, even the unconventional, remote, exotic and abnormal. There is always search of strange beauty in far off and regions. This element of strangeness added to beauty and it is the essence of Romanticism as understood Pater.

In short every romantic poet writes to make the period “The Renaissance of wonder” and the “addition of strangeness to beauty.”

Definition and Characteristics of Literature

Defination of Literature - 

  “the body of written works produced in a particular language, country, or age, or the body of writings on a particular subject (scientific, art, etc.)” (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus).

        Usually we believe that whatever is written is literature. On the other hand, different writing such as Railway Time Table, History, Economics or News items is not considered as a literature.

      Literature can be defined as ‘pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, especially novels, plays and poems’.  (Oxford Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary).

        Literature is a special kind of writing which different from the other writing. Literature is that kind of writing which is charged with human interest. It is characterize by permanence colour of imagination and artistic embellishment. It’s still with the life of man and his destinies on the earth. It expresses thought, feeling, emotion and attitude toward the life which are permanent and universal, in the other word they do not change with the change of the time. And it’s this permanence and universality makes literature different from the other writing, such as Journalism or advertisement. The views and thoughts are expressed in the news paper makes to be forgotten after some time, while those of literature go on appealing through the corridors of time. The report of earthquake in Gujarat before few years was appealing and emotional but people of certainly have forgotten it’s very soon. The dramas of William Shakespeare more than hundred years are still interesting and appealing even the Ramayana and the Mahabharata written before the five thousand year ago are still later of interesting and appealing.

So the literature is the production of a unique mind as well as it superior to other writing. It contains certain characteristic. The other writing gives us only information or knowledge while literature gives knowledge as well as pleasure. There are four remarkable features of literature such as –

(1) Sincerity  (2)  Life Likeness (3) Suggestiveness (4) Originality

• Sincerity

      Literature is a unique art. It needs almost sincerity and seriousness. It is believed that writer is inspired by the news than the write. The activity of literature writing is kind of mediation. The writer makes sincere effort and thus creates unique work of art because of this sincerity. Literature has quality like permanence and universality. Shakespeare’s plays, Wordsworth’s poems are with the sincerity. Such literature creates good impact upon others.

• Life Likeness

      Literature is a genuine record of human life. Though it is more imaginative, it has the ground reality of life. At a centre the writers write about what they see, what their experience and what they know about the life.  Thus there is life likeness. In the literature Shakespeare’s tragedies were written before many years ago, though they are about English society, they are accepted by the whole world. We find the similar experience in life, as they are found in those tragedies.

• Suggestiveness:

     Since the literature aims at to please to move and to teach, it must be capable to having certain qualities. Literature is directly connected with the human life, and so it is highly suggestive. Many works of literature have hidden meanings. The writers use different symbols to convey the meaning because of suggestiveness. Literature is complex and difficult to write or to understand. T. S. Eliot’s ‘The west Land’ W. B. Yeast’s Poetry and novels of Dickens’s are full of suggestiveness. 

• Originality:

      The critic like Plato believes that literature is merrily to copy of copy it has no reality or originality. But we don’t agree with the Plato. Actually literature is a unique creation. It connected with the human and emotions and life. Every writer has a unique personality. He may be inspired but his ideas are original. We like to read Shakespeare’s tragedies, Dickens’s novel or poems of Wordsworth. The originality of literature appeals to every human being, the incidents may be probable but they are universally accepted.

Characteristics and Features of Romantic Age

        For over a century the classical convention are apply to the English poetry, but with the publication of Lyrical Ballads in 1798, there was a new trend in the English poetry. The new tendency called ‘Romanticism’. Before this the Elizabethan Age [1558-1603] was known as first Romantic Period. The age of Wordsworth [1798-1830] was known as Romantic Revival.  The word Romanticism has been defined variously by various writers –

 

“The addition of strangeness to Beauty.” – Walter Pater

“The Renaissance of wonder.” ¬– Dunton

“Liberalism in Literature.” – Victor Hugo 

“Liberty of imagination.” – Herford 

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Subjectivity:

        All the romantic literature is subjective. It is an expression of the urges (feeling) of the soul of an artist. The poet does not care for the rules and regulations, but gives free expression to his emotions. It is a freedom of individual soul from bondage of custom. In Romanticism emphases is laid inspiration and intuition rather than observance of set rules. The romantic poetry is fanciful and introspective. Such tendency gives us a lot of various Romantic Poetry.

Spontaneity:

      Romantic poetry is – “a spontaneous overflow of powerful passions.” The Romantic Poets are gifted with a strong organic sensibility. They Feels more than there are to see. Even an ordinary object or incidents excite theirs imagination. They set up in him powerful passions. Poetry for him is not a craft but inspiration. Even the form also not important for them. Wordsworth’s poetry is full of spontaneity and imagination.

Love of Nature:

       The notable feature of this movement is love of nature. We find zest for the beauties of the external world in the poetry of the period. The Romantics carry us away from the suffocating atmosphere of the cities to the fresh and beautiful world of nature. Wordsworth was a sincere devotee of nature. To him ‘nature was the teacher.’ 

Revolt against Classicism or Simplicity in theme and treatment:

    The romantic period is a strong revolt against the Neo-Classicism. The common men are the centre of interest of new poetry. The Romantic treats the common men with all sympathy. They also use his language for their purposes. They hate poetic diction or artificial style of Pope. Wordsworth believes that there is no essential difference between the language of poetry and of prose.

Emphases on Inherent dignity and nobility of Men:

     Those love of nature leads to love of those who live in her lap. The Romantics have instinct for the elemental simplicities of life. Their hearts overflow with the sympathy for the poor and downtrodden. They glorify the innocence simplicity of common men. They find divine in man. They plea for equal rights for the himself. Therefore the Romantic movement became a part of general democratic movement. Wordsworth’s ‘The solitary Reaper’ is an ideal example. Even P. B. Shelly also favors the spirit of freedom and equality.

Love of Supernatural:

       This feature is especially related with Coleridge. Before Coleridge during the Elizabethan Age Spencer, Marlowe and Shakespeare also try to deal with supernatural. The Romantics are very much alive to wonder, mystery and beauty of universe. He feels presence of unseen powers in nature. To him unseen world is more real than the world of scenes. The supernatural has a special charm for him. He is attracted by the stories of ferries, ghosts and whitchcrast. Coleridge has given us fine poems containing these elements. His ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ ‘Kubla Khan’ and ‘Christabel’ all belong to it.

Melancholy:

        A Romantic is dissatisfied individual (person).  He may be dissatisfied with:

(1) The circumstances of his own life.

(2) Literary convention and tradition of the day.

(3) The general fate of humanity.

      Therefore, romantic poetry is often pessimistic in tone. A Romantic poet may be revolt against the present conditions. He may be tried to escape in to an imaginative world of his own creation. Shelley’s ‘Ode to Westwind’ suggests the feeling. Coleridge escapes in to the Middle Ages and creates his own world of imagination. Thus, the remote and distance and unknown delight him for this very reason.

Craving for Past:

      We find the craving for the past I the poetry of Romantic poetry. It leads the poets to experiment with the meters and poetic forms. The Spenserians Stanza, the ballad meter, the blank verse, the lyric, the odes, the sonnets are all revived. Shelly, Keats, Byron wrote a beautiful lyric, odes, ballads etc.

Conclusion:

     Thus English romanticism is born as a revolt and revival. It is a revolt against eighteenth century traditions and conventions and it is revival of ancient meters and ancient masters of poetry.

Literary Features Of The Victorian Age

Introduction:

          The Victorian age was the one of the most remarkable period in the history of English literature. This age does not begin to year in which Queen Victoria Ruled in England, but Victorianism means an attitude to life and things. This age was also called as the age of Tennyson, because its limit concedes with the limit of his creative life. He is the most representative writer of his time and the mirror of his age. The age witnessed the flowery of the poetry in the hands of the most of poet. It marked the growth of English Novel. It also leads on the foundation of English prose on surer footing.

A Note of Individuality:

       A Note of Individuality is the hallmark of the Victorian Literature.   The literary figures of the period had Originality in Outlook, Character and style. Tennyson loved to sing a song of Independence. In the novels of Dickens we find Originality. The Works of the Bronte Sisters were unique in style. The writing of charlotte, Browning and others were full of enthusiasm and spirit.

The Great Age of Prose and Novel:

      Indeed the Victorian was age of prose and the novel. Though the age produced many poets. It was the remarkable Age of Prose and Novel. The novel of the age enjoyed the same status as the drama of the Elizabethan age. We don’t find that in any age of language. The novel had appeared in such a number and such perfection. There was a host of such a novelist. It includes Charles Dickens, Thackeray, George Eliot, The Bronte sisters and so on.  The prose writer was Carlyle. John Ruskin, Arnold and Others.

A Deep Moral Note:

       One of the remarkable qualities of the Victorian literature is that it had a deep moral note. The responsible reason for it was the development of science. Darwin’s theory of Evolution created doubts regarding God. Both in prose and poetry there was a departing from the purely artistic standard. It was for a certain moral purpose. Tennyson, Browning, Carlyle, Ruskin were primarily interested for their country man. They were inspired by a conscious moral purpose. They wanted to uplift their fellowmen. Even Charles Dickens, Thackeray, George Eliot also wrote with the same tendency. 

The Reflection of Social and Political Life:

       The literature of the age was co-related with the social and political life of the period. The Victorian literary artists were inspired by the social zeal.  They wanted to represent the problem of their own age. The poet of the pre Raphaelite school was an exception Because of it the Victorian literature is the literature of the realism. It becomes an instrument of social reform and social propaganda. It was purposeful and deductive. 

 Art for Art’s shake:

      Mostly the literature of the period was the full of morality and socialism. There was reaction against such a tendency. A group of poet reacted against it. They were Pre-Raphaelite poets. They got inspiration from the middle ages. They wrote about the beauty and glory of past. They were in favor of the original purpose of literature – “to give aesthetic pleasure.”

A note of Pessimism and Optimism:

       A note of pessimism, doubt and despair runs through the literature. It is especially noticed in the poetry of Matthew Arnold and A. H. Clough. Newman Carlyle, Ruskin found everything dark and despaired. Though the note of pessimism runs through the literature, it cannot be pessimistic. Some writers were optimist and associated the age with the peace, progress and prosperity. A note of optimism reflected in the poetry of Browning. Ruskin’s Writings were full of optimism. Dickens, Thackeray, George Eliot inspire us with their faith and humanity. Tennyson did not lose his faith in human virtue.

The Spirit of Patriotism and Idealism:

      The note of patriotism runs through the Victorian Age. Tennyson, Dickens and others were inspired by the national pride. There was a sense of greatness of England in their work. A note of I idealism is reflected in the poetry of Browning.

Revival of Interest in Past:

       The Victorians were interested in the contemporary social and political life, yet they were fascinated by the old ages. Some of writers and poets had an effect of romanticism. They had romantic thrust for beauty, love and art. It had affected the work of Tennyson.

    The Pre Raphaelite remained unaffected toward middle ages. Oxford movement which was based on spiritual romanticism. Keble and Newman was the pioneer of the movement. Just as romanticism went back to old tradition and feeling, in same way Oxford Movement reforms and refreshed the religious life by return to past. Walter Pater and Oscar Wild were the pioneer of esthetic movement which was the reaction against utilitarianism. 

The Age of Compromise:

      The Victorian age was the age of Compromise. The Age is of the social changes. The old and new brings compromise between the divergent tendencies and conflict forces. In the field of political life there was compromise between the democracy and monarchy. The Victorian age was the age of materialism yet people did not loss their faith in religion.  So there was compromise between the religion and materialism. Romantic Revival had shown interest in nature and art as the subject matter of art. But the Victorian age exhibits very interesting and complex mixture of opposing elements. They were Romanticism and Classicism; Idealism and Imagism. 

Conclusion:

      In short we can say that, the Victorian age was full of literary activates and compromise. It was complex and the traditions of literature were really remarkable.

Doctor Faustus by Marlowe - General Introduction

 Doctor Faustus by Marlowe 

Written 1588-1592; published 1604

Doctor Faustus, full name -  The Tragicall History of D. Faustus, tragedy in five acts.

        This play tells the story of the man who sells his soul to the devil in return for 24 years of power and knowledge - a legend that began in Germany in the 1500s. The story has inspired countless writers, dramatists and composers ever since, but the first major stage version of the story in England is this one by Shakespeare's contemporary Christopher Marlowe (1564-93). Written sometime between 1588 and 1592, but first published in 1604, the play was extremely controversial at the time, as it explores the paths human beings can take when they allow the devil into their lives. 

        Doctor Faustus was performed many times around the year of Marlowe's death, and its demonic impact on the audiences became the stuff of legend. During the Elizabethan period, the popularity of theatre had grown so much that the Crown was concerned about the effects of controversial plays. Plays were given an official licence if they were deemed suitable, but playwrights could be censored, arrested or even imprisoned. James I passed an act in 1606, which forbade any blasphemous or profane references to God or Christ - actors were fined £10 for each profanity. Marlow was forced to make a number of revisions to Doctor Faustus.

Play Summery of Doctor Faustus

Character list in the play - Doctor Faustus

General Introduction - Doctor Faustus by Marlowe

Character list in the play - Doctor Faustus

 Doctor John Faustus - 

Main Character, 

A learned scholar in Germany during the fifteenth century who becomes dissatisfied with the limitations of knowledge and pledges his soul to Lucifer in exchange for unlimited power.

Wagner 

Faustus' servant, 

He tries to imitate (copy) Faustus' methods of reasoning and fails in a ridiculous and comic manner.

Valdes and Cornelius 

Two German scholars who are versed in the practice of magic and who teach Faustus about the art of conjuring.

Lucifer 

King of the underworld and a fallen angel who had rebelled against God and thereafter tries desperately to win souls away from the Lord.

Mephistophilis

 A prince of the underworld who appears to Faustus and becomes his servant for twenty-four years.

Good Angel and Evil Angel 

Two figures who appear to Faustus and attempt to influence him.

The Clown 

The clown who becomes a servant of Wagner as Mephistophilis becomes a servant to Faustus.

Horse-

Courser A gullible man who buys Faustus' horse, which disappears when it is ridden into a pond.

The Pope 

The head of the Roman Catholic church, whom Faustus and Mephistophilis use as a butt of their practical jokes.

Charles V, 

Emperor of Germany The emperor who holds a feast for Faustus and at whose court Faustus illustrates his magical powers.

Knight

 A haughty and disdainful knight who insults Faustus. In revenge, Faustus makes a pair of horns appear on the knight.

Duke and Duchess of Vanholt

 A couple whom Faustus visits and for whom he conjures up some grapes.

Robin 

An ostler who steals some of Dr. Faustus' books and tries to conjure up some devils.

Rafe (Ralph)

 A friend of Robin's who is present with Robin during the attempt to conjure up devils.

Vintner

A man who appears and tries to get payment for a goblet from Robin.

Old Man He appears to Faustus during the last scene and tries to tell Faustus that there is still time to repent.

Seven Deadly Sins, - Alexander, - Helen of Troy, and - Alexander's Paramour

 Spirits or apparitions which appear during the course of the play.

Chorus A device used to comment upon the action of the play or to provide exposition.

Read Also Topic Given Below

Play Summery of Doctor Faustus

Character list in the play - Doctor Faustus

General Introduction - Doctor Faustus by Marlowe

Play Summery of Doctor Faustus

     Faustus becomes dissatisfied with his studies of medicine, law, logic and theology; therefore, he decides to turn to the dangerous practice of necromancy, or magic. He has his servant Wagner summon Valdes and Cornelius, two German experts in magic. Faustus tells them that he has decided to experiment in necromancy and needs them to teach him some of the fundamentals.

        When he is alone in his study, Faustus begins experimenting with magical incantations, and suddenly Mephistophilis appears, in the form of an ugly devil. Faustus sends him away, telling him to reappear in the form of a friar. Faustus discovers that it is not his conjuring which brings forth Mephistophilis but, instead, that when anyone curses the trinity, devils automatically appear. Faustus sends Mephistophilis back to hell with the bargain that if Faustus is given twenty-four years of absolute power, he will then sell his soul to Lucifer.

        Later, in his study, when Faustus begins to despair, a Good Angel and a Bad Angel appear to him; each encourages Faustus to follow his advice. Mephistophilis appears and Faust agrees to sign a contract in blood with the devil even though several omens appear which warn him not to make this bond.

        Faustus begins to repent of his bargain as the voice of the Good Angel continues to urge him to repent. To divert Faustus, Mephistophilis and Lucifer both appear and parade the seven deadly sins before Faustus. After this, Mephistophilis takes Faustus to Rome and leads him into the pope's private chambers, where the two become invisible and play pranks on the pope and some unsuspecting friars.

        After this episode, Faustus and Mephistophilis go to the German emperor's court, where they conjure up Alexander the Great. At this time, Faustus also makes a pair of horns suddenly appear on one of the knights who had been skeptical about Faustus' powers. After this episode, Faustus is next seen selling his horse to a horse-courser with the advice that the man must not ride the horse into the water. Later, the horse-courser enters Faustus' study and accuses Faustus of false dealings because the horse had turned into a bundle of hay in the middle of a pond.

        After performing other magical tricks such as bringing forth fresh grapes in the dead of winter, Faustus returns to his study, where at the request of his fellow scholars, he conjures up the apparition of Helen of Troy. An old man appears and tries to get Faustus to hope for salvation and yet Faustus cannot. He knows it is now too late to turn away from the evil and ask for forgiveness. When the scholars leave, the clock strikes eleven and Faustus realizes that he must give up his soul within an hour.

        As the clock marks each passing segment of time, Faustus sinks deeper and deeper into despair. When the clock strikes twelve, devils appear amid thunder and lightning and carry Faustus off to his eternal damnation.

Read Also Topic Given Below

Play Summery of Doctor Faustus

Character list in the play - Doctor Faustus

General Introduction - Doctor Faustus by Marlowe