Love and Passion: This is the cornerstone of romanticism. The works often explore passionate, idealized love, often characterized by:
* Unrequited Love: The pain of longing and the yearning for unattainable love.
* Idealized Love: A belief in a perfect, soulmate-like connection.
* Romantic Idealism: A belief that love can conquer all obstacles and transform the world.
* Subjectivity of Experience: The unique way individuals experience and express their feelings of love.
Melancholy and Sadness: Romanticism often explores the darker side of human emotions, with themes of:
* Loneliness and Isolation: The feeling of being disconnected from others and society.
* Nostalgia: A longing for the past and a sense of lost innocence.
* Death and Mortality: The inevitability of death and the fragility of life.
* Nature as a Source of Inspiration and Consolation: Finding solace and understanding in the beauty and power of nature.
Awe and Wonder: Romanticism often celebrates the beauty and mystery of the world, emphasizing:
* The Sublimity of Nature: The awe-inspiring power and grandeur of the natural world.
* Transcendence: The search for a higher truth or spiritual meaning beyond the everyday.
* Imagination: The power of the human mind to create and imagine new worlds and experiences.
* Emotional Intensity: The heightened, exaggerated expression of emotions.
Rebellion and Individualism: Romantics valued individual freedom and expression, often embracing themes of:
* Rejection of Social Norms: Challenging established societal rules and traditions.
* The Power of the Individual: Celebrating the unique experiences and perspectives of the individual.
* The Importance of Self-Expression: Giving voice to one's emotions and thoughts.
Ultimately, romantic literature and art seek to capture the full spectrum of human emotion, celebrating the power and beauty of the individual experience.