Dark RomanticismDark Romanticism

Romanticism…with a kickRomanticism…with a kick►This era in This era in

American Literary American Literary history is…weirdhistory is…weird

►The writers write The writers write similar to similar to RomanticismRomanticism

►Excess in NatureExcess in Nature►Lots of emotion Lots of emotion ►Symbols aplentySymbols aplenty► Just slightly Just slightly

different….different….

GothicGothic► There are modern There are modern

adaptations of the term adaptations of the term “gothic”“gothic”

► Gothic – literature that Gothic – literature that combine elements of both combine elements of both Romanticism and Horror; Romanticism and Horror; exploration of the exploration of the surrealism of human surrealism of human naturenature

► Usually these elements Usually these elements combine to form combine to form mysteries, ghost stories, mysteries, ghost stories, spiritual awakenings, spiritual awakenings, delving into the “sublime”delving into the “sublime”

► Gothic does not mean Gothic does not mean evil, however this genre is evil, however this genre is where we start seeing where we start seeing actual “villains”actual “villains”

On the Dark SideOn the Dark Side

►Dark Romantics Dark Romantics explore the dark side explore the dark side of human natureof human nature

►Murder, sin, corruption, Murder, sin, corruption, darkness of nature, darkness of nature, animals, weather…animals, weather…

►Main characters are Main characters are deeply troubled…or deeply troubled…or will deeply trouble will deeply trouble anotheranother

►Not about religion…Not about religion…rather, more science rather, more science ledled

Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne

► 7/4/1804 – 5/19/18647/4/1804 – 5/19/1864► Hawthorne belongs to Hawthorne belongs to

the Dark Romantics. the Dark Romantics. ► Novels and short stories Novels and short stories

all go into the dark side all go into the dark side of human natureof human nature

► The Minister’s Black VeilThe Minister’s Black Veil► The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter► Considered the greatest Considered the greatest

American writerAmerican writer

Edgar Allen PoeEdgar Allen Poe

► 1/19/1809 – 10/7/18491/19/1809 – 10/7/1849► Poe’s writings are Poe’s writings are

synonymous with horror synonymous with horror and the horror genreand the horror genre

► Bleak imagery and Bleak imagery and bleak outlook on lifebleak outlook on life

► You can bet that if you You can bet that if you are reading one of his are reading one of his stories, it deals with stories, it deals with death and/or the death and/or the macabre macabre

►Macabre – Grim/ghastly Macabre – Grim/ghastly atmosphereatmosphere

His life may explain itHis life may explain it► Early in his life, his mother Early in his life, his mother

died and his father left the died and his father left the familyfamily

► He was adopted by the He was adopted by the “Allan” family who refused “Allan” family who refused to financially back Poeto financially back Poe

► After publishing “The After publishing “The Raven” in 1845, his wife of Raven” in 1845, his wife of 10 years died10 years died

► His writing style was His writing style was based on writing alone, based on writing alone, secluding himself from his secluding himself from his familyfamily

► Because of this, his life Because of this, his life was not very financially was not very financially successful and very successful and very random with living random with living arrangementsarrangements

His DeathHis Death►He was found, face down and dead in a He was found, face down and dead in a

ditch on 10/7/1849ditch on 10/7/1849► Journal: Write a paragraph chronicling how Journal: Write a paragraph chronicling how

you think that he met his end, given his you think that he met his end, given his grim and disturbing demeanor coupled with grim and disturbing demeanor coupled with his very dark and foreboding life. A his very dark and foreboding life. A paragraph means 5 sentences!paragraph means 5 sentences!