Professor Netland English 203 From Romanticism to Modernism: The Spirit of the Ages P.A. Kok 12-5-93verte course of the semester here at Calvin College we have had a briel glimpse of three major literary eras: the Romanti, the Victorian, and the twentieth century, also known as the Medemist period Throughout these three periods there has boon a gradual change inthe gonoal temperment and mood of the English iterature as thas responded tothe various political, religious, scientific and social changes. <_ Although there are exceptions to every generalization, the purpose of this essay is to focus on the tf" } | Predominant “spirit” of each era with a closer examination of a few representative authors and works of “a LF each period, C21) “The Romantic Period beginning in 1785 was a ime of change as agricultural at gov way ns, 2 be “resulting na changing landscape @ more modem appearance with the advent of ‘Suidings and factories; e c Fo « covten salen, yh Gat He reverse a cleo fay 7:9 6 he more polarization of classes, with a greater distinction between the poor versus the wealthy; and poltical 9 ate turmoil as seen in the French Revolution. ‘Against this background, however, the general temperment of the age has been characterized as {ull of spirit, emotion, and promise; yet it needs to be noted that in spite of this spirit, contrary to popular ygted x beliet, Romanticism was not blissfully ignorant, but rather attempted to be blissful in spite of the suftering, ).7 ‘while acknowledging it. Often connected with this period are the terms “intellectual,” “imaginative,” and “experimental.” This feeling of hopefullness was accompanied by the idea that there are no limitations and ‘the quest for a “new way of seeing.” Perhaps the two foremost literary representatives of this period are William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge. Wiliam Wordsworth is often associated with the idea that poetry is the "spontaneous overtiow of emotion.” in his "Preface to Lyrical Ballads" he stated that there is only one restriction for poets: “giving immediate pleasure to a human being.” This enthusiasm combined with a theme of child-like happiness of Wordsworth, as we will see, contrasts with the writers of later periods. While Wordsworth has his exceptions, a general survey of his literature will reveal such optimism and emotion. One fine example of such optimism and freshness is shown in "My heart leaps up:" My heart leaps up when | behold ‘A rainbow in the sky: ‘So was it when my life began; So is it now | am a man; * So be it when I shall grow old,Or lot me diel The Child is father of the Man; And | could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural pity. Notice the references to childhood and nature and the hopetuliness this poem offers. In addition to poems 'ike this, Wordsworth also represented the spit of the age by embracing the common man, The “Solitary Reaper’ is a good example of the simple enjoyment that can be found in a poor reaper singing on the hillside. This exaltation of the common man and his persistent hope amongst the misery of mankind is specially noticeable in the "Ruined Cottage.” This rather depressing tale retains some semblance of hope with lines such as: , That secret spirit of humanity wi Which, 'mid the calm oblivious tendencies f nature, ‘mid her plants, her weeds, and flowers, ‘And silent overgrowings, still survived. (i 500-505) ‘gain, it should be stressed that Romanticism does not ignore the bleak, nor necessarily try to remain Diissfully ignorant, as perhaps, the popular stereotype maintains, but rather, Romanticism seems to * recognize the suffering of humanity, but responds to t by championing the cause fer hope in mankind A second representative of Romeftdcism is Samuel Taylor Coleridge. though he had bouts of (rug abuse and depression and much of his literature such as "Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” “Dejection: ‘An Ode,” and “Work without Hope,” seem rather mystorious, pessimistic, or even depressing, as they are indeed ~ he should also be identified wih his tutherance ofthe spirt of emotion, intuition, and religous fervor that characterized Romanticism / In "Biographia Literia” he wrote: "The reader should be carried forward, not merely or chiefly by the mechanical impulse of curiosity, or by a restless desire to ative at the final solution; but by the pleasurable v le Activity of the mind, excited by attractions of the journey itself” And in the "Statesman's Manual” he said "The fact therefore that the mind of man in its own primary and constitutional forms represents the laws | of nature, Is a mystery which of itself should suttice to make us religious: fori is a problem of which God oe is the only solution, God, the one before all, and ofall, and through alll” Again, we feel excitement in such \ siemens as well as a spiritual energy. Nevertheless, the Romantic Period soon gave way to the Victorian Age around 1830 and this