El Romanticism Romanticism is an artistic, literary and cultural movement that emerged at the end of the 18th century as a clear contrast to the strict ideals of the Enlightenment and Neoclassicism. Characterized by the exaltation of feelings, subjectivity and individuality, this movement defended creative freedom over rigid academic rules. In the literary field, Romanticism laid the groundwork for much of modern literature by exploring themes that had been relegated, such as melancholy, the supernatural and emotional introspection.
With the advent of literary romanticism, oral traditions and popular legends of each place were claimed, especially those that came from the Middle Ages. In addition to the exaltation of individual self As a source of creation, romantic artists sought in their works an emotional and symbolic way to express disenchantment with reality, and a way to find beauty in imperfection.
In this article, we will explore in detail the impact of this movement on the work of prominent authors, such as Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, Jose de Espronceda y Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, as well as his most representative works that continue to influence contemporary literature today.
Romanticism in literature: Essential characteristics
El literary romanticism It is distinguished by a series of characteristics that separate it from preceding movements, one of the most notable being the subjectivity. Meanwhile he neoclassicism While Romanticism valued objectivity, it focused on individual emotions and personal expression. Feelings predominated over reason, so the works of this period revolved around the deepest passions of human beings.
Another key feature of the movement was its fascination with the exotic and the supernaturalRomantic writers often set their works in distant places or in times long past, full of magic and mystery, such as the Middle Ages or oriental lands. This taste for the distant and unknown can be seen, for example, in the atmospheres created by authors such as Lord Byron in his poem The Giaour.
El individualism and quest for freedom They also occupy a central place in Romanticism, and the Romantic protagonists are usually marginal characters, solitary fighters or beings beaten down by fate, like Espronceda's pirate or Goethe's young Werther.
- Emphasis on emotions: Feelings such as melancholy, tragic love and passion dominate the stories.
- Rebellion against the rules: The authors questioned tradition and sought new forms of artistic expression.
- Exaltation of nature: Nature is seen as a reflection of the human soul, whether in its beauty or its torment.
Prominent representatives of literary Romanticism
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) is one of the most important authors of German Romanticism and of world literature in general. Although his work covers a variety of genres, Goethe was instrumental in laying the foundations of Romanticism. His epistolary novel Young Werther's Misadventures, published in 1774, influenced a whole generation of writers, addressing themes such as unrequited love, deep melancholy and suicide, an act that would later become one of the recurring topics of Romanticism.
Another of his great contributions to the romantic movement was his masterful work auspicious, a two-part drama depicting man's struggle to achieve absolute knowledge and personal satisfaction at any cost.
- Outstanding works: Young Werther's Misadventures, auspicious
- Key topics: Tragic destiny, unrequited love, the search for knowledge.
Gustavo Adolfo Becquer
Gustavo Adolfo Becquer (1836-1870), one of the greatest exponents of late Spanish Romanticism, was a poet and narrator whose work stands out for its emotional introspection and its exploration of love, pain and the supernatural. His collection of Rimas is considered one of the pinnacles of Spanish romantic poetry. In addition to her poems, Legends, stories full of mystery, are one of the best examples of the romantic taste for the gothic and the fantastic.
Bécquer was a writer deeply influenced by sadness and melancholy, recurring themes in his work. His style is simple but deeply striking, with an emotional richness that connected with readers of all ages.
Bécquer's legacy is undeniable in Spanish culture, and he continues to be a fundamental figure in understanding romanticism in literature.
- Outstanding works: Rhymes and legends
- Key topics: Impossible love, death, the supernatural.
Jose de Espronceda
Jose de Espronceda (1808-1842) is another of the great poets of Romanticism in Spain. His poetic work, especially The student from Salamanca y Pirate song, personifies the rebellious spirit of Romanticism. In these works, Espronceda portrays the figures of marginal characters and social antagonists who challenge morality and established norms, but who at the same time suffer the tragic consequences of their search for freedom.
Espronceda's poetic style is full of lyricism and strength, with vivid descriptions of the most intense and stormy feelings. Espronceda explored both heroism and the fatality of destiny, two key themes in his work that made him stand out within the panorama of European Romanticism.
- Outstanding works: Pirate song, The student from Salamanca
- Key topics: Rebellion, freedom, fatalism.
Romanticism and the Middle Ages: A return to the origins
One of the most fascinating aspects of Romanticism is its fascination with the Middle Ages and his reinterpretation of this historical period. Many romantic authors saw the Middle Ages as a period of great spirituality and contact with the sacred and the mystical, something that contrasted with the rationalism and materialism of their time.
The Middle Ages offered the Romantics a landscape full of castles, knights and mysteries, something that stood out in contrast to the present. The use of medieval legends, such as those explored by the Grimm brothers in Germany or Walter Scott in England, is a clear example of this trend.
Authors like Victor Hugo in his novel Notre-Dame de Paris, inspired by Gothic and medieval traditions, or Alfred Tennyson with their Idylls of the King, based on Arthurian legends, are also examples of how this era profoundly influenced the literary creation of Romanticism.
Romanticism in different literary genres
Romanticism had a wide impact on various literary genres, from poetry to novels and theatre. Below, we briefly analyse how this artistic movement manifested itself in each of them:
Poetry
Poetry was perhaps the genre in which Romanticism found its greatest expression. Lyricism, the use of symbols and introspection on themes such as love, death and nature deeply marked the poetic production of this time. Poets such as William Wordsworth in England and Heinrich Heine In Germany they focused on these themes to create some of the most influential works of Romanticism.
Novela
In the romance novel, the feeling of melancholy and the conflict between the individual and society are present in works such as Frankenstein de Mary Shelley o Ivanhoe de Walter ScottThese authors explored worlds filled with mysteries and existential dilemmas, leading the reader through plots that were often set in dark or epic settings.
Theater
Romantic theatre was another of the genres that was revitalized during this period, highlighting the use of tragic plots and the break with classical theatre conventions. Works such as Don Álvaro or the force of fate of the Duke of Rivas and Don Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla are two key examples of how Spanish Romantic theatre addressed themes of inevitable destiny and redemption.
The romanticism marked a before and after in the history of literature, introducing a new way of thinking and expressing art. This movement challenged established norms and explored previously unexplored terrain, leaving a lasting mark on literary and artistic culture. Through melancholy, tragic love, wild nature and the individual's struggle for freedom, the Romantic authors redefined art and life itself.