Introduction to Romanticism

One characteristic of the Romantic period was

the use of imagination.

While Enlightenment writers were more interested in innovation, Romantic writers were more interested in

the freedom of expression.

The attitude of the text about a subject is called the _____.

tone

Authors use diction to help them convey meaning and achieve desired effects in their works. The word diction means

word choice.

Which topic would most likely have been the focus of a poem during the Romantic period?

the beauty of a waterfall

Which line from William Wordsworth's poem uses alliteration?

Continuous as the stars that shine

Read the excerpt from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.

The lines use rhyme to transition from deep thought to a joyful memory.

Read the excerpt from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.

The words glee and company use rhyme to express Wordsworth's feelings. I gazed—and gazed—but little thought uses repetition for emphasis. Alliteration is used in the phrase dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth often used repetition in his poetry to

create rhythm and emphasize ideas.

Read the excerpt from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

twinkle