Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Writing Inspiration - Poets from the "Romantic" Era

Sir Walter Scott



In the late 18th, early 19th Century "romanticism" swept across Europe. It was an artistic and philosophical movement that stressed individualism, subjectivity, and emotion. Generally, romantic era poetry praised the individual, giving voice to the common man, his life, and nature. Nature, in fact, proves to be a very prevalent theme in romantic era poetry.

The style the poetry stressed was everyday language, along with a free form presentation.

While romance and love can be a subject of poetry during this time, the "romanticism" movement has little in common with what we consider romantic today. These poets tended to distrust the human world and invited the reader to believe in the poet.

Several romantic era poets include:

William Wadsworth
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Edgar Allen Poe
Mary Shelley
Emily Dickinson
Sir Walter Scott.

Enjoy this poem from Sir Walter Scott:

An Hour With Thee

An hour with thee! When earliest day 

Dapples with gold the eastern gray, 

Oh, what can frame my mind to bear 

The toil and turmoil, cark and care, 

New griefs, which coming hours unfold, 

And sad remembrance of the old? 

One hour with thee.



One hour with thee! When burning June 

Waves his red flag at pitch of noon; 

What shall repay the faithful swain, 

His labor on the sultry plain; 

And, more than cave or sheltering bough, 

Cool feverish blood and throbbing brow?

One hour with thee.



One hour with thee! When sun is set, 

Oh, what can teach me to forget

The thankless labors of the day; 

The hopes, the wishes, flung away; 

The increasing wants, and lessening gains, 

The master's pride, who scorns my pains? 

One hour with thee.

Question: Do you have a favorite Romantic Era Poet? I hope you and your muse find inspiration for the  poet in you.  If you'd like to share a "romantic" poem, I'd love to read it. Just put in your comments.

Smiles
Steph

No comments:

Post a Comment