English literature has existed from the beginning of time, developing spontaneously regarding forms of writing from different eras and periods. Realism and romantic periods originate from grouping literary works according to specific time frames exhibiting certain features. The periods help in understanding various characteristics of literary works according to the year of publishing. This essay discusses the aspects of the romantic and naturalism/realism literary works, giving examples of some of the period’s literary works demonstrating these characteristics.
The Romantic period gained popularity in the late 18th century between 1830 to 1870. As the name suggests, the period has romantic themes, passion, and powerful emotions. After the industrial revolution, novelists and poets became more liberalized in expressing their artistry creating individualism of thoughts and ideas. In romanticism, imagination is limitless and irrational, giving rise to many fantasies and gothic stories. In addition, romantic novelists and poets celebrate and glorify nature in imaginative and fantastic images creating lively settings.
An example of a romantic period of literary work is Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, which assumes a poetic version of a short story. The story is imaginative with themes of revenge and guilt. The main character depicts sociopath features that make him emotionally abusive and manipulative (McWilliams). The story is short, poetic, and emotionally powerful on revenge, where the key participant is vengeful and murderous. To Autumn by Jon Keats is another appraised romantic piece of its time. Keats compares the general life cycle to the autumn season, from when the plants sprout at the beginning of the season, bloom in mid-season, and wilt at the beginning of winter. Though short, the poem is imaginative, intuitive, and ideal, creating a romantic feeling of autumn. The author’s intimate description of autumn leaves an audience with anticipation of the season to feel its romanticism.
Naturalism /realism is another literary period occurring between 1870 to 1910 after the Civil War. These two periods often go hand in hand due to remarkable similarities, among them co-occurring. After the Civil War, writers adopted a more natural and realistic way of writing stories relating to ordinary activities and actual experiences due to post-war catastrophes. Besides actual events, naturalism incorporates other forces believed to cause circumstances, such as nature, heredity, and mystical powers. The main themes of the naturalism/realism period depict determination, violence, tragedy, pessimism, plague, and survival.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is an excellent example of the naturalism/realism literary work. Gilman narrated the realities of marriage when women were not allowed to work. The story has a standard lifestyle setting with everyday scenarios—the main theme of depression is caused by boredom, giving the short story a realistic nature. Gilman’s main character survives through depression and loneliness with hopes of recovering someday. Naturalism is seen when society is blamed for domesticating women instead of giving them the same rights as men in the working sector.
Naturalism/realism is also present in William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily. Emily is an outcast in society due to her dysfunctional family. As a hermit, she develops a mental illness that society assumes is her lifestyle. Emily murders her lover and stays with the corpse for years till her death. Naturalism depicts society and her overbearing father as the ultimate causes of Emily’s mental illness. As for realistic literature, Emily’s story is relatable because many people have gone insane due to rejection and misunderstandings.
From the discussion, literary periods are marked by significant events in history which greatly influence the adoption of different literary works. Although some critics oppose the characterization of specific periods, the academic structure remains unshaken in providing the guidelines for literary periods.
Reference
McWilliams, Stephen. “Poe’s Satire of Psychiatry.” Irish Medical Times 51.27 (2017): 24. ProQuest.