Characteristics of Romanticism Examples from Frankenstein
1. A deepened appreciation of the beauties of nature When Frankenstein was dealing with the stress of the creature killing his family members, he found comfort in appreciating nature in solitude.
2. A general exaltation of emotion over reason and of the senses over intellect After Frankenstein dies, the Creature is remorseful. He says that he let his emotions get the best of him; he knows what he was doing was wrong, but he kills them anyways. The wretch lets his emotions control his actions.
3. A turning in upon self and a heightened examination of human personality and its moods and mental potentials After he creates life, Frankenstein regrets it and is frustrated with himself. He realizes that he made a mistake and wonders why he was so fascinated in making life in the first place.
4. A preoccupation with the genius, the hero, and the exceptional figure in general, and a focus on his passions and inner struggle Frankenstein is a genius, and his passion is to create life. When he does, he regrets creating the monster. He struggles with the decision to make another monster to accompany the first, to destroy his creation, or to face the wrath of the Creature.
5. A new view of the artist as a supremely individual creator, whose creative spirit is more important than strict adherence to formal rules and traditional procedures Frankenstein desires to create life, which he succeeds in. All previous science said that this was impossible. He rebels against that belief, and ultimately disproves the rules of science.
6. An emphasis on imagination as a gateway to transcendent experience and spiritual truth Frankenstein has an imagination, a dream, no scientist had ever achieved before: creating life. His determination to surpass any scientist ever before him drives his passion, disproving the modern sciences.
7. An obsessive interest in folk culture, national and ethnic