Compare the life of a “free artist” of the Romantic period with the artist’s life in earlier periods

            The life of a “free artist” during the early 19th century Romantic period of literature, art and music was conceptualized in terms of the artist as a free person, an artist outside of society, often beset upon by his or her inner demons. In contrast, the Classical period that immediately preceded the Romantic period during the 18th century valued wit and repartee rather than inner self-expression. Romantic literature favored lyric poetry, for example, often used by Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats to express their inner feelings, away from society while the artist was in repose. In contrast, the previous Classical period of literature favored the use of heroic couplets, as deployed by Alexander Pope to satirize contemporary events with great literary style. Romanticism conceived of the free artist as writing or composing for his or her own pleasure, the Classical Period for the public’s pleasure.