Introduction to German Romanticism

Abstract

Abstract These lines, from a poem by Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff, typify the poetry written in the period called German Romanticism, poetry full of rich nature images and vivid poetic sensibilities. In this chapter, we summarize the characteristics of the poetry of this period by identifying the predominant themes and images and by demonstrating those features that gave these poems their unique quality. We begin by making the same disclaimer found in every other introduction to German Romanticism, that the jumble of ideas and passions called German Romanticism is too complex to be easily described and that any attempt to categorize or explain this historical period risks oversimplification and even misinformation. We nevertheless include a chapter on this difficult topic because it is so important that performers of this quintessentially Romantic genre understand something of the spirit and historical con text in which these creative works were shaped. For many students, this may be the beginning of a lifelong study of the German Romantic mind and soul, and we hope to convey an approach to learning about this complex subject that will continue to serve performers for years to come.While it might seem easiest to define “romanticism” generally as a contrast to “classicism,” such labels tend to oversimplify the issues and mask the richness of the two historical periods and the creative forces at work within them.