Romantic Period
The Romantic period started in the 18th century in England. The romantic period was a time of great change. The classical era, the time before the romantic period, had a lot of strict rules that many artist could not break. The romantic period challangened many artists to break away from that thinking and be free with their paintings and not to be afraid to try something new. Many composers and painters used this period to express cultural identity.
With the change happening,the style of music also changed. Many composers began to use new trends to fit the new current style. Composers tried new harmonies and tonal relationships. They used dissonance and chromaticism. Composers also tried to get new sounds with the instruments they already had. Symphonic music was a popular style during this time. This type of music told a story or had an artistic background to it. Some famous composers of this time were Carl Maria von Weber, Gaetano Donizetti and many more. Many painters during this time focused on imagination and emotion. Nature was a main focus point for painters. They viewed nature as uncontrollable power, unpredictable, and potential for cataclysmic extremes. |
Jane Austen
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Jane Austen was born to Cassandra and George Austen on December 16, 1775 in Steven-ton, Hampshire, England. She was the seventh child in her family. Both her parents were well known throughout the community. Her father was an Oxford educated rector for an Anglican parish. Austen's parents stressed onto their child the importance of learning and creative thinking. Growing up, Jane Austen and her siblings were encouraged to read from their fathers library. Jane and Cassandra, Jane's sister, we fairly close when they were growing up. The two acquired a prestigious education by going schooling with a tutor in Oxford, England. While at the school the two girls got typhoid fever. The girls mother sent rushed them back home. The girls got the opportunity to go back to boarding school, but within a short period of time the family could no longer afford the expense of sending both girls to boarding school. After that, Austen educated herself by reading books from her father's library. She was extremely fascinated by the stories she read that she began to write in bound notebooks. By 1790's she was working on her own novels. Jane Austen spent most her adult life helping her family. She enjoyed going to church, playing the piano, and socializing with neighbors. She spent most her her nights and weekends at cotillions and because of that she was a very good dancer. When she was not at the cotillions, she would read to her family her books or some, books from the shelf.
In 1801, Jane, along with her father, mother, and her sister Cassandra, moved to Bath, but in 1805 tragedy struck the family. Jane's father died that year of an illness. The death of her father thrust-ed them into financial problems. The three woman moved from place to place or rented flats. In 1809, three woman final settled into Jane's brother's, Edward, cottage in Chawton. At this point in Jane's life, she stated to anonymously publish her works. At the age of 41, Jane Austen began to have symptoms of Addison's disease. She did not let this set back stop her. She continued editing her works and publishing her works. Before she died, the disease progressed so much that she had to stop writing and in 1817 Jane Austen died in Winchester, Hampshire, England. Today, Jane Austen is considered one of the greatest writers in English history. Her style of writing intrigued many people and still do till this day. |
Jane Austen had a very unique style of writing which is what made her works so famous. Her style of writing consisted of a mixture of parody, burlesque, irony, free indirect speech, and realism. Austen uses parody and burlesque for a comical effect. She also uses irony to highlight social hypocrisy.
Austen also combined neoclassicism and romanticism in her writings. Neoclassicism encourages reason and restraint while Romanticism encouraged passion and imagination. Not very many people were able to incorporate both styles of writing, but that was one of Jane Austen's biggest strength. During her writing, Austen used sarcasm and wit in her writing. She was able to come up with the most dramatic scene and lead that up to a biting and satirical scene. This style of writing was used as mockery towards the society she lived in.
Austen also combined neoclassicism and romanticism in her writings. Neoclassicism encourages reason and restraint while Romanticism encouraged passion and imagination. Not very many people were able to incorporate both styles of writing, but that was one of Jane Austen's biggest strength. During her writing, Austen used sarcasm and wit in her writing. She was able to come up with the most dramatic scene and lead that up to a biting and satirical scene. This style of writing was used as mockery towards the society she lived in.