Romantic Poetry Evaluation

Characteristic of Romantic Subjects Textual Evidence (what does it say?) Explanation/Analysis (what does this mean and why is it important?)

Viewed nature as valuable and having the ability to transform people (think about transcendentalists Emerson and Thoreau); sought after child’s ability to view natural world with wonder and innocence “She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes” He is saying that she has the beauty of a cloudless night sky that is filled with stars.

Celebrated imagination rather than reason, simplicity rather than sophistication, innocence rather than experience

“And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow,” In this part of the poem he is showing the simplicity of her beauty, explaining that she is both eloquent and simply beautiful.

Focused on personal emotions and experiences rather than more public topics “Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling place.” This part of the poem talks about personal feelings and personal thoughts it is saying that the woman’s thoughts are as pure and graceful as her, it doesn’t talk about the things that are happening in public.

Romanticized the past and also dreams as an escape from harsh realities of modern (to them) world

Prized freedom of the individual

Common poetic devices:

anthropomorphism

imagery

irony

symbolism Imagery: “She walks in beauty, like the night” This is using imagery to explain the woman’s beauty.