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Literary Movements from the 15th Century to the 21st Century

Literary Movements

Definition

Definition
an artistic current that groups together writers who share common ideas, influences, or styles. These movements follow one another over time, marking periods in the history of literature.

1. The Renaissance (15th-16th centuries)

a cultural, artistic, and literary movement developed in Europe from the 15th to the 16th century. It marks

*a revival of arts and letters after the Middle Ages.

*Renaissance writers draw inspiration:

-from ancient texts and introduce new forms of writing

(examples include the sonnet and the essay).

2. Classicism (17th century)

a movement that advocates respect for the rules and models of Greco-Roman antiquity. Classical writers, such as Molière and Racine in France, prioritize order, reason, and balance in their works. Classicism is characterized by

  • its sober style,
  • its pursuit of the ideal and moral values.

3. The Enlightenment (18th century)

a movement intellectual and philosophical that emerged in the 18th century in Europe. Enlightenment writers, such as Voltaire and Rousseau, advocate for freedom, tolerance, reason, and critique of society.


Their works, such as philosophical essays, encyclopedias, and epistolary novels contribute:

-----> to spreading Enlightenment ideas

------> to questioning established powers.

4. Romanticism (19th century)

a movement that emphasizes the expression of emotions, imagination, and subjectivity.

Romantic writers, such as Victor Hugo and Emily Brontë, celebrate nature, passionate love, and the quest for the ideal. Their works are distinguished by:

  • their lyricism
  • their exaltation of feelings.

5. Realism (mid-19th century)

 a movement artistic and literary appeared in France around 1850. Born out of the need to react against the romantic sentimentality

It is characterized by:

an attitude of the artist towards reality --> aiming to represent as faithfully as possible reality, with subjects and characters chosen from themiddle or working classes.

The novel thus enters the modern age and can now address themes such as:

  • wage labor,
  • marital relationships,
  • social confrontations.


6. Symbolism (end of the 19th century)

a movement that favors symbols and correspondences to express ideas and emotions.

Symbolist writers, such as Charles Baudelaire and Stéphane Mallarmé, seek to evoke invisible realities and provoke new sensations in the reader.

Their works are distinguished by their:

  • hermeticism
  • search for the absolute.

7. Surrealism (20th century)

a movement artistic and literary that emerged at the beginning of the 20th century.

Surrealist writers, such as André Breton and Paul Éluard, explore the unconscious, dreams, and the irrational in their works.

Surrealism is characterized by its:

  • rejection of conventions
  • its freedom of expression
  • its exploration of altered states of consciousness.

8. Contemporary Literature (21st century)

21st century contemporary literature is marked by a variety of currents and styles.

Writers are exploring new subjects, new forms of writing, and using new technologies to spread their works.

The themes addressed may include:

  • social issues
  • political
  • environmental
  • anthropological issues of our time.

Literary Movements from the 15th Century to the 21st Century

Literary Movements

Definition

Definition
an artistic current that groups together writers who share common ideas, influences, or styles. These movements follow one another over time, marking periods in the history of literature.

1. The Renaissance (15th-16th centuries)

a cultural, artistic, and literary movement developed in Europe from the 15th to the 16th century. It marks

*a revival of arts and letters after the Middle Ages.

*Renaissance writers draw inspiration:

-from ancient texts and introduce new forms of writing

(examples include the sonnet and the essay).

2. Classicism (17th century)

a movement that advocates respect for the rules and models of Greco-Roman antiquity. Classical writers, such as Molière and Racine in France, prioritize order, reason, and balance in their works. Classicism is characterized by

  • its sober style,
  • its pursuit of the ideal and moral values.

3. The Enlightenment (18th century)

a movement intellectual and philosophical that emerged in the 18th century in Europe. Enlightenment writers, such as Voltaire and Rousseau, advocate for freedom, tolerance, reason, and critique of society.


Their works, such as philosophical essays, encyclopedias, and epistolary novels contribute:

-----> to spreading Enlightenment ideas

------> to questioning established powers.

4. Romanticism (19th century)

a movement that emphasizes the expression of emotions, imagination, and subjectivity.

Romantic writers, such as Victor Hugo and Emily Brontë, celebrate nature, passionate love, and the quest for the ideal. Their works are distinguished by:

  • their lyricism
  • their exaltation of feelings.

5. Realism (mid-19th century)

 a movement artistic and literary appeared in France around 1850. Born out of the need to react against the romantic sentimentality

It is characterized by:

an attitude of the artist towards reality --> aiming to represent as faithfully as possible reality, with subjects and characters chosen from themiddle or working classes.

The novel thus enters the modern age and can now address themes such as:

  • wage labor,
  • marital relationships,
  • social confrontations.


6. Symbolism (end of the 19th century)

a movement that favors symbols and correspondences to express ideas and emotions.

Symbolist writers, such as Charles Baudelaire and Stéphane Mallarmé, seek to evoke invisible realities and provoke new sensations in the reader.

Their works are distinguished by their:

  • hermeticism
  • search for the absolute.

7. Surrealism (20th century)

a movement artistic and literary that emerged at the beginning of the 20th century.

Surrealist writers, such as André Breton and Paul Éluard, explore the unconscious, dreams, and the irrational in their works.

Surrealism is characterized by its:

  • rejection of conventions
  • its freedom of expression
  • its exploration of altered states of consciousness.

8. Contemporary Literature (21st century)

21st century contemporary literature is marked by a variety of currents and styles.

Writers are exploring new subjects, new forms of writing, and using new technologies to spread their works.

The themes addressed may include:

  • social issues
  • political
  • environmental
  • anthropological issues of our time.
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