The salient features of the artistic movement known as Romanticism Essay Example

Shelley at different points in their lives.

Both Wordsworth and Coleridge later regretted their fervour as a transgression against the truth of things and were punished with existential vertigo in their later works. Nevertheless, this fervour sparked a deep personal engagement and fascination with events, whether political or introspective, focused on the worth and creativity of individuals.

The revival of interest in folklore and primitive verse as channels of experience and imagination is evident in James Macpherson's Ossianic poetry and Thomas Percy's collection of folk ballads. However, this duality of politicisation and questing for internal experience through nature prevented the movement from being a self-conscious, cohesive identity, except in Germany.

Schlegel's classification of Romantic literature as medieval, Christian, and transcendental, in contrast to classical, pagan, and worldly, was primarily a German argument that does not fully apply to Romantics from other nations. However, the notion of the artist's mission was a common belief among English romantics and became central to Romanticism in other countries as well. This idea revolved around the unique ability of a poet, which distinguished them from others and necessitated the cultivation and expression of their imagination.

The tools of this expression were sincerity, spontaneity, and originality. In France, the influence of the Revolution caused a delay in the arrival of Romanticism and resulted in a sense of conservative nostalgia being more apparent in the works of French Romantics. However, just as politics being liberated from old ideas and limitations inspired new idealism and self-examination, it also somewhat hindered Romanticism on the continent by reviving old debates and conservatism.

Nationalism and high nationalistic awareness hindered the expression of Romanticism outside of England and Germany. The romantic

glorification of the past was often linked to everyday political battles, losing the profound essence that characterized true Romanticism. This was particularly evident in Spanish Romanticism, which was influenced by the post-Fernando VII political climate.

During Fernando VII's reign, writers who were exiled due to clerical censorship naturally embraced "Romanticism" as their cause. They viewed it as a manifestation of the Liberal ideal in literature- a rebellion against the heartless strictness of regulations in all its forms. Victor Hugo even described Romanticism as "liberalism in literature" in his preface to Hernani. Given the oppressive regime of Fernando VII, such liberalism was considered dangerous and resulted in exile. As a result, when the exiles finally returned after his death, Romanticism had evolved into a political state rather than just an artistic impulse.

Some argue that Romanticism did not have a significant impact in Spain as it was inherently Spanish. Instead of being a new development, it intensified and emphasized certain key elements of Spanish art. These elements included ideals of liberation, the elevation of the individual, subjective lyricism instead of epic objectivity, and an anarchic approach to procedure and motivation. These literary currents can be seen throughout Spain's previous literary history.

In the aftermath of the Revolution, the war of independence, and the spread of liberal ideas, Rivas' work played a role in embracing nationalism and national militarism as components of the emerging Romantic liberalism. Rivas and other poets saw ballads as authentic expressions generated by the people, representing the pinnacle of Spanish 'culture'. They believed that their patriotism, rooted in Spain's customs and legacy, captured the essence of the nation and thus aligned with Romanticism. This novelty and

importance influenced the evolution of Spanish literature.

Despite the notable level and boldness of imagery in the ballads, their significance in the larger context is not solely explained. Rivas achieved relevance and significance by embodying the desire for models or leaders, characteristic of Romanticism, in his portrayal of Spain's past. In his selection of episodes and figures that represented the "national spirit" and offered hope for its revival, he aimed to be exemplary and inspirational, although not in line with the spontaneous and free nature of traditional form.

The speaker aspired to partially act as a prophet, demonstrating the potential of national pride and its consequences. It is evident from the inclusion of non-historical ballads that the focus is on conveying a message of glory and romanticizing Spanish qualities, rather than providing factual content. Additionally, not all of the main characters are conventional 'heroes'. Instead of solely possessing virtuous traits, they are chosen for their symbolic value in representing key human attributes like embracing death peacefully or displaying generosity.

In this opus, Rivas the moralist aims to imitate the role of the seer or legislator, seeking to alter the current order of things. Many of the ballads feature a modern element, such as a lament against foreign intervention in Spanish national affairs. This is presented and criticized through the involvement of Duguesclin in don Enrique's affairs.

Nevertheless, the author's objective in this form of moralizing was solely to incite an emotional response from the reader by reminding them of the past and encouraging a passion for present-day Spain and its concerns. Consequently, they were not focused on expanding the structure of their poetry or enhancing the tradition of ballads.

Instead, they eliminated unnecessary elements like repetitive formulas and instead prioritized digressive details, descriptions, and didacticism. Moreover, they emphasized characterization and descriptive elements to the point that it resembled drama.

By introducing new readers and later authors to the form and history of Spain, they expanded the audience for and interest in the country's literature. However, despite their original focus and context, the style and themes of their verse were already well established. Consequently, the impact of Romanticism in Spain was fleeting compared to its profound influence in other parts of Europe, as emphasis shifted towards different aspects of the literary legacy.