Emphasis on Emotion and Individuality:
* Subjectivity: The focus shifts from the objective and rational to the individual's inner world, feelings, and experiences.
* Emphasis on Emotion: Strong, often intense emotions like love, passion, sorrow, and awe are central.
* Individualism: The individual's unique perspective and experiences are celebrated, often in rebellion against social constraints.
Nature and the Sublime:
* Nature as a Source of Inspiration: Nature is seen as a source of beauty, awe, and spiritual inspiration.
* The Sublime: The experience of overwhelming power and grandeur, often found in nature, is celebrated.
* Idealization of Nature: Nature is often idealized and romanticized, seen as a refuge from the complexities of society.
Imagination and Creativity:
* Emphasis on Imagination: Imagination is valued as a powerful creative force.
* Non-Rational Experience: Dreams, visions, and intuitions are considered valuable forms of knowledge.
* The Gothic: A darker side of Romanticism, focusing on the supernatural, the macabre, and the mysterious.
Social and Political Reform:
* Social Criticism: Romantics often criticized social injustice, inequality, and the stifling effects of industrialization.
* Idealism and Revolution: A belief in the potential for positive change, often tied to ideals of liberty, equality, and justice.
Literary Style:
* Lyrical and Evocative Language: Romantic writers often used vivid imagery, metaphors, and symbolism to evoke emotion.
* Emphasis on Rhythm and Sound: Poetry, in particular, was seen as a powerful tool for conveying emotion and experience.
Examples of Romantic Literature:
* Poetry: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats
* Novels: Mary Shelley ("Frankenstein"), Jane Austen ("Pride and Prejudice"), Victor Hugo ("Les Misérables")
It's important to note: While these elements are prominent, Romanticism is a complex movement with many variations and nuances. Some authors leaned more heavily on certain elements than others, and there was also a degree of overlap with other literary movements.