Romantic Poetry: The Antithesis of Classical Tradition

Romantic poetry diverged sharply from Classical poetry in its complexity and diverse viewpoints. Unlike Classical poets who adhered to unified notions of poetry's nature, form, and the poet's role, Romantic poets such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, Scott, Byron, Shelley, and Keats held varying beliefs: Abundance and variety of genius: The Romantic period in English literature saw an unprecedented flowering of poetic talent, reflecting revolutionary changes in perceptions of poetry, human nature, and the world. Emphasis on imagination: Unlike their Classical counterparts who viewed imagination as secondary, the Romantics elevated it to a central position in poetic theory and practice. Role of Imagination in Romantic Poetry For the Romantics, imagination was pivotal. While Classical poets focused on the visible world, Romantics believed in exploring the world of the spirit : Wordsworth: Viewed imagination as encompassing absolute power, clarity of insight, and expansive reason, emphas…