1. Setting the Scene
- The Romantic period lasts about forty years, from the French Revolution in 1789 to the Reform Act of 1832.
- After the French Revolution, many things began to change in France and many English writers hoped that that the same would also happen in Britain but the Reign of Terror started in 17893, then the period of Napoleon and finally, by 1800s most of Europe was at war against France.
- Society was becoming industrial rather than agricultural.
- The goverment encouraged free trade.
- The new middle class became powerful.
- Some steps weere given towards voting reform and greater democracy.
- Changes were slow and there was a lot of suffering, above all, from the poor people.
- The soldiers who returned after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815 found themsleves unemployed.
- There were many social and political problems, for example the Peterloo massacre of 1819 ( governmets soldiers attacked a large group of protesters, killing eleven people and injuring about four hundred )
- War abroad was followed by war beween social classes at home.
2. English literature.
In literature, Romantic writing is mostly poetry. Romatics poets wanted something completely different from the Augustan age. Then, the head controlled the heart, now they wanted the heart to control the head. For Augustans, feelings and imagination were dangerous; for romantics, reason and the intellect were dangerous.
- The first generation of Romantic poets:
- The second generation of Romantic poets:
- John Keats (1795-1821).
The main themes of his poems are the search for lasting beauty and happines and for permanent meanings in a world where everything fades and dies.
- Bright star trailer. A film about the secret love affair between the English poet and the girl next door, Fanny Brawne, an outspoken student of fashion.
2. Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822).
Shelley's poetry is similar to Keat's poetry ; they both wanted to capture deep personal experiences. But Shelley's writing is more political.
3. Lord Byron (1788-1824).
One of the most influential and typical Romantic poets.
- The most important novelists :
1. Mary Shelley (1797-1851).
Assignments to do:
- Write the plot summary
- Choose four or five pictures that best describe the novel and write about it.
- Write the monster's diary. Try to be in his shoes and tell us about his emotions and feelings.
- Write Victor's diary. Try to guess what he thinks about his creation and what his feelings are.
- Letter to Mary Shelley suggesting a different ending for the novel.
- Make up activities for your fellow students to do in the class.
2. Jane Austen (1775-1817).
Assignments to do:
- Crossword about the main characters in the novel.
- Women, marriage and money in Pride and Prejudice
- Wedding invitations
- Quizz about the novel
- Voice dubbing of one of the scenes in the film
3. Walter Scott (1771-1832).
- His life and work. Glogster or video.
3. American literature.
1. Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849).
2. Washington Irving (1783-1859).
4. Bibliography:
* La Literatura Inglesa en los textos. Pilar Hidalgo y Enrique Alcaraz.
* Claves para interpretar la Literatura Inglesa. Estefanía Villalba.
* The Penguin Guide to English Literature: Britain and Ireland. Ronald Carter and John McRae.
5. Graded readers:
*
Frankenstein. *
Pride and Prejudice. *
The murders in the Rue Morgue and other stories.
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