Romantic Criticism

Romanticism is the broader artistic and cultural movement that emphasized emotion, individualism, nature, and imagination, while romantic critics are the literary critics who analyzed art from this period by applying the core principles of Romanticism, often prioritizing subjective emotional responses and the individual’s creative genius. In essence, romanticism is the what (the movement), and romantic critics are the who (the analysts who applied the movement’s tenets).

Romantic critics, such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, emerged in the late 18th century, prioritizing emotion, imagination, and individual experience over the rigid rules of Neoclassicism. They focused on themes like nature and the personal journey, and their subjective, metaphorical approach influenced modern art and literary criticism.

Key aspects of romantic criticism:

Emphasis on emotion and imagination: Critics valued personal feelings and the creative power of the individual’s imagination, shifting focus from objective rules to subjective experience.
Focus on the individual: The work of art was seen as an expression of the artist’s personal journey and feelings, with poets like Wordsworth writing autobiographical works like The Prelude.
Value of nature: Romantic critics often explored the connection between nature and the human condition, seeing it as a source of inspiration and a subject for artistic expression.
Influence on modern criticism: This new approach paved the way for modern criticism by emphasizing the critic’s personal interpretation and response to art, rather than strict adherence to established rules.
Examples of romantic critics:
- William Wordsworth: Believed poetry should be “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” and serve as a custodian of public morality.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Championed the role of imagination, believing metre was inseparable from a poem’s content and that supernatural elements could add emotional depth.
- August Wilhelm and Friedrich Schlegel: German critics who were instrumental in developing the concept of “romantic poetry” and its distinction from classicism.