In Literature and Art:
* Celebrated emotion and imagination over reason: Romantics believed that emotions, intuition, and imagination were more important than reason and logic. This led to a focus on personal experiences, individual expression, and the power of the imagination in their works.
* Emphasized nature and the sublime: Romantics saw nature as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual renewal. They often depicted awe-inspiring landscapes and powerful natural forces in their works.
* Elevated the individual and the common person: Romantics championed the individual and their unique experiences, often focusing on the lives of ordinary people and their struggles.
* Explored the dark side of human experience: They weren't afraid to tackle themes of pain, loss, alienation, and the darker aspects of the human psyche.
* Valued creativity and originality: Romantics encouraged artistic experimentation and individual expression, rejecting the rigid rules and conventions of the Enlightenment.
In Music:
* Emphasized emotional expression: Romantic composers like Beethoven, Schubert, and Chopin explored a wider range of emotions in their music, with a focus on drama, passion, and introspection.
* Used new musical techniques: Romantics experimented with new techniques like chromaticism, dissonances, and extended harmonies to create more expressive and emotionally charged music.
* Expanded the role of the orchestra: Romantic composers often used larger orchestras with more instruments, creating a more powerful and dramatic sound.
In Philosophy:
* Challenged Enlightenment ideas: Romantics questioned the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, logic, and scientific progress. They believed that human experience was more complex and nuanced than Enlightenment thinkers recognized.
* Promoted individualism and self-reliance: Romantics championed the individual and their ability to create their own meaning and purpose in life.
* Focused on the importance of feeling and intuition: They argued that emotions and intuition were just as important as reason in understanding the world.
Key Figures of the Romantic Movement:
* Literature: William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, John Keats, Victor Hugo, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
* Art: Eugène Delacroix, Caspar David Friedrich, William Blake, Francisco Goya, J.M.W. Turner
* Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Frédéric Chopin, Richard Wagner, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Romantic movement had a profound impact on art, literature, music, and philosophy, and its influence can still be felt today. It challenged the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and order, paving the way for new ways of thinking and creating.