1. Romantic Period and Gothic Literature

2. Romantic period existed around the turn of the 19th century to around the 1830’s.
It was a response to the period of Reformation that followed the Renaissance period
The period of Reformation was marked by logic and reason.

3. Characteristics Interest in the common man and childhood:
Natural good in people is corrupted by urban life and civilization. Believed in the noble savage (think Tarzan). Children were precious

4. Strong senses, emotions, and feelings
Knowledge is gained through intuition and not deduction

5. Awe of nature:
Nature was a powerful, healing force.

6. Celebration of the individual:
Elevated the achievements of the misunderstood, heroic individual outcast.
Les Miserables, Frankenstein, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

7. Gothic Literature
A subcategory of the Romantic period

8. Characteristics Gloomy, decaying setting. Supernatural beings
Curses and prophecies
Fascination with the past
The doppelganger: apparition/double
Nature as a destructive force used to punish.
Forbidden knowledge

9. Epistolary Novel: Story told through letters.