1. Lesson 4

2. The Reading Module

Read the text: Romanticism

The Period Romanticism covers approximately 30 years. Romanticism as a literary current can be regarded as a result of two historical events: 1) the Industrial Revolution in England and 2) the French Bourgeois revolution of 1789.

Romanticists were dissatisfied with the present state of things of country. Some of the writers were revolutionary, they denied the existing order, called upon the people to struggle for a better future, and they supported the national liberation wars on the continent against feudal reaction. Such writers were George Gordon Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelly.

George Gordon Byron (1788-1824), the great romantic poet has often been called a poet of “world sorrow”. His first book of verse “Hours of Idleness” received negative critical reactions, but after publishing “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” he became instantly famous as a poet. In his poem “Song for the Luddites” Byron raised his voice in defense of the oppressed workers encouraging them to fight for freedom. His greatest poem, Don Juan (1819–24), is an unfinished epic picaresque satire. It is one of his most realistic works. The Byronic hero is the aristocratic rebel of English Romanticism. He rejects false morality, he is an outsider and exile, and he is brave and strong, but filled with anguish and despair. He fights continually against his opponents Morality and Society. In this fighting he wants to prove himself as an individual.

Percy Bysshe Shelley was the most progressive revolutionary romanticist in English literature. Like Byron Shelly was devoted to the revolutionary ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity. He never lost his faith in the power of love and good will. This hope fills his first poems “Queen Mab, “The revolt of Islam” and his later poetic drama “Prometheus Unbound”, “the Masque of Anarchy”. In the great lyric “Song to the men of England” Shelley calls upon the workers to take up arms in their own defense. This poem and other revolutionary poems of his became the popular songs of the workers.

Shelley is also known as the author of many lyrical poems devoted to nature and love. Among his nature poems “The Cloud”, “To a Skylark” , “Ode to the West Wind”, “Winter” and many others.

Shelley lived a short life. He was only twenty nine when he died, but his entire life and art were devoted to struggle against oppression and tyranny in every form.

Walter Scott (1771-1832) belongs to the Scottish Romanticism. He was the creator of the historical novel in English literature. Scott’s first historical novel “Waverley” was a great success and he continued his work in this field. Novel after novel came from his pen. His novels appeared anonymously. It was only in 1827 that Walter Scott declared openly the authorship of his novels. Such novels as “The Black Dwarf”,”Old Mortality”, “Rob Roy” describe Scotland in the 18^th century. “Ivanhoe” deals with the English history of the 12^th century.

Walter Scott’s romantic love for the past made him create rich historical canvases with landscapes and natural description, as well as picturesque details of past ages. His descriptions of the life customs and habits of the people are realistic.

Walter Scott was the first to depict personalities typical of the period and the country described. His characters are vivid and expressive, as Scott is not indifferent to the fate of the characters and to the historical events in which they take part. He was both romantic and realistic in his works. Walter Scott’s style and language should be paid attention to. He was a master of dialogue. His heroes spoke using expressions peculiar to their professions (the priest, the archers, the tradesman).

He was fond of humour, and there are a lot of comic situations in his novels. This makes them still more amusing for the readers.

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