Key Difference – Romantic vs Victorian Poetry
Romantic and Victorian poetry are associated with the Romantic and Victorian periods in English literature, respectively. The key distinction between Romantic and Victorian poetry lies in how these two schools of poetry portrayed life, inventions, ideas, and philosophies. Romantic poetry was primarily influenced by nature and viewed it in an idealistic, romantic light, while Victorian poetry was largely influenced by the scientific and technological discoveries of the period.
What is Romantic Poetry?
The Romantic era began in the 1800s and ended around the 1830s. It is associated with an intellectual artistic movement that provided people with more knowledge and greater depth of education. Romantic poetry is idealistic, emotional, romantic, and heavily influenced by nature.
What is Victorian Poetry?
The Victorian Era began in 1837, following the Romantic era, and lasted until 1901. The Industrial Revolution, which took place during the Victorian period, had a significant impact on literature. Unlike Romantic artists, Victorian artists did not view nature in an emotional and idealistic light; instead, their treatment of nature was more realistic and influenced by the technological inventions of the era.
Romantic vs Victorian Poetry – Compare and Contrast
Some similarities between Romantic and Victorian poetry include maintaining formal structures, rhymes, meters, and both eras having male-dominated societies. Both periods of poetry also questioned the facts of formal religion and formed new ideas around it. The main difference between Romantic and Victorian poetry is the way these two portrayed life, new inventions, ideas, and philosophies in their poetry.
