Romanticism / Romantic Period

The Romanticism Collection highlights exemplary works from the Romantic period of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The selections in this Collection include poetry, early novels, and philosophical treatises that exemplify the movement's focus on emotions, beauty, and an appreciation of the natural world, as well as freedom and individualism.

Publication year 1807Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: GriefTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Publication year 1840Genre Essay / Speech, NonfictionThemes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: ArtTags Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature

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Percy Bysshe Shelley
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Publication year 1821Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: LiteratureTags Lyric Poem, Mythology, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Grief / Death, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

The death of the young has been a thematic concern in literature since Antiquity. That untimely demise not only exposes human vulnerability but makes for melancholic contemplation over the waste of beauty, confidence, and youth’s energy. And when that person is an artist, still young and learning, the implications seem more tragic. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “Adonais” (1821) is at one level a contemplation of the sudden death in 1821 of fellow poet John Keats. Keats... Read Adonais Summary


Publication year 1849Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & DeathTags Romanticism / Romantic Period, Grief / Death, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, Gothic Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1816Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Lyric Poem, Philosophy, Mythology, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1933Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: GuiltTags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Modernism

Publication year 1865Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Realism, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Transcendentalism

Publication year 1794Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: BeautyTags Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1863Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Class, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Good & EvilTags British Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, History: World, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1856Genre Novel/Book in Verse, FictionTags Classic Fiction, Social Justice, Gender / Feminism, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period

Written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and first published in 1856 at the height of the Romantic Movement, Aurora Leigh is a narrative novel in blank verse that divided critics by challenging the standard positions within contemporary debates regarding class and gender. Standing at nine books and 11,000 lines, it is the first feature-length poem in English that places a female artist at the center of the plot, and as such, it catapulted its equally atypical... Read Aurora Leigh Summary


Publication year 1792Genre Book, NonfictionThemes Identity: GenderTags Gender / Feminism, Romanticism / Romantic Period, History: U.S., Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects was written in 1792 by Mary Wollstonecraft. It is often referred to as one of the earliest feminist texts, and Wollstonecraft herself described it as proto-feminist. In it, Wollstonecraft explores the oppression of women by men, and argues that no society can be either virtuous or moral while half of the population are being subjugated by the other half. Ultimately, Wollstonecraft... Read A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Summary


Publication year 1890Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & DeathTags Classic Fiction, Realism, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Education, Education, British Literature, Fantasy

Emily Dickinson holds a special place in the firmament of American writers. Although she lived in the 19th century and seldom left her home region in Massachusetts, her poetry speaks to readers of all ages and backgrounds. Dickinson possessed a singular poetic style, characterized by inventive punctuation, powerful efficiency, and deep inquiry of the human experience. Her poem “Because I could not stop for Death” has become a touchstone for readers encountering Dickinson for the... Read Because I Could Not Stop for Death Summary


Publication year 1817Genre Autobiography / Memoir, NonfictionTags Romanticism / Romantic Period, Philosophy, Literary Criticism, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography

The Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge published Biographia Literaria, his semiautobiographical work on aesthetic theory, in 1817. Charting the history of his literary career and melding amusing autobiographical anecdotes with what Coleridge calls “transcendental philosophy” (91), the text is an influential work of literary criticism. Capturing Coleridge’s political ideas about the French Revolution and the American Declaration of Independence, the work is also an important historical document. In its pages, Coleridge uses 19th-century philosophical ideas... Read Biographia Literaria Summary


Publication year 1816Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Place, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: BeautyTags Narrative / Epic Poem, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Love / Sexuality, LGBTQ, Religion / Spirituality, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Gothic Literature, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a key figure in the British Romantic Era of poetry wrote the Gothic narrative poem “Christabel” in two parts, the first in 1797, and the second in 1800. Though it was still unfinished, “Christabel” was published in 1816.“Christabel” is Coleridge’s longest poem, at almost 700 lines. It is also the least edited of Coleridge’s work. Most of the poem contrasts the innocent piety of Christabel with the experience and supernatural abilities of... Read Christabel Summary


Publication year 1807Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: BeautyTags Urban Development, Science / Nature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1751Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & DeathTags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Classical Period, Education, Education, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Gothic Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

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Jane Austen
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Publication year 1815Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Society: ClassTags Classic Fiction, Victorian Period, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humor, Class, Gender / Feminism, History: European, Relationships, History: World

Emma is a fiction novel published in 1815 by the English author Jane Austen. The book centers on the character development of its eponymous protagonist, a genteel young woman on a country estate who meddles in the love lives of friends and neighbors. Jane Austen was conscious that Emma’s snobbery, vanity, and meddling might make her a “heroine whom no one but myself will much like” (Austen-Leigh, James Edward. A Memoir of Jane Austen. London:... Read Emma Summary


Publication year 1818Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Appearance & RealityTags Narrative / Epic Poem, Mythology, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1818Genre Novel, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Nurture v. NatureTags Classic Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gothic Literature, Fantasy

First published in 1818, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel by Mary Shelley. It is written in the tradition of Romanticism, a late 18th-century and early 19th-century movement that responded to the Enlightenment. Rejecting rationalism, Romantic literature often celebrated the power of nature and of the individual. Frankenstein is also considered a Gothic novel because of its emphasis on darkness, the sensational, and the wildness of nature.Shelley was the daughter of political philosopher... Read Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus Summary


Publication year 1798Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Nurture v. NatureTags Romanticism / Romantic Period, Education, Education, Classic Fiction, British Literature

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Johanna Spyri
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Publication year 1881Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Grandparents, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Food, Natural World: AnimalsTags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Swiss author Johanna Spyri originally published the middle-grade fiction novel Heidi in German in two volumes in 1880. The novel quickly became a beloved classic children’s book that has since been adapted into 25 film and television versions, including a 1968 made-for-TV movie and a very popular anime series in 1974. It has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. Spyri was born in Hirzel, a Zurich village that shares a border with the German... Read Heidi Summary


Publication year 1792Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: PlaceTags Lyric Poem, Relationships, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, British Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Age of Enlightenment

Publication year 1891Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / PerseveranceTags Lyric Poem, Philosophy, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Animals

Publication year 1896Genre Poem, FictionThemes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: LonelinessTags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Transcendentalism, American Literature, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1890Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: LonelinessTags Lyric Poem, Free verse, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Publication year 1819Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Nation, Society: WarTags Historical Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World, Romance

Ivanhoe is a historical fiction novel by Walter Scott, first published in 1819. The novel or “romance” is a fanciful account of English life in the 12th century, during the time of King Richard I (Richard “Coeur de Lion”). The protagonist of the story is Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a knight returning home from fighting in the Third Crusade. His journey weaves together historical events, religious conflict, and Medieval folklore and explores themes of Chivalry as... Read Ivanhoe Summary


Publication year 1807Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: MemoryTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Publication year 1847Genre Novel, FictionThemes Relationships: Family, Identity: GenderTags Gothic Literature, Classic Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Gender / Feminism, British Literature, Victorian Period, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction

Jane Eyre: An Autobiography is a bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, written by Victorian writer Charlotte Brontë and originally published in 1847 under the male pseudonym Currer Bell by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. Through Jane’s life and experiences, Brontë examines social issues including religious hypocrisy, class discrimination, and sexism. Many literary theorists and biographers—including Brontë’s friend and fellow novelist Elizabeth Gaskell—have noted numerous similarities between the novel’s events and Brontë’s personal history.The novel is... Read Jane Eyre Summary


Publication year 1816Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: MemoryTags Lyric Poem, Education, Education, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1819Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & DangerTags Love / Sexuality, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Gothic Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1798Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: ObjectsTags Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, History: World, Philosophy

Composed in the middle of July 1798, “Tintern Abbey” was the last poem submitted for the publication of Lyrical Ballads, which was already in the press at Bristol. As the coda to Lyrical Ballads, “Tintern Abbey” represents a pivotal modulation in Wordsworth’s poetic development and ambition, prefiguring much of his distinctive verse to follow. Its sustained meditative subjectivity, masterful control of tone, elevated theme, scale of conceptual development, and orchestrated musicality mark the convergence of... Read Tintern Abbey Summary


Publication year 1794Genre Poem, FictionThemes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Religion & SpiritualityTags Lyric Poem, Industrial Revolution, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Poverty, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

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Lord George Gordon Byron (Lord Byron)
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Publication year 1817Genre Play, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: LoveTags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Gothic Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Written in 1816-1817 by the British poet Lord George Gordon Byron, Manfred is a closet drama, meaning that Byron never intended it to be produced onstage despite writing it in the style of a play in verse, with dialogue parts for various characters. The work centers on the guilt of the eponymous Manfred over his tragically flawed romantic relationship with a woman named Astarte. Many critics believe that Manfred and Astarte’s relationship is implied to... Read Manfred Summary


Publication year 1851Genre Novel, FictionThemes Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Identity: Mental HealthTags Action / Adventure, American Literature, Classic Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Historical Fiction

Published in 1851, Moby Dick was based in part on author Herman Melville’s own experiences on a whaleship. The novel tells the story of Ahab, the captain of a whaling vessel called The Pequod, who has a three-year mission to collect and sell the valuable oil of whales at the behest of the ship’s owners. Instead, the furious Ahab takes the ship on his own personal journey through hell, seeking revenge against the eponymous white... Read Moby Dick Summary


Publication year 1817Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Place, Natural World: EnvironmentTags Philosophy, Science / Nature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Education, Education, British Literature, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1816Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Order & ChaosTags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Romanticism / Romantic Period

Publication year 1807Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: JoyTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

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William Blake
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Publication year 1789Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: AnimalsTags Romanticism / Romantic Period, Religion / Spirituality, History: World, Arts / Culture

Publication year 1807Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Aging, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: EnvironmentTags Romanticism / Romantic Period, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1820Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Truth & LiesTags Education, Education, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1819Genre Poem, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: BeautyTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Grief / Death, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1819Genre Poem, FictionTags Education, Education, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1820Genre Poem, FictionThemes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: HopeTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind” is an exemplary piece of Romantic Era poetry. It explores such themes as personal freedom, creation and the craft of poetry, and the role of the poet in 19th-Century British society, among other themes. The speaker makes use of apostrophe and personification to paint a picture of the West Wind’s awesome powers. Moving through the tight terza rima form with playful alliteration, grandiose imagery gradually gives way... Read Ode to the West Wind Summary


Publication year 1817Genre Poem, FictionThemes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: AgingTags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Ancient Greece, Classic Fiction

Publication year 1818Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: ArtTags Lyric Poem, American Literature, Education, Education, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Classic Fiction

“Ozymandias” is one of the most famous sonnets in European literature. Written by the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822), it was first published in 1818 in the Examiner, a literary periodical that introduced the works of many Romantics, including Shelley and his contemporary, John Keats. Shelley later included the sonnet in his poem collection Rosalind and Helen, published in 1819.Now one of Shelley’s most recognizable and widely anthologized poems, “Ozymandias” was the result... Read Ozymandias Summary


Publication year 1817Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: GenderTags Romance, British Literature, Victorian Period, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Classic Fiction, Class, History: World, Historical Fiction

Persuasion is the last novel completed by Jane Austen (1775-1817) before her death. Written between the years 1815-1816 and published posthumously, the Regency-era novel centers on the engagements and marriages of a small circle of middle-class families, with particular attention to the social and private lives of women. Echoing character dynamics found throughout Austen’s works, the romantic protagonists must confront their individual pride before fully realizing their relationship. It has been adapted for television, film... Read Persuasion Summary


Publication year 1807Genre Book, NonfictionThemes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Justice & InjusticeTags Philosophy, Romanticism / Romantic Period, German Literature

Publication year 1800Genre Essay / Speech, NonfictionThemes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: LiteratureTags Arts / Culture, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Education, Education, British Literature, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

“Preface to Lyrical Ballads” is an essay by the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth. In 1798 Wordsworth wrote, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the poetry collection Lyrical Ballads. Believing that the poems were so novel in theme and style that they required some explanation, Wordsworth wrote a prefatory essay to accompany the second edition of the poems in 1800; he then expanded the essay for the third edition of 1802.The “Preface” is often considered a manifesto... Read Preface to Lyrical Ballads Summary


Publication year 1813Genre Novel, FictionThemes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: MarriageTags Classic Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Romance, British Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction

Published anonymously in 1813, Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen’s most well-known book. A “novel of manners,” which presents a realistic picture of society through the customs and manners of everyday life, Pride and Prejudice offers a glimpse into 19th-century English social hierarchies, as well as women’s roles and the importance of marriage. While Austen’s books were popular during her lifetime, she died before she was acknowledged as their author; when Persuasion was published posthumously, her... Read Pride and Prejudice Summary


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Lord George Gordon Byron (Lord Byron)
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Publication year 1816Genre Poem, FictionThemes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / PerseveranceTags Lyric Poem, Mythology, Romanticism / Romantic Period