The Gothic Period in America began in the late 1700's and flourished until the early 1800's. Applied to literature, gothic means "barbaric." Gothic suggested whatever was medieval, natural, primitive, wild, free, authentic and romantic. Gothic elements include variety, richness, mystery and aspiration.
The major themes of gothic literature were magic, mystery and chivalry. The true Gothic novel attempts to create an atmosphere of brooding and unknown terror. Horace Walpole was the originator of the Gothic novel. Walpole's first novel with Gothic characteristics was the famous,Castle of Otranto. Another example of Gothic literature is Mary Shelly's,Frankenstein.
During the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, a great power struggle occured between the national government and the state governments. Westward expansion also became a national issue. Other issues included Reformation in the North, Sectionalism in the South and slavery disputes, which eventually led to the Civil War.
The authors of the Romantic Period were influenced by the preceding Gothic writings. Some elements of Romantic literature are a strong interest in action and episodes based on love, adventure and combat. In the Romantic period, novels dealt more with character, legend and reality. Today, modern romance emphasizes action, imagination and escaping reality. Two nationally recognized authors of this time period were Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Poe's "The Raven" Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil"
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