Influences of the Romantic PeriodRomanticism arose in the late 18th century and flourished in the early and mid-19th century. Romanticism emphasized the irrational, the imaginative, the personal, the spontaneous, the emotional, the visionary, the transcendental, and the individual. Romanticism is often seen as a rejection of the ideologies of classicism and neoclassicism, namely calm, order, harmony, idealization, rationality and balance. Some characteristics of Romanticism include: emotion over reason, senses over intellect, love of nature, use of the hero and the larger-than-life figure in general, emphasis on imagination as a gateway to spiritual truth, and interest in popular culture. Romanticism was preceded by related developments in the mid-18th century, referred to as “pre-romanticism.” A pre-Romantic style was Medieval Romanticism, from which Romanticism takes its name. The medieval romance was a tale that emphasized the exotic, the mysterious, and individual heroism. This style contrasted with the classical forms of literature then prevalent such as French neoclassical tragedy. But this new emotional literary expression would be a key part of literature during the Romantic (British) era. Literature during the Romantic era was influenced by politics and major historical events and social reforms, religion, science, economics, art, and music. The literature of the Romantic Era was greatly influenced by the politics, major events, and social reforms of the time, the most notable being the French Revolution of 1789, which is typically marked as the beginning of this period. Many authors of the time were attracted by the ideal of universal equality and the abandonment of monarchy in favor of democracy. as the French Revolution, the changing English urban economy, and the divergent religions that came onto the scene influenced the writers of the period. These authors were also influenced by the ideology that was created; the new belief that placed more value on imagination than science and placed more emphasis on emotion than reason. A newfound freedom gave way to innovations in art and music. All of these factors combined to influence authors, playwrights, and poets. The result was a major change in literature. This change enabled the transition from the calm structure of classical writing to the imaginative and emotional writing that is still prized today. All these developments have led to a new season of writing, the Romantic period without which perhaps we would not have a Mary Shelley, or the modern literature we have today..