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How did folklore influence Romantic literature?

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“The Tyger,” anastatic print by William Blake — 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).

Folklore played a foundational role in Romantic literature, serving as a vital source of inspiration and a means for writers to access preconscious modes of thought. During the movement's second phase (c. 1805–1830s), a surge in cultural nationalism prompted authors to turn toward their native cultural and historical origins, leading to the widespread collection and imitation of folklore, folk ballads, and folk songs.12

Romantics viewed these folk traditions as expressions of the eternal joys, sorrows, and beliefs of humankind. Genres such as the fairy tale and ballad were highly valued, resulting in significant scholarly efforts like the Brothers Grimm’s Kinder- und Hausmärchen and the anthology Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Beyond collection, writers also cultivated the "art fairy tale" (Kunstmärchen), creating sophisticated literary works that drew upon these traditional forms, such as Ludwig Tieck’s Der blonde Eckbert. This engagement with folklore allowed Romantic writers to explore the unconscious and the supernatural, distancing themselves from the rationalism of the Enlightenment.3142