1. Dark (Gothic) Romanticism
Edgar Allan Poe

2. Which Poe texts do you know?
What common elements are present?

3. Dark Romanticism Subgenre of Romanticism
Emerged during the Transcendentalist movement of the 19th Century
Romantics looked at the individual and saw hope while Gothic writers looked at the individual and saw potential evil.
The Gothic Romantic view countered the optimism of the Transcendentalist writers of the time.

4. Dark Romanticism Focus Style Philosophy
The fantastic, the demonic, and the insane
The conscious and subconscious mind
Style
Poetry, novels, short stories
Characters are often plagued by madness, psychological torment
Supernatural or other worldly elements are present
Plot involves morbid or violent events
Mysterious, evil tone
Settings are in bleak or remote places
Philosophy
The natural world is dark, decaying, and mysterious; when it does reveal truth to man, its revelations are evil
Individuals are prone to sin and self destruction, not as inherently possessing wisdom

5. The Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe
List three life experiences that would lead Poe to develop his horrific storylines.
List two characteristics of Poe’s writing that you can expect to see specifically in “The Masque of the Red Death” and/or “The Raven.”
 List two ways that Poe’s writing has had a lasting effect on literature and/or culture