Q:13 What are the chief features of Romantic criticism ?
The chief features of the new school of romantic criticism may be summarized as follows:
1- Romantic criticism ignores rules whether of Aristotle or Horace or of the French , and emphasizes that works of literature are to be judged on the basis of the impression they produce, and not with reference to any rules . It is impressionistic , and individualistic , and freedom of inquiry is its keynote .
2- It is concerned with the fundamentals, such as the nature of poetry and its functions and not merely with the problems of style diction or literary genres.
3- Emphasis is laid on imagination and emotion and not on reason and good sense .
4- New definitions of poetry are attempted . Poetry is no longer considered as mere imitation or invention but becomes the expression of emotion and imagination . Inspiration and intuition rather than adherence to rules are regarded as the true basis of creation .
5- pleasure rather than instruction become the end or function of poetry , If poetry instructs , it does so only through pleasure " Coleridge ". Poetry should transport and make people nobler and better through such transport . Its appeal should be to the heart and not to the head .
6- Imagination is emphasized both as the basis of creation and of judgment on what is created . It is imagination which leads to the production of great work of art .
7- Views on poetic diction and versification undergo a radical change . Simplicity is emphasized both in theme and treatment . 8- Romantic criticism is creative . It is as much the result of imagination as works of literature .