ENL 4240 - Summer 2026 - Pascoe

The British Romantics wrote some of the most remarkable poetry and prose in literary history, works whose influence lives on in genres as varied as horror movies and political manifestos. What’s more, the societal issues with which the Romantics grappled (e.g., new technologies, revolutionary politics, climate catastrophes) are issues that still challenge us today.

This class will serve as an introduction to Romanticism defined both as a historical period (from 1789 to 1832) and as a literary aesthetic. Together we will explore literary works in which Romantic writers grapple with death, life, despair, and bliss. The class will have a particular focus on Gothic literature. We’ll discover how Romantic-era writers explored terror and anxiety by writing about nightmares, haunted castles, vampiric figures, and ghostly events. Students from all majors and areas of concentration are welcome.

Class requirements include regular attendance, discussion posts, quizzes, short writing assignments, and a final project.