Category: Literature > Romanticism
The Romantic movement in literature, which flourished from the late 18th to the mid-19th century, was largely a reaction to the sweeping changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. Authors like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and John Keats emphasized emotion, nature, and the individual experience, contrasting sharply with the rationalism and mechanization of their time. This movement not only celebrated the beauty of the natural world but also questioned the rapid urbanization and loss of connection to the pastoral, advocating for a return to simpler, more authentic human experiences. The Romantics' emphasis on imagination and personal expression laid the groundwork for modern literary movements, influencing countless writers and shaping the cultural landscape of the subsequent centuries.