Realism and Romanticism are two different movements in literature. Realism focuses on actuality, while Romanticism emphasizes emotion and imagination. Realists believe that art should represent reality as it actually is, while Romantics believe that art should be expressive and emotional. There are many similarities between the two movements, but there are also several key differences.
Realism began in the late 1800s as a reaction against Romanticism. Realists believed that art should be an accurate representation of reality, rather than an expression of emotions or imagination. They sought to depict the world as it actually is, without embellishment or exaggeration. Realists believed that literature should be realistic and accessible to all readers, regardless of their social class.
Romanticism, on the other hand, began in the early 1800s as a reaction against the formal, rational structures of the Enlightenment. Romantics believed that art should be expressive and emotional. They sought to depict the world as they saw it, through their own eyes. Romantic writers often used unconventional literary devices, such as stream of consciousness, to express their inner thoughts and feelings.
There are many similarities between Realism and Romanticism. Both movements sought to break away from the formal constraints of the past. Both movements emphasized sincerity and truthfulness. And both movements believed that art should be accessible to all people.
However, there are also several key differences between Realism and Romanticism. Realists believed that art should represent reality, while Romantics believed that art should be expressive. Realists sought to depict the world as it actually is, while Romantics sought to depict the world as they saw it.
And finally, Realists believed that literature should be realistic and accessible to all readers, regardless of their social class, while Romantic writers often used unconventional literary devices to express their inner thoughts and feelings.
The Romanticism and Realism threads in art and literature during the 1800s both had their origins in the growing industrialism of that time. Although both tried to portray actual people and question who was authoritative, Romanticists did this by depicting single individuals in special or even supernatural circumstances. On the other hand, Realists concentrated on showing regular folks experiencing very real difficulties.
Realism also showed how power could be challenged through the working class. Romanticism valorized feeling and imagination, while Realism sought to show the truth. Realism was sometimes seen as a reaction to Romanticism, but both were important movements that shaped the art of the nineteenth century. Realism and Romanticism had some similarities, but they also had several key differences.
One similarity between Realism and Romanticism was that they were both response to the industrialization of the world. Romantic artists and writers sought to express their feelings about the world around them, which was often harsh and difficult. Realists wanted to show the world as it really was, without embellishment or fantasy. They felt that by doing this, they could help to improve the world.
Both Realism and Romanticism also sought to challenge the status quo. Romantic artists often showed exotic or supernatural situations in order to question who was in power. Realists focused on the average person and showed how power could be challenged through the working class.
The difference between Romanticism and Realism is best illustrated by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Faust, a story about an individual and his otherworldly experiences, versus Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, which centers around the mundanity of marriage within the conventional household.
Realism and Romanticism are two different movements in literature, but they also have some similarities. Realism is often seen as the rejection of Romanticism, but there are actually many similarities between the two. Realism focuses on the everyday, while Romanticism focuses on the extraordinary.
Realist works often deal with social issues, while Romantic works often deal with personal issues. Realists strive for accuracy, while Romantics strive for emotion. Realists believe that art should be representative of life, while Romantics believe that art should be expressive and emotional. While there are many differences between Realism and Romanticism, there are also some similarities.
However, a primary similarity between the two is that they both deal with defiance of and disillusionmentment with authority. Two of the most important aspects of Romantic literature are best illustrated in Goethe’s Faust. The story centers around Heinrich Faust, a single man whose life is changed by supernatural forces.
Realism, on the other hand, is more based in naturalism, and often depicts the lives of groups of people or an entire community. Realists were also less interested in personal emotions and more focused on social issues and problems.
Both Realism and Romanticism had their own distinct views on society. Realists believed that society was something that should be studied objectively, while Romantics believed that society suppressed individuality. This can be seen in the works of Realist author Gustave Flaubert, who wrote about the mundane lives of average people, and Romantic author William Blake, who wrote about religious visions and supernatural experiences.
Realism and Romanticism also differed in their view of history. Realists saw history as a progression from the past to the present, while Romantics saw history as a cyclical process. Realist authors such as Honoré de Balzac and Leo Tolstoy wrote about historical figures and events, while Romantic authors such as Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron wrote about mythical beings and stories.
Both Realism and Romanticism had a major impact on the arts, with Realist paintings depicting scenes from everyday life and Romantic paintings often featuring ethereal or otherworldly subjects. Realist writers such as Anton Chekhov and Henry James wrote short stories and novels that are now considered classics, while Romantic poets such as John Keats and Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote some of the most well-loved poems in the English language.
In Faust, the title character is visited by Mephistopheles and agrees to a bet that will result in his life being dramatically changed. God describes Faust as confused, but nonetheless one of his followers, when the Devil wagers him that he will lose Faust yet if he allows Mephisto to steer him gently on the course set. Because of this, Faust enters into a deal with Mephistopheles wherein he is promised anything in return for doing the same for Mephisto once he dies and goes to hell.
This wager is an excellent example of Realism because it based on the idea that what you do in life will have consequences in the afterlife, and that those consequences could be very severe.
In contrast, Romanticism is often about individuals going against society or nature and suffering the consequences. For example, in Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff is an outsider who does not fit in with society. He falls in love with Catherine Earnshaw, but she marries Edgar Linton instead. As a result, Heathcliff becomes bitter and revengeful, causing suffering for everyone around him. This story is an excellent example of Romanticism because it focuses on the individual’s emotions and experience, rather than social conventions or reality.