Unit #3 Romantic and Gothic
Literature
Romanticism
A movement away from thinking and
reasoning, instead the writing focuses on
feelings and gut instincts.
Romanticism
The writing of
this time period
was typically
haunting short
fiction and the
“romance” novel.
Romantic Characteristics
Spiritual elements are
always present
(God, Devil, etc.)
Romantic Characteristics
Supernatural is
present
Romantic Characteristics
If you are rich
and powerful,
then you had to
do something
bad to get
there.
Money corrupts
Institutions are evil. i.e. banks,
schools, etc.
Romantic Characteristics
It is either
good or evil.
No gray area.
Washington Irving
The first
internationally
famous
American
author.
Took a lot of
folktales from
around the
world and
adapted them
so that they
were
“American.”
Washington Irving
Pseudonym – a false name, or a pen name.
Washington Irving had several of them.
Diedrick
Knickerbocker
Geoffrey Crayon
Johnathon Oldstyle
Rip Van Winkle
He wrote:
Rip Van Winkle – the
story of a man who falls
asleep for 20 years and
wakes up after the
American Revolution.
The Devil and Tom Walker
He wrote: The Devil and
Tom Walker
Faust Legend – a story in
which a character sells
their soul for earthy
benefit.
He Wrote: The
Legend of Sleepy
Hollow – The tale
of the headless
horseman.
Author of Moby
Dick (1850)
A book about
Captain Ahab’s quest to
destroy the white sperm
whale that took his leg.
Moby Dick
It’s about more than just a
whale.
It is controversial because
of Ahab’s war against God
and issues of
homosexuality and sex in
general.
Gothic Literature Characteristics
Remote and desolate settings
I like Castles.
Gothic Literature Characteristics
Characters are in either physical or psychological pain.
If I won the
lottery, I’d buy
this castle.
Gothic Literature Characteristics
Violent acts occur
This castle is in New York.
My wife doesn’t know it yet, but
we are going to visit it someday. If
I have to, I’ll convince Jacie it is a
good idea, then we’ll have to go.
Edgar Alan Poe
Wrote about altered
mental states and the
dark side of human
nature.
Edgar Alan Poe
The inventor of
the detective
story.
Edgar Alan
Poe
Wrote numerous
psychological
thrillers.
Edgar Alan Poe
Poe believed
that short
stories should
work to create a
certain unique
or “single
effect.”
Edgar Alan Poe
Single effect – Every
character, incident,
and detail works to
create one unique
effect in a story.
I wouldn’t buy a castle that looks this
depressing, unless I got a great deal.
Did You Know???
Al Gore created the internet so he could look at
castles anytime he wanted?
You cannot possibly understand how badly I want to live in this castle.