Belief in the supernatural; personification
a) Classical
b) Romantic
c) Classical or Romantic
d) Neither Classical nor Romantic
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is b) Romantic.
Romanticism, a literary and artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th century and peaked in the early 19th century, is characterized by an emphasis on imagination, emotion, and the supernatural. This movement often focused on the expression of individual feelings, a fascination with nature, and an exploration of the irrational, mystical, and supernatural aspects of life. Romantic thinkers and artists rejected the rationalism and strict rules of Classicism, seeking to break free from structured, formal representations of reality.
Belief in the supernatural was a significant aspect of Romanticism. Romantic writers, poets, and artists frequently used supernatural themes and motifs, exploring the mystical, fantastical, and otherworldly. They believed that the natural world was filled with mysterious forces and that there was more to reality than what could be explained by science or reason. This idea is evident in the works of writers such as Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein), Samuel Taylor Coleridge (with his poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner), and Edgar Allan Poe (notable for his stories of horror and the supernatural).
Personification, or giving human qualities to non-human entities, was also a common literary device in Romantic works. This technique allowed authors to connect with their audiences on an emotional level by making abstract ideas or natural elements more relatable and vivid. For example, poets might personify elements of nature, like the wind or the moon, to convey complex emotions and ideas.
In contrast, Classical literature, which came before Romanticism, emphasized reason, order, and clarity. Classical writers focused on themes like rationality and moral virtues, often using gods and mythological figures symbolically, but rarely engaged in personifying natural forces in the same way that Romantic writers did.
Thus, belief in the supernatural and the frequent use of personification align more closely with the Romantic movement.