Medievalism-
Writers were looking back on the simpler life of the mid
evil times. They glorified the agricultural life.
Orientalism-
fascination with things exotic. In those times, there
was not the media or television to take us there.
Primitivism-
primitive people, a lot of colonization, and encountering
natives. The idea of the "Noble Savage."
Just because someone was from a different culture, means
they are not ignorant. "Man was inherently good."
Progress-
Industrial revolution was beginning, which enabled progress.
Poets of the times liked these amenities. Although
progress destroys nature, they believe man will straighten
out this mess.
Anti-intellectualism-
Poets believed there was not anything wrong with learning,
but keep it in perspective. Learn more with the
senses, than with books. True knowledge and wisdom
comes from the individual's senses.
Sentimentalism-
Writers and Poets during this time were extremely emotional.
Masochism did not exist in the seventeenth century.
Humanitarianism-
Men's responsibility to take care of his fellow man.
Democracy-
After two democratic revolutions, in America and France,
the authors approved of both of them. Authors of the
times believed in "all men are equal."
Originality-
Poets during this time period were inventing original subject
matter, styles, and characters. They were always trying
something new.
Diversity- Authors
would write in more than one genre. Novels had great diversity
in location and characters. An example is Mary Shelly's Frankstein.
It was the first horror novel.
Confessionalism-
Authors used their art to reveal their souls and guilt.
Their works revealed a lot about themselves as the characters
confessed their sins. Gone were the "knights
in shining armor," as these characters were not cardboard
cutouts.
Purgative
Purpose of Art- Authors cleansed their souls through
creative outlets such as art, music, and of course, writing.
Protest and
Dissent- Authors protested the way people were being
treated in France and England.
Love of the
Wild and Picturesque- Nature becomes personified and
real. Authors loathed the conditions of the big cities
and yearned for nature. The industrial revolution
was killing nature. The authors knew this and began
prolifically writing about nature.
