Romance

= Romance = Kristine Strouse, Meredith Hoopingarner, Stephanie DeWulf

The Romance genre is, as can be guessed, a genre that revolves around the story of two individuals as they grow together romantically. The novels typically reward good and punish evil, and the end must be happy or optimistic, typically with marriage between the two characters. The novel can contain other themes, and has no restriction on time or place. The only true requirements for the novel are that it must include a developing romantic relationship and an optimistic ending. In general, the novels are written from the female protagonist’s point of view, either first or third person.

= //Gone With the Wind// = By: Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell details a romantic love story, //Gone With the Wind//, during the American Civil War and Reconstruction period. Tangled in her own love web, young and spoiled Scarlett encounters many love interests and this story captures her journey through each relationship. //Gone With the Wind// highlights the history of the Civil War in the South during this time along with keeping readers entertained in Scarlett’s messy relationships. Find out who Scarlett ends up choosing by reading this classic romantic novel.

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=//Pride And Prejudice By: Jane Austen //=

Jane Austen’s //Pride and Prejudice// portrays two sets of opposite relationships. There is a simpler set of love interests that follow the typical meet and fall in love scenario between Jane and Mr. Bingley. However, Jane’s sister, Elizabeth, does not have such an easy time with love and relationships when she is faced with meeting Mr. Darcy. Their story is a bit more complicated involving what can be viewed as modern day “love games” and other things that stand in the way of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's eventual love for each other. This romantic novel is also a classic and does a great job at comparing Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's realistic relationships against Jane and Mr. Bingley's fantasy relationships.

[|http://search.barnesandnoblecom/Pride-and-Prejudice/Jane-Austen/e/9780393976045/?itm=2&USRI=pride+and+prejudice]

// **Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded** By: Samuel Richardson

Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded,// published in 1740, is a romance novel written by Samuel Richardson in the form of letters. The story is one of an upper-class man falling in love with one of his mother’s maids, and thereafter kidnaps her and attempts to seduce her, as he cannot propose due to his high rank in society. Pamela continues to reject Mr. B, keeping her virtue and honor, yet finds herself falling in love with Mr. B herself. In the end, Mr. B proposes to Pamela despite his ranking, and the two marry. This novel fits perfectly into the description of a romance novel, as it rewards the good and virtuous Pamela, is the story of a growing relationship between two characters, and ends with a happy and lasting marriage. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Pamela/Samuel-Richardson/e/9781406838879/?itm=6&USRI=pamela+or+virtue+rewarded

=//The Flame and the Flower//= By: Kathleen Woodiwiss

Kathleen Woodiwiss wrote a revolutionary novel, //The Flame and the Flower//, which strayed from the typical chastity of romance novels, introducing a much more colorful plot. Heather Simmons, after killing a man who attempted to rape her, finds her way onto a ship where the crew believes she is a prostitute, and she believes she has been arrested for murder. While on board, the captain, Brandon Birmingham, has intercourse with her, only to later discover the misunderstanding and offer Heather to become his mistress. She declines, yet comes away from the evening pregnant, and ends up marrying Brandon, something neither desire. Their marriage causes much jealousy and problems, yet feelings between the two characters grow and soften, and eventually the two live happily together forevermore. Revolving around a growing romantic relationship, and ending in an optimistic manner, Woodiwiss’ novel fits the bill of romance, yet has a few twists that are sure to make it an interesting read. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Flame-and-the-Flower/Kathleen-E-Woodiwiss/e/9780060531881/?itm=1&USRI=the+flame+and+the+flower

 =// Dear John//= By: Nicholas Sparks

//Dear John// is similar to another novel by Nicholas Sparks, //The Notebook//. Both are about two people falling in love during different time periods. //Dear Joh//n is a love story about an army sergeant falling in love right before 9/11. This novel keeps the reader hopeful for the couple to end up together. Similar to most romantic novels, //Dear John// is merely romance with a tragic twist. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dear-John/Nicholas Sparks/e/9780759569003/itm=1&USRI=dear+john+nicholas+sparks

=What We Learned...=

Our group learned that the Romantic Novels consist of a pretty structured setup consisting of two characters having a happily ever after. We compared old classic romance to contemporary and found little differences mainly because these novels follow this setup. They all consisted of the same skeleton, just with different characters and settings. We thought this could be a benefit for some readers because they will have an idea of how the story is going to end. The only draw back is that these stories tend not to stray away from the base structure, so readers should not expect too many surprises.