The period from 1798 to 1832 in English literature is known as the Romantic Period, a phase marked by a profound shift from the structured, rational approach of the 18th century to an emphasis on emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature. This era is named after the Romantic movement, which celebrated personal imagination, intense feelings, and a deep appreciation for the natural world, while often reacting against industrialization and social constraints. The Romantic writers explored themes of freedom, heroism, and the sublime, prioritizing emotional authenticity over rigid classical forms.

• The Romantic Period began around 1798, with the publication of Wordsworth and Coleridge's "Lyrical Ballads", which is considered the starting point of English Romantic poetry. This work marked a conscious break from neoclassical traditions, focusing instead on ordinary life, nature, and personal emotion.

• Major poets of this period include William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats. Their works reflected a strong belief in individual creativity, imagination, and the transformative power of nature and emotions.

• The period extended up to 1832, which coincides with the Reform Act of 1832, marking social and political changes in England that influenced literature. By this time, the initial revolutionary zeal of Romanticism began to give way to Victorian concerns, though Romantic ideals continued to influence later writers.

• Central characteristics of Romantic literature include emphasis on emotion and imagination, celebration of nature, focus on individual experience and subjectivity, interest in the past, folklore, and exotic settings, and a fascination with heroism and rebellion against societal norms.

• Romantic writers often reacted against industrialization and urbanization, seeing nature as a source of spiritual renewal and truth, and explored the tension between society and the individual.

• Beyond poetry, the Romantic Period also influenced novels and essays, with writers like Mary Shelley producing imaginative and philosophical works, such as Frankenstein, reflecting Romantic ideals of creativity, moral questioning, and the sublime.

In summary, 1798–1832 is recognized as the Romantic Period because it was a transformative era in English literature that celebrated emotional depth, individual imagination, and a profound connection to nature, laying the foundation for modern literary sensibilities.