Romanticism is a philosophical and artistic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries that marked a change in the emotional core of literature, philosophy, art, religion and politics in reaction to the Enlightenment. It is a contrast to neoclassicism characterized by the predominance of imagination over reason and formal rules, the love of nature — nature is good; cities are harmful to man, the power of the individual, concern for human rights, sentimentality, childhood innocence, revolutionary spirit and melancholy. Romantic writers reject most traditional forms and themes. According to the Musical Quarterly, no two people probably have exactly the same conception of what romance is. Victor Hugo, for example, defines romanticism as “liberalism in nature”. The Romantic movement was marked by several authors including William Wordsworth, Alphonse de Lamartine, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and John Keats. The following lines will introduce these authors by providing a brief background and detailed information about their works in accordance with the characteristics of romanticism.William Wordsworth, a major English romantic poet, born in 1770 and died in 1850. He writes his poetry as an analysis on nature. Even though Wordsworth is very interested in nature, he still maintains his human identity. He is a great romantic writer because his writings reflect the characteristics of the movement. As a poet, he wrote numerous poems and odes (lyrical poems in the form of an address on a particular subject, intended to be sung). In this part you will be introduced to one of his famous odes, Ode: Intimations of Immortality. This poem is long and complicated but it shows Wordsworth's connection with nature and the way he makes an effort... middle of paper... because he always pays attention to the details of everything physical around himLamartine in The Lake begs for time to stop. But we all know that time cannot stop flowing; so we must enjoy the present while in the presence of our loved ones. Nature is a universal moral guide and mentor ( Wordsworth)For Lamartine, nature was a manifestation of divine greatness. He believed that contemplating it could stimulate religious faith. Works Cited Bernbaum, Ernest, The English Romantic Poets, New York: The Modern Language Association, 1950 “To Autumn”, The Norton Anthology of World LiteratureBloom, Harold, William Wordsworth, New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1985Parker, DC “The Musical Quarterly” 84, No.1-94, No.3 (2000-2011): 307 JSTOR. Web April 23, 2012. http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.martinmethodist.edu/stable/738059>