Compare and Contrast Essay: Romanticism, Realism and Modernism

Literature today is heavily influenced by literary movements from the past. Romanticism, realism, and modernism are just three influential movements we see in literature today. Romanticism led to a focus on individualism and freedom. Supernatural elements are also related to romanticism, and these can be found in modern-day movies such as Twilight. Realism represented everyday struggles and relatable characters, such as the ones found in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. On the other hand, modernism rejected realism and tradition to focus on finding new values. Common themes used during these movements can still be found in literature today. 

Romanticism rejected ideas that came before, focusing rather on nature, emotions, and individuals. “There would be something like impropriety in abruptly obtruding upon the public ... poems so materially different” (Wordsworth). Wordsworth was acknowledging that this type of writing was very different from the kind people were used to. Supernatural elements resulted from the Romanticism movement as well. Frankenstein is one piece of literature written during this era that includes supernatural elements and is still referenced today. Many popular books and movie franchises, such as Twilight, include the same supernatural elements found in literature from the romanticism movement.

Another influential movement was the realism movement. Writers began to focus on everyday problems, and they included characters that people could relate to. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen writes about social class and money. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (Austen 1). This line is referring to the struggle of marrying someone of a higher class or a lot of money. During this time period, women were expected to marry. Women often did not have careers, so they relied financially on their husbands, which is why it was so important for some to find a wealthy husband of a higher class. Similarly, Jane Eyre also talks about social class issues, as well as the limited role women had in society during this time period. Many people could relate to these problems, which is why realism was so popular. Literature that focuses on everyday problems is still popular today, including stories such as Pride and Prejudice.

Finally, the influence of modernism can still be seen today. Rejecting what came before it, modernism experimented with different writing styles. Authors often included strong themes that were not common in writing at the time. Gertrude Stein, a popular modernist writer, said that “If you are too careful, you are so occupied in being careful that you are sure to stumble over something” (Stein). Stein understood that you needed to take risks to progress and move forward, which is why she included ideas in her writings that were controversial at the time. Another modernist writer was William Faulkner. He once said, “I think that the writer is a perfect case of split personality. He is one thing when he is a writer and he is something else while he is a denizen of the world” (Faulkner). In his writings, you could see modernist ideas, as well as the influence of his upbringing. Modernism is still a popular idea today, as many like to write about change and ideas that can be deemed controversial. 

Literary movements from the past have influenced literature down to our day. Romanticism, realism, and modernism can still be seen in modern media. The texts we read in class are still well known today, and the ideas and themes they included are still common in literature. Many people enjoy reading about characters with struggles similar to their own. On the other hand, some prefer literature with new ideas that challenge past writings. These past literary movements have influenced many different kinds of literature so there are a variety of options to choose from.