1. Dark Romantics Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, Irving and a few living people too

2. Characteristics 19 th century America (1800s) 19 th century America (1800s) Intense period of EMOTION Intense period of EMOTION Very pessimistic Very pessimistic Individuals prone to SIN and SELF-DESTRUCTION! Individuals prone to SIN and SELF-DESTRUCTION! Inherently evil Inherently evil

3. Frequent emotions/instances Death, sin, pain, the loss of a love one, divorce, heart-ache, hardship, mystery, obsession, obscurity, tragedy, madness, guilt, evil, darkness, decay, materialism, greed Death, sin, pain, the loss of a love one, divorce, heart-ache, hardship, mystery, obsession, obscurity, tragedy, madness, guilt, evil, darkness, decay, materialism, greed

4. Also includes “GOTHIC” characteristics Setting is in bleak or remote places Setting is in bleak or remote places Plot involves morbid or violent incidents Plot involves morbid or violent incidents Characters are in psychological and/or physical torment Characters are in psychological and/or physical torment A supernatural or otherworldly element is often present A supernatural or otherworldly element is often present

5. Nathaniel Hawthorne Believed evil was a dominant force in the world Believed evil was a dominant force in the world Wrote The Scarlet Letter and “The Minister’s Black Veil” Wrote The Scarlet Letter and “The Minister’s Black Veil”

6. Herman Melville Wrote Moby-Dick which is widely regarded as one of the finest novels in all of American Literature Wrote Moby-Dick which is widely regarded as one of the finest novels in all of American Literature Bartleby the Scrivener Bartleby the Scrivener The Lightning Rod Man The Lightning Rod Man The Confidence Man The Confidence Man Billy Budd Billy Budd Typee Typee

7. Edgar Allan Poe Wrote “The Raven” Wrote “The Raven” Widely accepted as the inventor of the detective story Widely accepted as the inventor of the detective story Known as an eccentric writer – his dark and dismal life probably had something to do with it Known as an eccentric writer – his dark and dismal life probably had something to do with it The Cask of Amontillado The Cask of Amontillado The Black Cat The Black Cat The Fall of the House of Usher The Fall of the House of Usher The Tell-Tale Heart The Tell-Tale Heart The Murders in the Rue Morgue The Murders in the Rue Morgue