Romanticism and Realism
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Romanticism and Realism
Throughout the nineteenth century in Europe, it was a period of revolution, progress, and hope for the future. People often became caught up in patriotism and the idealism of democracy. However, it was still a period by which people's expectation were not being met, new problems surfaced, and life started to be approached differently. Major developments and events during the nineteenth century brought forward literary movements. The four movements that dominated literature in the nineteenth century were symbolism, realism, naturalism, and romanticism.
The first of the movements, romanticism, was developed in the late 1700's from feelings and emotions of the revolutions in America and France. Authors of romanticism, or Romantics, were inspired by emotions, were interested in everyday people, wrote using simple words and grammar, did not except human limitations, appreciated nature, and wanted change among society.
Realism emerged in the middle nineteenth century. As scientific and industrial developments were transforming the society, Realists were against romanticism. Realists wanted life to be as accurate and faithful as possible and often depicted the lives of working-class people who were poor, by writing in a pessimistic tone...