Literature Schools notes
Sample Essay Information
Prompt:
To what extent did the work of the Dark Romantics differ from that of other early American Romantic authors?
Prerequisite knowledge
(aka stuff you need to know to write a decent response)
Definitions:
Dark Romanticism
Light “other” Romanticism
Authors:
Dark Romanticism: Poe, Irving
Light Romanticism: Cooper, Bryant
Works:
Dark Romanticism: “The Devil and Tom Walker,” “Fall of …Usher.”
Light Romanticism: “Thanatopsis,” “The Prairie”
Similarities:
Content: Man’s relationship with nature
Style: Elevated language, descriptive imagery
Differences:
Content: Optimism of man vs. pessimism, benign nature/fearful nature
Style: More positive diction, imagery
