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Classicism vs Romanticism Analysis

This document contrasts the philosophies of Classicism and Romanticism. [1] Classicism valued reason and restraint and saw nature and human nature as governed by fixed laws, while Romanticism emphasized emotion, imagination, individual expression and saw nature as mysterious. [2] It then discusses key aspects of Romanticism like its focus on nature, the past, and exploring human nature's inner depths. [3] In comparing the two movements, it notes how Romanticism valued imagination, individual freedom, intuition and social/spiritual change over Classicism's focus on reason, social order, tradition and rational laws of nature.

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Armanel Libunao
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321 views14 pages

Classicism vs Romanticism Analysis

This document contrasts the philosophies of Classicism and Romanticism. [1] Classicism valued reason and restraint and saw nature and human nature as governed by fixed laws, while Romanticism emphasized emotion, imagination, individual expression and saw nature as mysterious. [2] It then discusses key aspects of Romanticism like its focus on nature, the past, and exploring human nature's inner depths. [3] In comparing the two movements, it notes how Romanticism valued imagination, individual freedom, intuition and social/spiritual change over Classicism's focus on reason, social order, tradition and rational laws of nature.

Uploaded by

Armanel Libunao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Classicism vs Romanticism

Honors American Literature


Classicism (Age of Reason)

 Definition:

Believed that reason is the dominating


characteristic of both nature and human
nature, and both are governed by fixed,
unchanging laws
Classicism

 18th C (1700’s)
 Nature= a self-contained machine, whose
laws could be rationally understood
 Valued clarity, order, balance
 Imagination had to be restrained by
reason and common sense
Classicism

 Upheld tradition
 Resisted change
 Human limitations

 Reason over Imagination


 Social over Personal all emphasized

 Common over Individual by Romanticism


Romanticism

 Definition:

Emphasized the emotions, an individual,


intuition
Romanticism

 1800 – 1830
 Imagination gives expression to that
which marks each person’s unique being
 All art is the imaginative expression of the
inner essence of the individual/claim for
individual freedom.
Romanticism

 Emphasized the human potential for social


progress and spiritual growth
 Reflected political ideas in Decl. of Ind. “all
men are created equal” which led to
emphasis of the dignity and worth of the
common indiv. and to social reforms to
fulfill this ideal of equality
 Romantic writers tried to express their
own intuitive experiences.
Common Romantic Subjects

 Nature
 The Past
 Inner World of Human Nature
Nature

 Emphasized beauty, strangeness, mystery


of (not rational laws)
 Saw as an organic process, constantly
developing and changing
 Connection btwn human imagination and
the natural world
The Past

 Later Romantic poets used dramatic


incidents from early American history
Inner World of Human Nature

 The exploration and expression of the


writer’s most private inner being.
 Belief that this interior world of intense
feeling is not ruled by reason.
 Interested in the irrational depths of
human nature.
A Quick Comparison
Age of Reason Romanticism
Reason Imagination
Social (society) Personal
Common Individual freedom
Common sense Intuition
Tradition Social reforms, spiritual
growth (change)
Rational law of nature Nature as mystery
Human limitations Supernatural
Application

 How do the 3 common romantic subjects


apply to “The Devil and Tom Walker” and
The Scarlet Letter?

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