3. The term “romance” was first applied to these works by Shakespeare in the 19 th century by the Irish critic Edward Dowden.

4. Greek Romances Characterized by multiple story lines, tales- within-tales, adventures of young lovers, pseudo-historical backgrounds, and complex resolutions Aetheopica Clitophon and Leucippe Daphne and Chloe Aethiopica

5. Medieval and Early Modern Romances * represent a courtly and chivalric age of highly developed manners and civility * standard plot involves a single knight on a quest * emphasize courtly values such as honor, courage, and loyalty * interweaves natural and the supernatural * episodic in nature * conscious fictionality

6. Examples of medieval romance: –Sir Gawain and the Green Knight –Spenser’s The Fairie Queene –Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur –Sidney’s Arcadia

7. Shakespearean Romance A. Extraordinary evidence presented without regard for unities of time or place B. “Tragicomedy”  conflation of tragedy and comedy C. Theme concerns an ordeal undergone by the protagonist D. The daughter is instrumental in the comic resolution.

8. E. Emphasis on artifice F. Juxtaposition of narrative and dramatic modes G. Varying aesthetic distance H.Blatant use of spectacle

9. The romances are often seen as the climax of Shakespeare’s career and as a sign of his maturation because they overcome the simplicity of a world that is merely tragic or comic.