Breaking Genre Norms in the Romantic Period Josie Reynolds College

Innovation of existing genre norms and conventions is an important fixture in literature from the late-17th through mid-19th centuries. A time characterized by much societal change, as literature grew available to the masses, more women became writers, and racialized views rose to prominence. As this literary period takes place alongside the “long 18th century” in England, otherwise considered the British Enlightenment, the reorientation of European politics, science, philosophy and communication taking place during this time provided a framework for changes on the literary front. Over the span of the time period, the authors prove that old conventions should be challenged for the creation of great work and the progression of society.

The increasing conversation regarding racial and national relations coupled with continued exploration of the globe lent itself to the need for literature that was less firmly situated within genre expectations. Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko is indicative of this shift. Behn refuses to limit herself to any one particular genre, rather drawing her genre expectations from both heroic romance and travel writing. Behn constantly switches her style of narration throughout the novel to be in accordance with one...