Dark Romanticism 1840-1865

Definition of Dark Romanticism A phenomenon or a literary and historical movement, wherein authors and poets revolted against the classical ways of writing and expression

Characteristics of Dark Romanticism Supernatural Sin Guilt Suspense Evil Madness Dark Romanticism was a reaction to Transcendentalism. Dark Romantics found Transcendentalism too optimistic

Beliefs of the Dark Romantics Dark Romantics are much less confident about the idea that the way to reality is through intuition. Presents individuals as prone to sin and self- destruction, not possessing divinity and wisdom. Frequently shows individuals failing in their attempts to make changes for the better. Romantics and Dark Romantics both believe that nature is a deeply spiritual force, however, Dark Romanticism views nature as sinister and evil. When nature does reveal truth to man, its revelations are pessimistic and soul-crushing.

Common Characteristics One of the characteristics that they had in common with the Romantics was the belief that emotions, and intuitions meant for a lot, and accounted for more than logical reasoning. They paid a lot of attention to the many mysteries of life that were impossible to explain by reasoning. Despite their focus on the morbid and tragic, they never were cynical, nor did they emphasize on the same. Their showcase of the evil of human beings was a tribute to the struggles that human beings overcame in their life.

Poetry Qualities Internal Rhyme: Word in middle of line rhymes with word at end of line End Rhyme: Ends of multiple lines rhyme Alliteration: Repetition of sounds at the beginning of words Onomatopoeia: Sound of word mimics its meaning

Gothic Story Qualities Mysterious Settings “Trick” the reader Elements of the bizarre and supernatural (mystical) Enter a world of imagination Gothic literature is a genre that combines elements of both horror and romance. Works of the genre commonly aim to inspire terror, including through accounts of the macabre and supernatural, haunted structures, and the search for identity; critics often note gothic fiction's "overly melodramatic scenarios and utterly predictable plots.

Main Writers Edgar Allan Poe Nathaniel Hawthorne Herman Melville Considered the main author within this sub genre Strongly disliked Transcendentalism Writing explored the psychology of man, including the perverse and self-destructive nature of the conscious and subconscious mind Nathaniel Hawthorne Dark Romantic with closest ties to Transcendentalism Lived in the community before becoming troubled by the movement Herman Melville Most known for Moby Dick

Egdar Allan Poe Born Edgar Poe in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809 Known as the American Shakespeare Poe created or mastered the short story, detective fiction, science fiction, lyric poetry and the horror story. Widely acknowledged as the creator of the modern detective story Enlisted in the Army after attending the second class at the University of Virginia. Later attended and was expelled from West Point Lived in Baltimore and was the editor of the Southern Literary Messenger Battled poverty, gambling, alcohol, and depression Died at age forty alone in Baltimore – even his family did not know of his death until they read about it in the paper

Nathaniel Hawthorne Born July 4, 1804 Attended Bowdin College In 1836 Hawthorne served as the editor of the American Magazine of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge. He held various government positions that basically allowed him to support his family while writing. Hawthorne wrote in the comparative obscurity of what he called his "owl's nest" in the family home. As he looked back on this period of his life, he wrote: "I have not lived, but only dreamed about living". Married illustrator and transcendentalist Sophia Peabody. Joined the transcendentalist Utopian community at Brook Farm in 1841 not because he agreed with the experiment but because it helped him save money to marry Sophia Died on May 18, 1864

Herman Melville Herman Melville was born in New York City on August 1, 1819 Melville attended the Albany Academy where he studied the classics Most well-known for writing Moby Dick Died in September 1891 His professional writing career is said to have ended in 1866 and he became a customs house official in New York for 19 years.

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