Sturm und Drang (pronounced “shoorm oont drang,” German: [ˈʃtʊʁm ʔʊnt ˈdʁaŋ]; usually translated as “storm and stress”) was an early Romantic movement in German literature and music that happened from the late 1760s to the early 1780s. This movement focused on expressing personal feelings and intense emotions as a response to the strict rules of Enlightenment ideas and other artistic styles. The name comes from a play by Friedrich Maximilian Klinger, which was first performed by Abel Seyler’s famous theater group in 1777.
Gothic fiction, often called Gothic horror, especially in the 20th century, is a type of writing that focuses on fear and eerie, mysterious settings. The name comes from the Renaissance use of the word “Gothic,” which was used as a negative term to describe medieval and rough things. This term was linked to Gothic architecture and the Goths, an ancient group of people.
Sentimentalism is a literary style that focuses on emotions rather than reason. It appears in different forms, such as sentimental poetry, novels, and the German music movement called Empfindsamkeit. This style became popular in Europe during the Age of Enlightenment, partly because of ideas in philosophy.
Rococo, also called Roccoco, is a style of art, architecture, and decoration that began in France in the 1730s. It developed as a response to the style of King Louis XIV. Rococo is known for its detailed decoration, curved lines, asymmetrical designs, and small scale, which creates a feeling of closeness and warmth.
Amatory fiction is a type of British literature that became popular from about 1660 to 1730. It was shared among small groups of people and published with the goal of staying true to the writer’s ideas without outside criticism. This genre came before the invention of the novel and is considered an early form of the romance novel.
Classicism in the arts refers to a strong respect for the styles and standards of ancient Greece and Rome. These standards include a focus on clear shapes, simple designs, balanced proportions, and calm emotions. Classic art aims to be formal and controlled.
Euphuism is a fancy way of writing that was popular for a short time during the Elizabethan era. This style used a lot of alliteration, antithesis, balance, and simile, along with mentions of nature and stories from mythology. Euphuism was especially popular in the 1580s in the Elizabethan court.
The cavalier poets were a group of English poets from the 17th century who supported King Charles I during the English Civil War (1642–1651). King Charles I enjoyed the fine arts and encouraged poets who created the kind of art he appreciated. These poets, in return, aligned themselves with the king and his cause, becoming known as cavalier poets.
The term “Metaphysical poets” was created by the critic Samuel Johnson to describe a group of 17th-century English poets who were known for using clever comparisons in their work and focusing more on spoken words than musical or lyrical styles. These poets were not officially connected, and few were respected until the 20th century, when their importance was recognized. Because the group lacked a clear unity and had many different styles, some suggest that calling them “Baroque poets” after their time period might be more helpful.
The Précieuses was a 17th-century French literary style and movement. This style used elegant and fancy language, often found in the conversations of wealthy and educated people. It included long and roundabout ways of saying things, exaggerated statements, and word plays about romantic love.