(O)powieść romantyczna .......... 135

ABOUT THE ROMANTIC NOVEL

In the following article, we focus on a broad interpretation of the content of novels typical of the genre in its early period. We use both historical and psychological hermeneutics, considering the protagonists of these novels as representatives of certain personality types as well as entire social classes. We pay attention to factors consciously placed by romantic artists as well as their shadow of unawareness, the expression of the so-called spirit of the era. After general thoughts on the romantic novel, its authors and heroes, we proceed to detailed considerations of the techniques used in the gothic novel, the literary genre best reflecting the artistic trends of the early nineteenth century.