What are the chief characteristics of the Romantic period?

There are a few tell-tale characteristics of the Romantic
Period. many times people hear Romantic Period and believe that all of the texts during
this period were about love. While love may exist as a side note in the text, it is far
from a defining characteristic of the period.

1. Writers
and artists of the Romantic Period (1800-1860-depending on what school you adhere to)
created their works as an answer to the previous period (Age of Reason). Therefore, the
Romantics valued their own perceptions and feelings over ones which were "forced" upon
them by the preceding period.

2. In this quest for
individaul feelings came an new appreciation of nature and freedom to explore one's own
imagination. Writers, such as Washington Irving, and artists, such as Francisco Goya,
wished to show the emotion of their works by playing with the color and emotion of their
pieces.

3. Artists of this period also tended to focus on
symbolism and myth. This is explored through their own understanding of personal
perceptions of nature and the supernatural.