Date of Award

Spring 5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Dr. Lynda Hall

Second Advisor

Dr. Justine Van Meter

Third Advisor

Dr. Joanna Levin

Abstract

This thesis looks at the endurance and steady popularity of the romance genre through literary history through the lens of three of the most used tropes: forbidden lovers, slow burn, and enemies to lovers. Through comparative literary analysis, this work examines how these tropes are used in both classic and contemporary works, specifically looking at Thomas of England’s medieval tale Tristan and Iseult, William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and comparing those to Megan Clawson’s 2023 novel Falling Hard for the Royal Guard. While always a popular genre, attention is also given to the resurgence of the genre’s popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic and the influence that BookTok, a subgenre on TikTok, had in bringing reading back into fashion and the impact that had on the publishing industry. The findings show that the consistent appeal of the romance genre is in its ability to offer readers an emotional connection with themselves and with others. Ultimately, this thesis argues that the genre’s historical resilience is not only found in its narrative structure, but also in its capacity to respond to and reflect the needs of its readers during times of emotional and social uncertainty.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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