UVU Romantic British Literature (Spring 2021) Dashboard

Description

The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed in the Sun

UVU 3650: Romantic Tensions: Conflict And Upheaval in Romantic Literature

Spring 2021

The Romantic period is unique amongst other literary historical periods; it is neither demarcated by, or named for, the reign a monarch (like the Elizabethan or Victorian eras), nor is it defined by the century with which it coincides (like the Twentieth or Twenty-First Centuries). Instead, the Romantic period is bookended by major political and social events. Named for a literary genre recovered in the eighteenth century (the medieval romance), the Romantic period is generally agreed to have ended in 1832 at the first major reform of the British Parliament, but its beginning could be considered to coincide with a variety of events, such as the 1776 American declaration of independence, or the 1789 commencement of the French revolution. In general, the literature of this period might be characterized as reactionary; Romantic critics and artists were responding to the period’s radical social and political shifts and to the British literary tradition’s overemphasis on classical influences at the expense of other genres and modes of expression. In many ways, they were confronting their own political philosophy, artistic ancestry, and the trauma and turbulence of near-constant war. 

This course explores these confrontations through four loosely-constructed units that cover the political debates and artistic innovations fomented by the French Revolution, the challenges posed to gender norms by Romantic women writers, the passionate efforts of abolitionists to raise awareness about the horrors of slavery, and the radicalism espoused by some of British literature’s more (in)famous poets.

Image: William Blake, The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed in the Sun, The Yorck Project (2002), Wikimedia Commonshttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/William_Blake#/media/File:William_Bla...

Galleries, Timelines, and Maps

Chronology
Posted by Jordan Larson on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 19:42

In 1781, the tragedy of the Zong Massacre resulted in the death of over 130 slaves. The British slave ship that carried the slaves was called the Zong and was in route to Jamaica from Africa. The captain, Luke Collingwood, overloaded his ship with slaves to increase profit. This resulted many things, which caused the death of many slaves before the actual massacre took place. Whether it be sickness, lack of food, or lack of water, many died which resulted in the captain’s decision to throw a significant number of slaves overboard. This massacre lasted over a period of days and near the end, the slaves themselves were throwing themselves over in an act of defiance. It is argued that there was enough water and resources to provide to the slaves, and there was no reason to throw the slaves overboard.

The captain continuously claimed insurance on the slaves, claiming that he was doing it in an effort to save the remaining slaves and crew onboard. A trial took place in 1783, to...

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Chronology
Posted by Paige Adams on Monday, April 12, 2021 - 17:42

Gothic architecture dates back to 1144 AD, when the first Gothic church was built, the Basilica of Saint Denis. Most of the first Gothic structures were built in Ile-de-France, close to Paris. The Saint Denis served as a model for Gothic architecture. Though the term ‘Gothic’ is derived from ‘Goth’ which described a barbaric tribe in Europe between the fifth to eighth century. The Romanesque architecture started before Gothic in 800 AD. It wasn’t until the 11th century did Gothic architecture begin to unravel. Starting from ribbed vaulting, pointed arches, and flying buttresses that were then added to cathedrals to make the buildings more majestic. It was a change from darkly lit churches, to stained glass windows with geometric and reticulated windows. Other key elements included pinnacles, window traceries, and mullions horizontal bars used for decoration. During the high of the Gothic Era during the 13th century, it was known as 'Rayonnant Gothic.' Rayonnant is...

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Map
Posted by Paesly Oswald on Monday, April 12, 2021 - 12:55

"The everlasting universe of things
Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves,
Now dark—now glittering—now reflecting gloom—
Now lending splendor, where from secret springs
The source of human thought its tribute brings
...

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Map
Posted by Paesly Oswald on Monday, April 12, 2021 - 12:55

"The everlasting universe of things
Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves,
Now dark—now glittering—now reflecting gloom—
Now lending splendor, where from secret springs
The source of human thought its tribute brings
...

more
Chronology
Posted by Monet Jorgenson on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 - 13:20

Percy Bysshe Shelley died on July 8th, 1822 at the age of 29. He died off the coast of the Gulf of Spezia, which is on the north-western coast of Italy and in the northern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea. His boat was overturned during a storm that is described as happening suddenly. Shelley and his wife, Mary Shelley, had a house on this Ligurian coast, and Percy was inspired by the views and began a poem called "The Triumph of Life" -- a bit ironic, isn't it? It seems that although Percy enjoyed the location at first, Mary did not enjoy it, and suffered a miscarriage that caused both of the parents some strife. Percy apparently was struggling and was seeing apparitions and having what could be described as hallucinations. He also attempted to get prussic acid -- enough for a lethal dose, but it is unclear if he meant to kill himself. He sailed down the coast on July 1st, and on July 8th made plans to return home -- still choosing to travel despite knowing the weather was not going to...

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Map
Posted by Monet Jorgenson on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 - 12:52

The Pump Room was a popular place in Bath and still is today. The thermal waters of Bath were a popular thing for people not only to bathe in but to drink, hence the name Bath. The water in Bath was thought to be healing, and people would come from around England to experience the healing waters. People would drink from the stream, and thus William Oliver (a doctor of the time) persuaded the city of Bath to build a building to shelter the drinkers. It was completed in 1706. The Pump Room became a popular place, not only to drink the waters but to promenade and walk with friends. Jane Austen describes the Pump Room in her novel Northanger Abbey as well as her novel Persuasion. It is described as a popular place there as well. People referred to attending the Pump Room as "taking the waters". It is interesting that they believed something was special about the waters of Bath, but indeed it might just be that people did not drink enough water at the time. We know now...

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Map
Posted by Jordan Larson on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 - 18:07

After throwing over the half the slaves overboard, the Zong arrived at Black River, Jamaica on December 22, 1781. Where their were once over 400 slaves aboard the ship, they arrived in port with only about 200. The remaing slaves aboard were sold once they arrived in Jamaica. This is an important place to mark because it is the first location of the Zong after the massacre. It currently has a Zong monument in remembrance of the massacure.

https://jis.gov.jm/enslaved-africans-of-the-zong-massacre-remembered/

Map
Posted by Paige Adams on Monday, February 8, 2021 - 22:33
Gallery Exhibit
Posted by Ashley Nadeau on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - 12:14

These images capture the complexities of the Romantic era. 

Map
Posted by Ashley Nadeau on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - 12:12

Pages

Individual Entries

Chronology Entry
Posted by Jade Davis on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 - 18:11
Chronology Entry
Posted by Jordan Larson on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 19:53
Chronology Entry
Posted by Jordan Larson on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 19:51
Place
Posted by Cheyenne Ingalls on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 13:02

Amiens Cathedral

Amiens, France

I would like to analyze this particular fine Gothic architecture of the era using elements of the fiction of Gothic. That may seem strange but I thought it was a fun metaphoric way of working. Gothic, for starters, is horror and romance blended. In this particular cathedral the way the materials that the building are made of have aged it gives it a dark mystique, however the intricate designing and arches gives it a very lacey appeal often associated with romanticism. The main character of a Gothic novel must be relatable but face the monster within themselves. The Cathedral is on the outside simple yet elegant, relatable to most architecture of that time. Then the inside is a church, perhaps not your classic “monster” however a larger greater supernatural power? Yes. The most intriguing part of this story is that Gothic novels...

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Posted by Briekel Stokes on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 01:23
Place
Posted by Tiffany Howard on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 - 16:18

St Peter's Field is located in Mancherster, England. It has since been renamed to St Peter's Square (not to be confused with St Peter's Square in Vatican City). It will be called St Peter's Field here on out.The most notable thing that happened here was the Peterloo Massacre in 1819. This event, that started as a protest, was sparked by a low economy. Food prices were high and there was an industrial depression. The workers wanted the right to vote. At the end of the fighting 9-17 people were killed (the number left dead is debated by many scholars) and hundreds were injured. Even though it only lasted ten minutes, it is known as one of the most gruesome scenes of that era, granting St Peter's Field a place in history. Over time, this massacre led to the citizens receiving the right to vote.

Sources:

“Peterloo Massacre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., ...

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Posted by Lindsay Reyes on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 - 00:44
Chronology Entry
Posted by Jacob Gibson on Monday, April 12, 2021 - 19:39
Posted by Melissa Strange on Monday, April 12, 2021 - 19:22
Chronology Entry
Posted by Paige Adams on Monday, April 12, 2021 - 18:16

Pages