Romantische Ironie

Romantische Ironie denotes a method by which the Romantic writer can demonstrate his own superiority to his work, viz. by deliberately destroying or interrupting the illusion he has created. It was devised by F. Schlegel on the basis of the subjective Idealism of Fichte. The writer, the ego (das Ich), refuses to allow his work (which is part of the non-ego, Nicht-Ich) to determine his course, and maintains it in subordination by this device. Examples of Romantic irony are common, especially in the work of Schlegel, Tieck, Brentano, and Heine. See also Romantik, Die.