Storia dell'Inghilterra dal XVIII al XIX secolo, Appunti di Inglese

Scarica Storia dell'Inghilterra dal XVIII al XIX secolo e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! The 18th and the 19th centuries Introduction Sir Walter Raleigh conquered the first English colony in America, Virginia, this was thank to the new control that UK gained with the defeat of the Spanish Armada. This defeat changed the history of the UK, and gave the UK the power of the sea. James I (James VI of Scotland) was considered one of the Pilgrim Father and established a new community in America, mainly composed by puritans, whose intent was to escape the UK. American Revolution American war of Independence (1773-1783). England lost American colonies and had to rebalance political views and foreign policy. George III succeeded to the throne to George II, which took part in a lot of international wars for colonies and trade, for example with Spain, France, India, Canada etcetera to add colonies to the list, but also for important political manners. William Pitt the Elder (prime minister) understood the importance of the colonies, essential to the UK because of the trade, to import new resources (raw materials), UK sold to the colonies the materials with taxes. The UK had colonies in America, Asia, Africa ect. Nearly 2\3 of the world was controlled by the English Empire. William Pitt the Elder is believed to be the builder, the creator of the English Empire. George III was the first Hanoverian to speak English, he wanted to rule, but also to reign, but he made a mistake, he decided to impose more and more taxes and duty to the colonies, limiting the power of the colonies, they had no representation in the parliament, so rebellions happened, in particular the Boston Tea party. The British thought that rebellions were intolerable, so every request by the Americans was turned down by making more and more laws and taxes. The First Continental Congress was the first step of the revolution. The Americans were divided into 2 groups: one thought they had the duty to help Britain, the other thought they should break every bond with the UK. The FCC signed their own declaration of Independence (4th July 1776). The 13 colonies were so strong and defeated the British Empire because they were supported by France and Spain. With the Treaty of Versailles 1738 the UK accepted the independence of the colonies but kept Canada as a colony. The French Revolution 1789-1794 The victory over Napoleon gave Britain power. The French revolution was against the old social value, it was influenced by the Enlightenment, which main ideas were equality, fraternity and liberty. The French Revolution was also an attack to the monarchy and aristocracy. The British supported what they were doing in France because they didn’t want the monarchy either. Edmund Burke was a whig, politician, writer and intellectual. He predicted the next step. He stated that everything would go to collapse into monarchy soon. He predicted military state, terror and monarchy. Thomas Paine believed that Burke was wrong. He supported ideas of liberty and a strong community. He was supported by workers and middle class. The British society was very interested in these French ideas. The reign of terror (1793-1794) and Britain was ready to go against France. Britain was worried that France would get power all over Europe. In addition to that they were worried of a revolution in Britain, because its ain idea was to end the monarchy. But then Napoleon took the power, so the British feared him, even more when he crowned himself emperor. Napoleon and France were defeated and the main square in London is called Trafalgar square. The Napoleonic Wars On land and sea. Lasted 22 years. - Invasion of Russia 1812 - Defeated by Austria, Russia and Prussia 1814 - He abdicated the throne and was exiled to the island of Elba 1814 - Returned to power, Hundred days' campaign 1815 - Defeated at the battle of Waterloo by allied armies under the command of the Duke of Wellington - Exiled to the island of Saint Helena At the Congress of Vienna 1815 the victorious nations re-established the old order in Europe and Britain gained Malta in the Mediterranean, colonies in the Pacific Ocean and in the Indian Ocean. The Industrial revolution England, thanks to the fall of Napoleon, had become the only leader for expansions all over the world and the only leader in Europe. The expansions in this period were mainly because of economical reasons, like for the trade, an element that made the industrial revolution because they could get raw materials, like coal, essential for economical growth, from all over the world. The British society before the industrial revolution was based on agriculture, then it became a manufacturing society, a dramatic change for people, mainly because of the exploitation of people. The richness in fact was based on the exploitation of people and of children. Workers were exploited because of the conditions in which they worked, the security and the working hours (16), it took years and years to make it go down to 10. Main features: - Classical forms used to express Romantic themes - Re-evaluation of the prominent role of nature over civilisation: nature is considered the right and ideal state of man in contrast with civilisation. - Exaltation of primitive life in contrast with the dehumanising effects of progress - Tendency to use a meditative tone - Rediscovery of Middle Ages - Treatment of unusual themes: the exotic, the strange, the sublime - Fascination for death, graveyards and ruins The Romantic Age Classicists Romantics Themes Universal themes Individual and its role in the universe, childhood, nature, role of imagination Types of poem Long poetic forms Short poems, narrative poems, romances, ballads Poetic forms Heroic couplet Blank verse (a type of poetry that does not rhyme) Language Highly ornate and artificial diction Everyday language The concept of beauty Beauty is harmony and emerges from the balance between different parts Associated with the sublime, the exotic or the irregular Two generations of romantic poets 1st Generation 2nd Generation Poets Coleridge, Wordsworth Byron, Keats, Shelley Where they lived They lived mainly in Britain They left England and lived in Mediterranean countries Aim of poetry Didactic Inspirational Political view Conservative Rebel Themes Simplicity, humble life Political ideas, classical ideas and beauty Setting Natural world, English rural world Varied Language Simple spontaneous Elaborate, complex, deep Common elements - Importance of imagination - Inspiration from Nature - Frequent references to supernatural - Expression of inner and personal feelings The Sublime Edmund Burke Sublime: extremely beautiful, enjoyable, satisfying. Sublime linked to terror, obscurity and darkness, astonishment linked to the greatness of Nature. Edmund Burke Irish, born in Dublin, went to Trinity college he was a philosopher, a politician and an orator. Ireland was a colony of the British Empire. He travelled to Europe and he wrote pamphlets (1757 -> “A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful”) 1765 -> member of the British Parliament -> wanted the independence. He also wrote 1790 -> “Reflections on the Revolution in France”. William Blake His masterpiece -> 2 collections of poems -> -songs of Innocence and Song of Experience. In songs of Innocence the narrator is a shepard who receives inspiration from for example a lamb, or a flower or children playing. The language used is simple, childlike (in both). All poems in Songs of Innocence have a counterpart in Songs of Experience. Songs of Innocence linked to childhood, innocence, purity and happiness, while Songs of Experience is linked to adulthood, a pessimistic view of life (it seems like we want to destroy the innocence of our childhood). Preface to the Lyrical Ballad William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge Collection of poems. Key features of the Romantic period. The majority of the poems are written by W. W.’s sister is also included in the team. Coleridge’s poems are only a few (4 ca.). W. and C. Are the Lake district poets. Nature is an uncontrollable force that dominates our lives. We can discover and explore our soul while in communication with Nature. Poetry is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes origin from emotions recollected in tranquillity. W. was born in the Lake District, but W. and C. are also called lake district poets because they decided to go there and to live there for some time. Poet: a man speaking to a man. He has a better knowledge of nature, a more comprehensive soul. A mediator between us and our emotions.