A Dialectical Perspective on the Concept of Romanticism

Book excerpt: In this book, I present and discuss a dialectical rethinking of the concept of Romanticism. The viewpoint on the concept has undergone a significant transformation since Jerome McGann first challenged the traditional definition of Romanticism. This perspective expands the framework of the concept by generating a forum for further study on the literary canon of Romanticism. Instead of defining the concept solely on the similarities of the romantic writers, this book aims to step beyond theoretical limitations and provide an approach to the study of cultural theory which creates a continuous and evergrowing synthesis of thought.