swansboro high school – english 11. the dark romantics were a group of 19 th century writers who...
TRANSCRIPT
Swansboro High School – English 11
GOTHIC ROMANTICISM
The Dark Romantics were a group of 19th century
writers who explored the dark side of human
nature.
Dark Romantic writers explored the human
potential for evil, including the
psychological effects of guilt, sin, and madness.
WHO WERE THE DARK ROMANTICS?
Setting is in bleak or remote places.
Plot involves morbid or violent incidents.
Characters are in psychological and/or
physical torment.
A supernatural or otherworldly element is
often present.
GOTHIC STYLE CHARACTERISTICS
The transcendentalists were a group of 19th
century writers & artists who believed in the
goodness and ultimate perfectibility of human
beings.
The transcendentalists valued self-reliance and
individualism over custom and tradition.
WHO WERE THE TRANSCENDENTALISTS?
Saw divine goodness and beauty beneath
everyday reality
Embraced the mystical and idealistic elements
of Puritan thought
Believed spiritual truths may be ugly or
frightening
Reintroduced the dark side of Puritan beliefs: the idea of Original Sin
and the human potential for evil
Transcendentalists
Dark Romantics
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TRANSCENDENTALISTS & DARK
ROMANTICS
True reality is spiritual.
Intuition is superior to logic or reason.
Human events contain signs & symbols of
spiritual truths.
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN TRANSCENDENTALISTS & DARK
ROMANTICS
Dark Romantics themes still appear in stories, books, movies, TV shows, and
comic books.
• Present-day horror stories and movies borrow images and themes from the original master of horror, Edgar Allan Poe.
• The conflict between good & evil and the effects of guilt & sin are major themes in current literature, popular writing, and television.
THE DARK ROMANTIC LEGACY
Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride”
MODERN DARK ROMANTICISM
Tim Burton’s “Sweeney Todd”
MODERN DARK ROMANTICISM