poetry

Identify and discuss the elements of Romanticism as given expression in John Keats' poem Lamia and William Wordsworth's excerpt from The Excursion. The term 'romanticism' is used to describe the aesthetic movement during the period from about 1776-1834. It was a revolutionary movement because it focused on ideals which in stark contrast to the 'Classical' movement, The Enlightenment, which preceded it. More importantly however is the fact that it reflected the social climate of the …

…the view of poetry, nature for the view of the world, and the symbol and myth for poetic style" (lectures, 2000). The catchcry for the period therefore shifted from "I think therefore I am (Descartes) " to "I imagine therefore I am human". The value placed upon expression of these notions in the works of those such as John Keats and William Wordworth, effectively marked their poetic contributions as part of the 'voice' of the Romantic movement.