The Romantic era is often seen as a response to which previous literary movement?

The Romantic era is primarily viewed as a response to Classicism, which emphasized reason, order, and adherence to established forms and principles. In contrast, the Romantics championed individualism, emotional depth, and a connection to nature, valuing personal experience over the strict rules advocated by Classical thinkers. This shift reflected a broader cultural movement that sought to embrace human emotion, imagination, and the beauty of the natural world, which were often subdued in Classical literature.

While the Renaissance also played a significant role in shaping literary traditions by focusing on the revival of classical learning and humanism, it does not represent the direct counter-movement to Classicism that Romanticism embodies. Similarly, the Baroque era, with its ornate style and focus on grandeur, does not provide the same ideological contrast as Classicism does with Romanticism. Therefore, recognizing Classicism as the prevailing influence that Romantic writers reacted against is key to understanding the motivations and themes of the Romantic movement.