Dark Romantic LiteratureDark Romantic Literature

1840-18601840-1860The grotesque, The grotesque,

gloomy, morbid and gloomy, morbid and fantasticfantastic

The WritersThe Writers

1.1. Herman MelvilleHerman Melville2.2. Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne3.3. Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

Interested in human psychology Interested in human psychology and the deep, dark workings of the and the deep, dark workings of the subconscious mind.subconscious mind.

Dark Romantics acknowledged the Dark Romantics acknowledged the evil in men and the horror of evil.evil in men and the horror of evil.

Rooted in French, German, and Rooted in French, German, and English Gothic lit.English Gothic lit.

Literature elementsLiterature elements

Settings: wild, haunted landscapes.Settings: wild, haunted landscapes. Supernatural events and mysterious Supernatural events and mysterious

Gothic/medieval castles.Gothic/medieval castles. Relied heavily upon symbolism; Relied heavily upon symbolism;

terror is often given a concrete form terror is often given a concrete form in a symbolin a symbol

The CharactersThe Characters Haunted, alienated, isolated, and Haunted, alienated, isolated, and obsessed charactersobsessed characters Protagonists pitted against unknowable Protagonists pitted against unknowable dark fates that in some mysterious way dark fates that in some mysterious way grow out of their deepest unconscious selvesgrow out of their deepest unconscious selves Alienation from society as a result of:Alienation from society as a result of:

– PridePride– SelfishnessSelfishness– Coldness of heartColdness of heart– Emergence of secret sin into the worldEmergence of secret sin into the world