R.J Thompson
British Literature
Ms. Wilson
Childish
Recollections
Differently
from the Neoclassical period of rational thought, the Romantic period was a
time period where thoughts, philosophies and ideas were dominated by
imagination and emotion. They valued the impulsive and idealistic events rather
than the planned and the practical. This period was about choosing intuition
over reason and beliefs over logic. It was full of irrational thoughts and
philosophies. It was a time period full of passion, especially for nature and
the past. Romantics believed in a society without oppression, only freedom.
They often tried not to understand their lives, but to come to terms with how
things were by looking deep into their inner life and thoughts. Their minds
were constantly thinking as they mentally strengthened themselves to live and
embrace the life around them. They valued the idea of the individual and that
each person lived their own life in their own way.
Historically, the
Romantic period was also a time in history where great industrial and colonial
changes were beginning to take place. Many romanticists turned to nature, inner
thoughts and memories to block out the oppression and changes that were going
on around them. With such a large period of growth comes large changes in power
that left many people of the era frightened, confused, and feeling disconnected
from society.
One piece that
fits into the Romantic period very nicely is the poem Childish Recollections.
Childish Recollections highlights the feelings of nostalgia of its author,
George Gordon (Lord Byron). His romantic ideas of youth and imagination are
written into Childish Recollections. He looks back fondly on memories of
playing sports as a child and writes a poem about his memories and emotions.
Romantics
believed in emotions and passion, all things that can be represented by youth. In
the poem, Gordon says “Oh! in the promise of thy early youth” which is just one
line that follows along with his reminiscence of his childhood. He looks back
at the promises of being young and the freedom that it holds. When you are
young your imagination can run wild and you are free to do and believe whatever
you want. Childhood holds so much potential for happiness and the possibilities
of the rest of your life seem endless. As a child, you are almost promised this
freedom of emotion and imagination, to use however you would like. Youth means
being care free and following your passions and dreams. In the case of George
Gordon, the passion of his youth was sports. Playing sports was the freedom of
his childhood that kept him feeling happy and alive. It had such a positive
influence on his life that he is able to look back at it with fond memories.
Another
theme that is a huge part of the poem Childish Recollections is the idea of
unity. Although traditionally the
Romantic period valued the individual, Gordon talks about the strong feeling of
family with his sports team. In the last line of the poem he says, “All, all
that brothers should be, but the name.” By this he means that his sports team
was as close to real brothers as you could get with the exception that they
didn’t share the same last name. They were a team, and experienced the promises
and freedom of childhood together. Much like a family, they shared emotions and
memories. They shared in their youth and as Gordon describes, “Our sports, our
studies, and our souls were one”. Together they dreamt and lived the wonders of
childhood through sports. Gordon shares this idea of togetherness and unity by
listing out numerous ways in which they worked together, “Together we impell'd
the flying ball, Together waited in our tutor's hall; Together join'd in
cricket's manly toil”. Together always, even though they were just children
they faced their world together and stuck by each other through the wonders of
youth.
When looking back
on his childhood he remembers the value of this family as being exceptional and
irreplaceable, which does follow the thought process of many Romantics. The
family that he gained through his sports was especially meaningful to him
because of his lack of a true family structure. When reflecting on these times
it is as if he tries to hint at the fact that these pleasures of childhood
can’t be compared to any other experiences. He speaks of it so fondly that you
can infer that his true passion of sports has not left him and that it will
forever make up a part of who he is internally. Like a true Romantic, his
nostalgia brings him happiness in remembering the times and triumphs of his
youth. Childish Recollections is full of passion, youth and insight into the
Romantic period and a few of the beliefs that helped to define this period.
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