The Romantic Influence Author:Norris Houghton Romanticism burst upon 19th century Europe as a pent-up reactio against the Classicism which had dominated the arts for the two previous centuries. Reason yielded to emotion, mysticism replaced humanism, rigid form gave way to untrammeled freedom of expression. In their desire to create a new world, a world removed from everyday reality - the dr... more »amatists of this era produced some of the most outstanding literary masterpieces of all times.