Romantic Age in Literature Essay

The Romantic age in literature was a period from the year 1798 to 1837. The term romantic was  used in the 16th century in English literature to signify the presence of unreal and fanciful elements in literary works. According to researchers, “Romance was, and is, a term used to describe medieval and Renaissance tales – in verse of various forms, ranging from ballad to epic – concerning knights and their chivalric exploits” (Day 45). In the 18th century, the term romantic had a different connotation which signified human emotions. There are several historical and cultural factors that influenced the development of the Romantic age both in literature and society, including wars, new cultures brought by immigrants, European culture and others.

To start with, there were three historical events that had a strong impact on the development of Romanticism as an influential cultural movement, including the American Revolution (1775-1783), the French Revolution (1789-1799) and the Napoleonic War (1796-1815). The American Revolution led to  creation of the feeling of anxiety that was reflected in the works of many poets and artists of that age. For example, the poetry of three influential poets of the Romantic age, namely Wordsworth, Shelley, and Coleridge, described the effects of the social turmoil across Europe on people, as well as their personal dreams and beliefs. Also, there was a close link between the French Revolution and the Romantic age, which reflected political interests and social changes caused by the French Revolution.

For example, the works of Byron, the Shelleys, and Keats described the cultural innovations that emerged during the period of the Napoleonic War. In fact, the Napoleonic War was discussed in the many poems of the Romantic age, such as Thomas Day’s “The Disgusted Patriot”, William Thomas Fitzgerald’s “The Battle of Waterloo”, Mary Russel Mitford’s “Napoleon’s Dream” and many other works. According to researchers, “the issue of suffering” was presented as the central theme in Romantic literature (Ramsey 117).

Moreover, there were considerable cultural influences that shaped the growth of Romanticism as a cultural movement. Romanticism was closely linked to the Enlightenment, therefore, this cultural movement emerged as a sort of public reaction to the new trend, mainly in the arts. As Romanticism  originated in Europe, it was relevant to European culture, which was focused on human emotions and feelings, imagination, attachment to natural environment, as well as nostalgic memories and spirituality. There is much evidence taken from academic sources that show how the Romantic age shaped artworks, music pieces and literary works and how it affected politics, especially to pursue  nationalistic purposes (Ramsey 124). In addition, new cultures were brought to Europe because of the growth of immigration. Many Romantic poets searched for spiritual answers to complicated questions, such as the meaning of life, love, nature, human freedom, etc. Among American poets were Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville, and Walt Whitman, while English poets were William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats. Hence, cultural influences played an important role in shaping the Romantic age.

Thus, it is necessary to conclude that the Romantic age was influenced by a number of factors, both historical and cultural, which had a considerable impact on society and literature of that period. Romanticism was presented as a revolutionary intellectual and artistic movement, which allowed English and American people to enjoy changes in literary themes and art. The key goals of many Romantic poets was to place emphasis on individualism, highlight the role of freedom from the established rules, and strengthen imagination to explain human love, worship of nature, and fascination by past events.

Works Cited

Day, Aidan. Romanticism. Routledge, 2011. Print.

Ramsey, Neil. “Romanticism and War,” Literature Compass, vol.3, no.2 (2006): 117-126.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
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