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How did Romantic literature differ from Neoclassical literature?
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Romantic literature
English Romantic poet and artist William Blake wrote and illustrated “The Tyger” and other poems in his book Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1794).
Romantic literature emerged in the late 18th century as a direct rejection of the principles that defined Neoclassicism. While Neoclassical literature was rooted in the Enlightenment values of order, calm, harmony, balance, and rationality, Romanticism prioritized the individual, the subjective, and the emotional.12
The core differences between these two movements include:
- Philosophy: Neoclassicism emphasized reason, intellect, and adherence to formal rules and traditional procedures. In contrast, Romanticism exalted emotion over reason, the senses over intellect, and valued the creative spirit of the individual artist over strict craftsmanship.123
- Themes: Neoclassical works often drew upon heroic ideals from Greco-Roman mythology and history, focusing on universality and moral sentiment. Romantic literature turned toward the sublime power of nature, the supernatural, the exotic, and the inner struggles of the exceptional individual or "genius".234
- Style: Neoclassical style was characterized by restraint, symmetry, and a focus on proportion. Romantic style was more expressive and dramatic, often embracing the mysterious, the weird, and the transcendental.23
Ultimately, Romanticism represented a shift away from the Neoclassical demand for fixed criteria and moderation toward a focus on personal experience and imagination.25