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The Romantic Poets – Mythmaking in the shadow of the Industrial Revolution
“In dreams, we make peace with the past.” – John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
The Romantic period, spanning roughly from 1780 to 1830, was a time of profound change in Europe and North America. Amidst the rapid industrialization and urbanization, there emerged a literary movement that sought refuge in nature, emotion, and individualism – a stark contrast to the Enlightenment’s rationality and scientific principles.
Mythmaking in the Shadows of Change
- The Romantic poets, such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, created their own mythologies that reflected their longing for a simpler, more innocent time.
- These poetic creations often depicted nature as a force of beauty and power, an escape from the dehumanizing aspects of industrial society.
- Moreover, the Romantics explored themes of emotion and individualism, focusing on the inner lives and feelings of their characters – a stark contrast to the stoicism and reason of the Enlightenment.
“Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley, A Defence of Poetry
The Romantics’ Lasting Influence
The work of these poets continues to resonate today, with their emphasis on emotion and nature shaping much of modern literature. Their mythmaking serves as a reminder of the power of storytelling in reflecting and responding to societal change.
Further Reading
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