English Romanticism - Liceo Quadri

Romanticism saw the prevalence of poetry, which best suited
the need to give expression to emotional experience and
individual feelings.
Towards the end of the 18th century there had been a growing
appreciation of the power of the imagination, but only with the
Romantics did the imagination gain a primary role in the process
of poetic composition.
The eye of the imagination allowed the Romantic poets to see
beyond surface reality and apprehend a truth beyond the powers
of reason. An almost divine faculty, the imagination allowed the
poet to re-create and modify the external world of experience. The
poet was seen 'as a visionary prophet' or 'as a teacher' whose
task was to mediate between man and nature, to point out the
evils of society, to give voice to the ideals of beauty, truth and
freedom.
The Romantic poets, however continued to appreciate the natural
world and their works were rich in descriptions of natural
elements and landscape. These mirrored the poet’s mood and
feelings.
Liceo Statale “Don G. Fogazzaro” 10