What is Victor Hugo‟s definition of romanticism? ( MEG 102 ) ( DEFINITION OF ROMANTICISM )

Victor Hugo, the French writer and poet, was one of the key figures of the Romantic movement in France, and he offered his own definition of Romanticism in his preface to his play "Cromwell" (1827).

According to Hugo, Romanticism is "liberalism in literature." By this, he meant that Romanticism was a movement that championed individual freedom and expression, and that sought to break away from the strict rules and conventions of Classical literature.

Hugo believed that Romanticism was characterized by a focus on individualism, emotion, and imagination, and that it rejected the idea that literature should conform to predetermined rules and structures. He argued that Romantic literature should be free to explore the full range of human experience and emotion, and should be open to new and unconventional forms of expression.

Furthermore, Hugo believed that Romanticism was a response to the social and political changes of the time, and that it reflected a growing sense of disillusionment with the established order. He saw Romantic literature as a means of expressing the feelings and aspirations of a new generation of writers and thinkers, and as a way of challenging the status quo.

Overall, Hugo's definition of Romanticism emphasized its revolutionary and subversive nature, and helped to establish it as a powerful force in French and European literature and culture in the 19th century.