The Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Romanticism Period - Essay Example

Though the different eras in literature history has had varying generic styles, what they had in common were people, life and feelings. The constituent elements of these factors thus could be found common in all the eras of literature. However, the mode of reflection of each of these would have differed in its own way in each of the literary eras. There had been unique features that differentiate the stress on each component of life by different literary eras. Just to assert this point, it can be found that the Renaissance period on English literature was isolated and uninfluenced by the sociological elements of the society (Norton, 2009). The reason for this would have been the non popularity of literature among the common public. In the Enlightenment period of literature, the societal influence had a say as a result of the slow but gradual popularity that literature had gained among the public. The style and mode of writing in this era of literature had covered elements accordingly. Followed was the Romanticism literature which was comparatively acknowledged by the society both in terms of its origin and influence (Brians Paul, 2004). This very determining factor made it contain and cover the diverse spheres of life and humanity thus making it most renowned for its popularity, diversity in subjects and the staying power. The objective of this essay is to analyze the themes of Romance and Religion as covered by the Enlightenment period, Romanticism period and Renaissance period. Renaissance Period The Renaissance period which extended from 1485-1603 had much challenges as the magic of art and literature was far from the digestive capacity of the common man (Norton, 2009). The literary works of Renaissance movement are often referred to as “islands of the autonomous literary imagination” (Norton, 2009). However there had been works which pertained to the Renaissance movement which lived across centuries spreading across live feelings of romance and love. The works of Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Spenser, and William Shakespeare which originated in the Renaissance movement are still considered masterpieces which persisted across generations (Gottlieb, 2000). The Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is an ever remembered portrayal of love and romance. The tragic love story still is considered to be a benchmark mark of ideal love. The characters who stood for love striving across the impediments created by the family rivalry and other societal factors are even today considered to be icons of love. When in the beginning of the play Romeo quotes “ Tut, I have lost myself; I am not here; This is not Romeo, hes some other where”, (WSI, 2005) it speaks of what love had done to him. The sweet feeling of love taking off the self out of one and making him feel the lushness of love had been portrayed all through the work. Thus with reference to this work, it can be concluded that though the renaissance period had no influence of the societal factors and were of individualistic approach, it had reflected the feeling of romance and love to an extend that it was glorified to live across ages. Enlightenment period As far as the enlightenment period in the eighteenth century was concerned, the English literature had a much more rational and inclusive approach towards the society and the generic feelings of people. The period was marked in connection with the spurt of developmental activities in terms of economy and industry that the world viewed. It was no wonder that the influence of this development was well reflected in the literature of those days. Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift. Voltaire and Samuel Johnson were the most renowned among the literary legends that produced magical pieces of art with the pen and the paper in the enlightenment era.(Gottlieb, 2000). Voltaire took a role of a philosopher and social thinker who fought with his words for freedom for religion and free trade. The translation of a line from his poem Epistle to the author of the book, The Three Impostors, which says "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him" reflects the clear criticism he is making towards the organized religious structure which takes man away from god but close to the religion (Iverson, 2006). It can be found that his approach towards religion was never intended to question the philosophies of beliefs but to criticize and to the correct the monopolistic approach of the religious constitutions then existed in Europe. Romanticism period The Romanticism period has had many factors influencing the generic style it held with reference to its origin. The factors like Folklore and Popular Art, Nationalism, Shakespeare, The Gothic Romance, Medievalism, Emotion, Rousseau, Exoticism, Religion, Individualism, Nature, Victorianism and Reactions contributed to much higher counts in formulating the structural outcomes of this literary period (Brians , 2004). William Wordsworth, S.T. Coleridge and Jane Austen were some among the masterminds who made substantial contributions in Romanticism period (Gottlieb, 2000). The Gothic Romance had a huge impact in literary pieces of the Romanticism period. Horace Walpoles Castle of Otranto which dealt with Gothic romance was a unique example for a piece of art which contributed much to the glory of the Romanticism period (Brians , 2004). The romantic poems of Williams Wordsworth were another highlight of the period. He dealt with nature with words which lingered romance. The work of his, titled “she was a phantom of delight’ reflects the feelings that is aroused when the girl of dreams appears. The lines which says “She was a phantom of delight; When first she gleamed upon my sight; A lovely Apparition, sent To be a moments ornament; Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair; Like Twilights, too, her dusky hair” within itself contains the sweetness of romance (Poetryweb, 2002) Religion also had due regard in this period of English literature. This is reiterated by the fact that in this era religion was taken as an art as done with any other area and many of the religious subjects resulted in marvelous pieces of arts (Brians ,2004). However, the impact that the Enlightenment era had in pulling art out of organized religious constitutions was taken as a background by the literary workers of the Romanticism period. In other words, it can be stated that Enlightenment era paved way for the broader approach of Romanticism era towards subjects of religious relevance. Works Cited Brians Paul , ‘Romanticism’, Washington State University. 2004. Washington State University. 17 March 2009 http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/romanticism.html Norton, ‘16th Century Renaissance English Literature’. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 2009. WW Norton. 17 March 2009. William Shakespeare Info, ‘Play Script – Text: Romeo and Juliet’, 2005, William Shakespeare Info. 17 March 2009. Gottlieb Stephen , ‘Periods of English Literature’, 2000, Quinnipiac University, 17 March 2009. Iverson Jack, Epistle (to the author of The Three Impostors), 2006, oldpoetry. 17 March 2009. Poetryweb, ‘William Wordsworth’.2002. Poetryweb . 17 March 2009 Read More