The Romantic Predicament

This book suggests that if we define Romanticism in terms of its historical situation, we find that it is no more subjective than classical art. Romantic artists did not choose their predicament, nor is their characteristic subjectivism the result of wilful narcissism. Romantic language, with its characteristic concentration on the image, like the generally 'personal' tone of its poetic products, is similarly responsive to historical the Romantic poet preys upon the outer in order to acquire the meaningfulness which was given in earlier literature.