Dark Romanticism and
the
Gothic Literature
movement
Dark Romanticism
A
literary subgenre of Romantic
Literature that emerged from the
transcendental philosophical
movement popular in nineteenthcentury America.
Works in the dark romantic spirit
were influenced by
Transcendentalism, but did not
entirely embrace the ideas of
Transcendentalism.
Transcendentalism vs. Dark
Romanticism
The
basic philosophy of the
transcendental movement was a belief
in mans spiritual essence and his souls
ability to transcend the physical.
Dark Romantic works are notably less
optimistic than Trans. texts about
mankind, nature, and divinity.
The Romantic era was characterized by
flair, extravagance, emotion and
imagination
Transcendentalism vs. Dark
Romanticism
While
both groups believe nature is a
deeply spiritual force, Dark Romanticism
views it in a much more sinister light than
does Transcendentalism, which sees nature
as a divine and universal organic mediator.
Some, including Poe, Hawthorne and
Melville, found Transcendental beliefs far
too optimistic and egotistical and reacted
by modifying them in their prose and poetry
Characteristics of the
Genre
Dark
Romantics present individuals
as prone to sin and self destruction,
not as inherently possessing divinity
and wisdom.
The natural world is dark, decaying,
and mysterious; when it does reveal
truth to man, its revelations are evil
and hellish.
Dark Romanticism frequently show
individuals failing in their attempts
Themes of Dark
Romanticism
A
collection of works concentrating
upon themes of horror, tragedy, the
macabre and the supernatural.
The success of this movement also
relies on the fact that the human
psyche is attracted in a subtle way
to the fear, pain and tragedy
It has lead to the birth of the Gothic
style and has greatly influenced
music and art.
Gothic Literary
Movement
Works
of the genre commonly aim to
inspire terror, including through
accounts of the macabre and
supernatural, haunted structures,
and the search for identity
Skeptics find Gothic Literature
melodramatic and predictable
Gothic fiction is more about sheer
terror than Dark Romanticism's
themes of dark mystery and
Emily Dickenson
A
reclusive 19th century poet who
lived in most of her adult life in
isolation
She was a deeply energetic, intense
person
She wrote and read widely but
wasnt published until after her
death
Her family organized and published
her poetry, but it didnt gain national
Nathanial Hawthorne
Born
in Salem, Massachusetts to a
family with a long New England
history
Changed his name from Hathorne to
Hawthorne to separate himself from
the legacy of judge Hathorne (witch
trials)
Friends with transcendentalists but
was rather reclusive with his wife
Works: Scarlet Letter, Ministers
Herman Melville
Raised
in a prominent New York
family until his fathers death
At age 12 he was attempting to
support his family with odd jobs
His adventures as a seaman inspired
him to write
Works: Moby Dick, Bartleby the
Scrivner
Edgar Allen Poe
His
dying when he was 2, he was adopted
by a successful merchant and his wife
After taking up drinking and having to
quit university, he joined the army
He eventually lived in New York, became
a newspaper and magazine editor, and
began publishing writing
His personal life was plagued with
tragedy and he died suddenly of an
unexplained illness on October 7, 1849
