Changes in the Use of Literary Forms in the Era of British Romanticism - Essay Example

CRITICAL REVIEW OF ACADEMIC SOURCES By Critical Review of Academic Sources Introduction The British romantic period presents one of the most historic forms of evolution in literature. In this period, the practice of literature points to greater adoption due to the increased potential readership. This arose due to reforms in education, as well as enhancement in the levels of literacy (infoplease.com. 2014, np). Since then, the significance of essay becomes clear with its recognition as a key literary form. The period of 1785-1830 marks the British Romantic era. Various writers and poets stand out in the period, with literature standing as an appropriate platform for commun8caiting the societal disparities occurring at the time. This paper focuses on two academic sources, providing a critical analysis of the British romantic era in terms of background, significance, and a view of the important writers and poets in the period. Background of British Romantic Period The period witnesses great turbulence in terms of the social status with generated ideas pertaining to revolutions becoming key determinants of social conflicts that occurred along the lines of classes (infoplease.com. 2014, np). Such imported concepts of revolution mainly arise as key determinants of the French Revolution. In this view, the revolution stands to influence on the writing style in the Romantic period for both fictional and non-fictional forms. Subsequently, various writers and poets emerge, driven with the need to address the existing issues pertaining to human rights and democracy (infoplease.com. 2014, np). Given the due support from writers, the revolution offers great opportunities for stimulating change for the social and political settings. However, the expectations created by the French revolution in this period occur as inefficient. This prompts writers to take a different direction through a speculation of new theories relating to the forms of poetry and its significance (infoplease.com. 2014, np). In his book ‘The Romantic Ideology: A Critical Investigation’, McGann points to the various theories defining the British romantic era through an analysis of several writers, such as Hegel and Heine. In this case, the writer shows the changes occurring since the conception of literary forms of poetry. When the French revolution fails to meet its expectations, the initial idealist and utopian approach employed with English intellectuals portrays a clear renouncement of the revolution v. Significance of British Romantic Period The British romantic period sets the pace for a new kind of revolution through the maximum use of literary forms. The period witnesses a literary approach that occurs in a diverted way from the initial form. This seeks to address existing issues pertaining to human rights issues that become prevalent in the period. McGann shows the earlier formulated theories in poetry as existing in the 18th century. In this view, the earlier form s of poetry depict as copied forms of nature and human life (infoplease.com. 2014, np). Later, poetry stands to be as an important literary form that goes beyond the environment into the individual mind of writers and poets. Here, poetry occurs as generating from the mind of the poet, which follows an impulsive process of emotional reaction. For the Romantic era, the focus rests with the great need to pose a reaction against the Enlightenment period dominating a considerable part of the political, philosophical and societal setting existing for the period between the 17th and18th centuries (unlv.edu. nd, np). With such rejection posed by evolution of new theories, the Romantics exhibit a diversion into an emotional pattern that displays personal experience, leading to an increase in personal imagination and desire in literary forms. One key impact of such changes on poetry rests with the increased awareness, which depicts this form of art as highly important. With the earlier disparities in social classes, the use of poetry to address related issues becomes of great importance as the readership extends to all (unlv.edu. nd, np). An appreciation of this literary form becomes clear in McCalman’s book ‘’An Oxford Companion to the Romantic Age: British Culture 1776-1832”. In this literature, the author provides for the successive stages generating from the eighteenth century, reaching to the application poetry as a powerful tool of communication. Important Writers and Poets during the Period Various writers in the romantic period provide the basic theoretical approaches that show changes over the period. One dominant poetic figure in the period of British romanticism remains to be William Wordsworth (1770-1850). With the help of Coleridge, the writer is owner to a number of poetic works, clear in his collection of the ‘Lyrical Ballads’ (unlv.edu. nd, np). According to a number of critics, this collection appears as the basis for the evolutions in the British romantic era. The poet provides for artistic theories in addition to several viewpoints relating to the essence of appropriate forms of poetry. Coleridge (1772-1834) is another poet who shows great collaborations with Wordsworth. The ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ stands to be the most recognized piece of literary form evident with the poet (unlv.edu. nd, np). The piece provides a good illustration of different aspects relating to adventure, spiritual deliverance and traditional approach. Lord Byron (1788-1824) depicts as one of the major writers at the time given the considerable recognition of his works. Although disliked by Wordsworth and other writers, Byron’s pieces attain widespread awareness (unlv.edu. nd, np). His poetry works mainly take the form of the British poetry styles clear in the 18th century. His works portray a type of hero who is also scornful of societal values. Percy Shelley (1792-1822) portrays an immoral poetic figure, evident in his personal life: although from a wealth family, he frequently fell in debt crises (unlv.edu. nd, np). This stood as a move against the traditional values and societal norms that shape the community. The author embraces the subject of poetry as an effective artistic approach, stressing on the great importance of its recognition and adoption. Conclusion The era defining the British Romanticism portrays great changes in the use of literary forms. Poetry becomes a key tool that allows individuals to address the existing issues in the earlier periods of Romanticism. The various writers and poets depict as ‘heroes’ in the society as they highly influence on the individual personal aspects, including emotional reaction to certain practices in the society, as well as addressing the issue of social disparities occurring along established classes. Various writers and poets dominate the literary era of poems, with the various works and collections becoming the key guide for changes in the literacy approach and the society. Bibliography Infoplease.Com. 2014. English Literature. Online. Available At [accessed May 11, 2014] McCalman, l., 2001, An Oxford Companion to the Romantic Age: British Culture 1776-1832, Oxford University Press, Oxford. McGann, J., 1985, The Romantic Ideology: A Critical Investigation, University of Chicago Press, London. Unlv.Edu. Nd, British Romanticism. Online. Available at [accessed May 11, 2014] Read More