Here's a breakdown:
* Neoclassicism (roughly 1660-1785) was a literary movement that emphasized reason, order, and balance. It drew inspiration from classical Greek and Roman literature and valued clarity, elegance, and a focus on social order and morality. Major figures include Alexander Pope, John Dryden, and Jonathan Swift.
* Romanticism (roughly 1785-1830) emerged as a response to the perceived limitations of Neoclassicism. Romantics valued emotion, imagination, individualism, and nature. They emphasized the power of the individual and often explored themes of passion, rebellion, and the sublime. Key figures include William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley.
Therefore, Romanticism came after Neoclassicism and built upon its foundation, though in a very different direction. The two movements are interconnected in their historical context, with Romanticism emerging as a counterpoint to the dominant Neoclassical ideals.