Can Romanticism Be New? And how! And this literary direction is a living confirmation of this. How is it different from ordinary romanticism? Its more realistic. The direction of neo-romanticism appeared relatively recently, a little over 100 years ago. And quickly gained popularity among writers both in Russia and abroad.
What it is
Neo-romanticism is an artistic direction in literature. Its roots go back to the end of the 19th century. And more precisely, this direction has become popular at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries.
The concept
In a general sense, neo-romanticism is a revival of literary movements in the first half of the 19th century. It can also be described as the beginning of modernism.
Value
What are the main features of neo-romanticism? Its main feature is the traditions of the romantic direction of the beginning of the XIX century and realism in the art of the middle of the same period.
Speaking in a more understandable language, the works of neo-romanticism in literature are permeated with their heroic plots. This distinguishes them from works written by representatives of romanticism. Heroism imbued with the spirit of realism. The heroes of such works are required fortitude, willpower and optimism, so as not to "break" under the influence of life circumstances.
Heroism in reality
All the heroes of works in the style of neo-romanticism are people with great willpower. By their actions, they show the main and very important detail of the trend: inexhaustible optimism, coupled with the possibility of spiritual hardening of a person.
Neo-romanticism of the 20th century is not a contrast to an ordinary person of some ideal hero. This is a man turned into a hero. The works are based on ordinary life situations requiring bold decisions. Belief in one's own strength - is it not heroism? The ideal is found in reality.
Authors working in the style of neo-romanticism are sure that the view of reality depends on the angle from which they look at it. And everything can be seen in clear light. The heroes of their pen know how to look at the world through the prism of beauty. They see in it beauty and uniqueness.
Once looking at the environment differently, a person is able to discover in this world something intriguing, unusual and mysterious. Craving for adventure is the meaning of the life of the heroes of neo-romanticism. Each day is a different adventure. Stormy, bright and intense. It forces one to change one’s own life position, to look from a different angle not only at the world, but also at oneself.
Reader Value
The authors of this movement wanted to convey to their readers that neo-romanticism is a special art. And art is the key to understanding the meaning of life. Works in the spirit of neo-romanticism help the reader to reconsider their positions in life. Not only to read the book as a beautiful fantasy and to escape from the everyday hustle and bustle into the art world, but also to reflect on this world and change your attitude towards it.
Neo-romanticism in foreign literature
In the forefront of representatives of neo-romanticism Arthur Conan Doyle. World fame brought him the legendary Sherlock Holmes. And by the way, stories about the great detective are written in the style of neo-romanticism.
The main idea that Arthur Conan Doyle was guided by - the statement of justice.
Another outstanding author who has followed the course of neo-romanticism is Robert Louis Stevenson. His works, such as Treasure Island and House on the Dunes, most clearly reveal the author's style. Colorful and discreet. The heroes of the works are distinguished by their spiritual purity, sincerity and a little childish naivety.
Speaking of neo-romanticism, Jack London cannot be ignored. His collection of short stories "Martin Eden" became the creative peak of the writer. As the author himself spoke about this novel: "The tragedy of a loner trying to instill truth in the world."
Jules Verne, known to every schoolboy for his novels “Children of Captain Grant” and “Fifteen Years Captain”, is also a vocal supporter of neo-romanticism.
Rudyard Kipling, whom we know thanks to the famous Jungle Book, wrote an equally outstanding work. “Kim” is a story about a teenager traveling in India in the company of the old Lama. Dangerous and mysterious adventures, deadly battles and knowledge of all the wisdom of the East - are completely in the spirit of the neo-romantic movement.
Russian writers
Neo-romanticism in Russian literature did not go unnoticed. The early works of Maxim Gorky, for example, are a vivid confirmation of this. Recall Old Woman Isergil. The heroes of Danko and Larra, how similar they are: both are strong personalities, striving for freedom, looking for something new. They hate responsibility, repel it, considering it a means of pressure on a person. They are opposed to the crowd of "gray mediocrity." That is, a crowd of slaves. And the crowd hates them for that. Because Danko and Larra are taller than them, they are braver and not afraid to challenge the old, familiar and destructive.
What ends the fate of the heroes? The crowd destroys both Danko and Larra.
What about Alexander Green? One of his best novels - “Running on the Waves” - is what is the unconditional course of neo-romanticism. Despite the fact that Green is the author of science fiction and adventure, in this novel you can clearly trace the lines characteristic of his works. Those same “green ones,” as readers call them. Here they open up especially brightly. The novel is full of heroes and events, but an attentive reader will notice a subtle thought that goes a solid line through the entire work. What is she like? The search for the essence of eternal questions that relate to the vital foundations of each person.
Or "Scarlet Sails" - an extravaganza in which the girl Assol was waiting for her prince from across the sea. She dreamed that he would sail on a ship. Assol was laughed at, and she overcame adversity. And, in spite of everything, she waited for the handsome prince, who sailed on a ship with red sails.
This novel makes you believe in a miracle. No matter what obstacles stand in our way, no matter how we relate to our dreams, we must not retreat. The main thing is to believe.
And the last novel by Alexander Green, which opens one of the sides of a crazy world - "The Shining World", which tells about Drud. This man knew how to fly, and the people who rule the world kill him. And shining with colors, such a juicy and bright world suddenly shows its cruel and black side, not at all romantic. People killed the flight, they killed the dream.
Alexander Kuprin, Nikolai Gumilev, Vladimir Nabokov are classics who worked in the style of neo-romanticism. Russian classics, not afraid to backtrack from the usual idea of romanticism, to follow something new. Just like the Gorky Danko and Larra.
Conclusion
We examined in detail the concept of neo-romanticism.
The main idea of the article: neo-romanticism is the literary movement of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, in which romanticism and realism were combined . This direction allows you to turn an ordinary person into a hero, see heroism in everyday life.
Works written in the style of neo-romanticism are good in a special way. It is difficult to describe in words, you need to read them and try to look at the world from a different angle.