Romanticism Literature

Gothic Literature Gothic literature arose as a turn against the ugly, defaced picture of the industrial revolution "Gothic novels were usually mysteries in which sinister and sometimes supernatural events occurred and were ultimately caused by some evil human action. The language was frequently overly dramatic and inflated" (Themes and Construction: Frankenstein)

Frankenstein Mary Shelley's Frankenstein depicts the supernatural events of an animate being created from inanimate materials Supernatural events as well as strange human behavior would soon become a major contributor for Gothic literature. http://www.solarnavigator.net/mythology/mythology_images/mary_shelley_author_frankenstein.jpg

Themes of Gothic Literature – Frankenstein Appearance also becomes a recurring theme throughout the novel as the creature (Frankenstein) is seen as a monster and no one bothers to see his inner humanistic traits that all of his harassers have http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PF_New%5C452006/PF_1947358~Illustration-from-Frankenstein-by-Mary-Shelley-Posters.jpg

Themes of Gothic Literature – The Hunchback of Notre Dame Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame represents how a beautiful soul can reside within a hideous exterior. Often throughout Gothic novels, grotesque elements were emphasized to show the rebellion against the strict practices of the enlightenment and times of the French Revolution.

Setting "The settings usually take place far away from reality or realistic portrayals of everyday life" (Themes and Construction: Frankenstein) Common setting used in Gothic literature were dark, ominous mansions, caves, or towns. http://www.suicidekiss.com/graphics/pictures/albums/gothic/Castle.jpg

Poetry Poetry during the time of the Romantic Era emphasized intuition over reason Often Romantic Poetry used classical forms and language in an effort to use “real” language It referred to the natural aspects of the world, focusing on feelings of sadness and grief

William Wordsworth Wrote Lyrical Ballads It is a collection of poems Marked the beginning of Romantic era "Imagination!- lifting up itself, before the eye and progress of my song, Like an unfathered vapour, here that power...“ This line shows how Romantic Poetry expresses real life with a twist William Wordsworth

Other Major Poets William Blake George Byron Samuel Coleridge Percy Shelley John Keats Their types of Poetry are odes, anthologies, and poems Poems were short and brief and some poets such as William Blake were also artists

Themes of Poetry Also, romantic poetry started to get away from talking about god and immortal figures One theme was that nature played an important role in poetry because it played a key role in spiritual revitalization Going along with nature was the theme that the filtering of natural emotion through the human mind was used to create art Samuel Coleridge