The Enlightenment

Definition

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement that emerged in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. This period fostered a belief in human progress and the power of knowledge, leading to significant advancements in science, philosophy, and political thought, influencing literature and artistic expression profoundly.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Enlightenment laid the groundwork for modern democratic ideas, promoting concepts like liberty, equality, and fraternity.
2. Philosophers such as John Locke and Voltaire challenged traditional authority, advocating for civil rights and freedom of thought.
3. The movement influenced Romantic poets who incorporated mythological imagery to express emotion and individuality in their work.
4. The Enlightenment's focus on reason led to scientific advancements, which often intersected with the creative expressions found in literature.
5. Literary works during the Enlightenment reflected themes of human rights and personal freedom, laying the foundation for future social movements.

Review Questions

• How did the Enlightenment influence the themes present in Romantic poetry?
  • The Enlightenment encouraged poets to explore themes of individualism, emotion, and nature, diverging from the strict rationalism of earlier periods. Romantic poets often drew on mythological imagery to convey deep emotions and highlight the human experience. By integrating these themes, they expressed a new appreciation for personal freedom and connection to nature, showcasing the impact of Enlightenment thought on their work.
• Discuss how key Enlightenment thinkers challenged traditional authority and how this influenced subsequent literary movements.
  • Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau and Montesquieu questioned established norms by advocating for individual rights and political reform. Their ideas inspired later literary movements such as Romanticism, which reacted against Enlightenment rationalism by emphasizing emotion and creativity. This shift allowed poets to infuse their works with mythological references that resonated with broader social changes driven by Enlightenment ideals.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of the Enlightenment on contemporary literature and its relationship with mythological imagery in Romantic poetry.
  • The Enlightenment has left an indelible mark on contemporary literature by instilling values of reason, freedom, and individual expression that continue to resonate today. The Romantic poets harnessed these ideals while embracing mythological imagery as a means to explore complex emotional landscapes. This blend of enlightenment thought with myth allows modern writers to reflect on humanity's struggles for identity and meaning amidst an ever-changing world, demonstrating the continued relevance of these historical movements.

Related terms

Rationalism: A philosophical approach that emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge, often associated with thinkers like René Descartes.

Romanticism:

An artistic and literary movement that arose as a reaction against the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, celebrating emotion, nature, and individual experience.

Deism: A belief system that emerged during the Enlightenment advocating for a rational religion based on natural laws and ethics rather than revelation or dogma.