The first associations
that come to mind when I hear word “romantic” are hopeless romantic beliefs of
true love, individualism, and self-centered and self-exploring poetry of
Romanticism. Speaking for myself, word “romantic” is closely associated with poet
Laza Kostić and his works, especially poem “Santa Maria Della Salute”.
Romanticism is
characteristic for appreciation of the beauties of nature, general exaltation
of emotion over reason and of the senses over intellect. The subject’s attention
in poems in Romanticism is turning in upon the subject himself and heightens
examination of human personality, its moods and a focus on his passions and
inner struggles. Mine ideas mostly relate to the emotions and individualistic,
self-centered aspects of romantic poetry.
Meter (or foot) and structure
of the poem could have a great impact on the meaning or ideas of the poem. Both
meter and structure create atmosphere, set particular, desired tone, and create
the poetic pictures which help reader relate to the author’s idea, visualizing
and feeling emotions or sensations that he wants to show.
In romantic are, poets
had and intention of making structural organization of the poem look
effortless, but they actually paid lot of attention to it. The meter creates
the desired rhythm that is in sync with the theme. For example, Byron uses
iambic rhythm in song “She Walks in Beauty” to achieve effortless tone (sound achieved
by meter and rhyme) as the beauty of the lady is effortless and graceful. Apart
for love poems, he also uses meter to create the sensation of wild passion,
disorder and chaos which were also characteristic for the Romantic era.
