Back to: Literary Movements in English Literature
Table of Contents
Introduction
Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood was a prominent artistic movement that emerged during the Victorian Age in the mid-19th century, particularly in the year 1848. It rose to its significance in England and aimed to bring back poetic style before the period of Raphael and the High Renaissance.
Characteristics of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
Aestheticism
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood focused a lot on aestheticism. Fascinated with the Medieval Period, they produced art and literature for whom beauty was pivotal.
Realism
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood also shunned Victorian ideals of art and instead valued realism. This was brought out especially with respect to nature.
Emotion
Like the Romantics, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood too gave a lot of emphasis on emotion. As mentioned before, they rejected rationality and were focused on the creation of intense emotion for the reader.
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Major Poets Lists and Their Important Works
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Rossetti perhaps was the most prominent of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He was known for his collection of sonnets “The House of Life”.
Christina Rossetti
Sister of Dante Rossetti, Christina Rossetti was also an eminent member of the brotherhood. She is renowned for her magnum opus work “Goblin Market”.
Algernon Charles Swinburne
Swinburne too was a notable member. Famous works of his include his collection “Poems and Ballads” and his tragedy “Atlanta in Caldyon”, known for its Greek themes.
Conclusion
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood hence was an important movement during the Victorian Age, the works of whom are celebrated till date.
