General Context

• Romantic Movement

  • originated in 1789, the year of the French Revolution, and seen as the beginnings of a new age of justice and equality for all.
  • Emphasis on the individual experience, the innocence of childhood, and the power of nature (experiencing the sublime).
  • Philosopher Rousseau believed that man was born good, but lives in a society that corrupts mankind. "Man is born free but everywhere is in chains."
  • Philosopher Hobbs believed that man is born evil from original sin, and society needs laws and rules to keep mankind in order.
• William Blake

  • Born into a family of Dissenters, those who disagreed with the teachings of the English Catholic Church.
  • Wore a red cap to show support for the French Revolution, which he hoped would also happen in England to change society.
  • Had visions of angels, some believed he was a visionary prophet, others thought he took drugs.
• Lord Byron

  • "Mad, bad and dangerous to know." - Lady Caroline Lamb.
  • Bisexual, had affairs with both men and women.
  • Inherited wealth and a title, upper class man.
  • Fought and died in the Greek War of Independence.
• Percy Bysshe Shelley

  • Ex wife Harriet committed suicide while pregnant with their child. Shelley lost custody of their other children.
  • Married Mary Shelley, lost many more children.
  • Both Percy and Mary suffered from depression.
  • Shelley's poems weren't well-received by critics, had debts, and wasn't liked much by the public.
  • Drowned at sea, had his body burned afterwards.
• John Keats

  • Suffered from tuberculosis and died age 25 in Rome.
  • Used opium to dull the symptoms of his TB, some say he was a drug addict.