1st generation vs. 2nd generation of writers (poets)
Everything we do in life, there is a phase or generation assigned to it. Even in the 1800s you had a generation of writers. The first generation consisted of William Blake, William Wordsworth, and Samuel Coleridge. The second generation consisted of Lord Bryon, Percy Shelley, and Keats. In this blog, I want to focus on differences and similarities between the 1st generation and 2nd generation.
What ideas inspired these generations? The first generation’s writings were inspired by the Battle of Bastille and the French Revolution. Their writings were based on liberty and equality. Their writings were based around the ruling of the citizens by kings and queens and the elite ones running the government. The second generation’s writings were inspired by more modern day issues such as politics. The second generation writings were more straight forward and easier for me to relate to. The writings of the second generation were more social driven as well as writing about changing the government.
What approaches did each generation take to inspire their writings? Blake used evil verses good. Wordsworth and Coleridge used imagination which involved the mind. They both used nature as a way to portray happiness as well. Bryon used storytelling. He used social issues as his approach to his writings. An example would be his use of his failed marriage to inspire some of the entries in his writing Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Shelley also used a similar approach. Keats’ approach involved morals and social issues as well.
What values did each generation take into account in his writing? I truly feel that the values of both generations were very similar. The differences were few. I feel that both generations made valid points about the upper class compared to the lower class. Of course the emphases on these values were portrayed more in the 1st generation writings compared to the 2nd generation. I feel that the 2nd generations values were based more along family lines, but I must say the failed marriages in the 1800s shocked me. It’s hard for me to say that they valued marriages, but they valued love. Also, I sensed the value of money in the 2nd generation. It seems that in the introductory readings on the writers lead me to believe that money was more important in the 2nd generation. They traveled more in the 2nd generation which gave them more insights into other parts of the world to write their poetry on.
No matter what generation you side with, they both had valid ideas, approaches, and values. Each generation had a different way of approaching their writing. Either way, I am thankful that I am able to read their writings today to see things as there were in the 1800s. Reading through the works of both generations has given me a different perspective of what romantic literature is all about. I would have never thought in a million years that I would be telling my co-workers that romantic literature is interesting. Go figure!
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3 comments:
MIgnon,
I am very glad to hear that you find the Romantics interesting, and even more that you are telling your coworkers about it!
I also admire your attempt in this blog to list some of the similarities and differences between the two generations of Romantics. The result, though, seems a bit sketchy and haphazard. I think I would have preferred you to focus on their similarities and differences in one aspect (such as their view of politics, or love, or Nature). Better yet, perhaps you might have explored two poets, one representing each generation. Remember, "say more about less" in these blogs.
Mignon does a good job of contrasting the 1st and 2nd generation Romantics. I found it interesting that the 1st generation poets, in their youth, were inspired by the energy surrounding the revolution and sought to break the bonds of tradition. But since they all lived to a relatively old age, their views became more conservative, more philosophical, later in their lives. The 2nd generation poets all died young so they never moved out of their radical period, but they were not as idealistic and hopeful as the 1st generation had been. The 2nd generation was more cynical and saw what was happening as a return to the pre-revolution authoritarian principles so they were more irreverant and satirical.
Good
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