How is Romanticism different from Neo-classicism? Discuss with references.

Answer

How is Romanticism different from Neo-classicism? Discuss with references.

Or,  “Romanticism differs from Classicism.” How?

Or, Discuss Preface to Lyrical Ballads as a manifesto/landmark of the English Romantic movement.

In the 18th century, “Classicism” was popular. Writers wanted to bring back the ideas of ancient Greece and Rome in their works. But in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, “Romanticism” became popular. Romanticism was a literary movement. This movement marked a shift from the literary trends of the Neo-classical period.

Unlike Neo-classicism, Romanticism focused on personal feelings/emotions, imagination, and a deep love for nature. It also valued common people and their lives. William Wordsworth (1770–1850) played a big role in this change. He wrote a book called “Lyrical Ballads” (1798) with S. T. Coleridge (1772–1834). In the “Preface to Lyrical Ballads” (1800), Wordsworth explained how poetry/writing should be. This began a new era in literature, known as the Romantic Age (1798-1832). “Preface to Lyrical Ballads” becomes the manifesto of the English Romantic movement.

Neo-classicism and its Literary Trends: “Classicism” is an old style of art and literature that comes from ancient Greece and Rome. “Neo-classicism” is the revival of the ancient Greek and Roman styles. It came in the 18th century when writers wanted to bring back the ideas of ancient Greece and Rome in their works. The main literary trends of the Neo-classical age were: using reason over emotions, imitating classical literature, and mocking upper-class society. The literature of that age was not about the common people. The writers of that age also followed strict poetic structures. Alexander Pope and John Dryden were the prominent figures of that age.

Now, we will discuss how Romanticism differs from Neo-classicism below.

Personal Feelings/Emotions: Neo-classical poets valued logic more than emotions/feelings. Poets like Pope and Dryden wrote about kings, gods, and rich people. For example, Dryden, in his “Absalom and Achitophel,” writes about King Charles II, James II, and James Scott. Their poetry used difficult words. They thought poetry should teach moral lessons and follow strict rules. However, Romanticism was different.