Question

“The Romantic Era” is the first unit in this course that has featured literature in prose form (novels). Today, fiction is the most popular form of literature, and romantic poetry especially is said to appeal to a broader audience than the poetry of earlier eras. As a reader, do you feel this is true? How accessible do you find the literature of the romantic era? Which texts were more accessible than others? What about these texts made them easier to comprehend and/or enjoy?

Answer 1

I'm not sure I would agree that the literature of the Romantic Period is highly accessible to today's reader. The elongated syntax and elevated diction make it hard to follow at times. Also, the plot lines can evolve very slowly. Today's reader, with access to immediate information and condensed communication methods may be turned off by the Romantic style.

If I had to say there were an "easier" group of Romantic texts, it might be the gothic novels. The subject matter of horror, vampires and the occult is relatable to a contemporary reader.

Hope this helps