A romance is a work in which the plot centers around a love relationship.

The plot line must be substantial enough for the reader to maintain interest from chapter to chapter. In other words, the reader must be able to say, when reading the book, I care about these people and what happens to them. I want the best for them, despite the personal and circumstantial obstacles that war to keep them apart. The genre of Romantic Fiction has two strict criteria: - The story must focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people. - The end of the story must be positive, leaving the reader believing that the protagonists love and relationship will endure for the rest of their lives. - findmeanauthor.com, Romantic Fiction. In addition to this the genre also suggests elements of fantasy, improbability, extravagance and naivet, love, adventure, the marvelous and the mythic. Task: Your task is to complete each of the three components: Research, Text and Analyze. Research: Before you begin reading, research the following: Notes: What is romance in literature? What are the conventions of romantic fiction? Is romantic fiction a gendered text? Does it offer a form of escapism?

Do you think such novels are realistic?

Text: Now read your chosen novel, focusing on the romantic relationship portrayed in the text, and use your reading to inform your answers to the following: Notes: Which characters are the focus of the love relationship in the narrative? How did they meet? What kinds of challenges do they face? Do they overcome all of these challenges? Are the characters similar, or do opposites attract? Construct a character profile for each character, then use a Venn Diagram to compare their similarities and differences. How does each of the characters grow and change throughout the novel? Construct a timeline of events that are important in the development of the love relationship. What do you think about the characters relationship?

Analyze:

Notes: Which of the conventions of romantic fiction are found in your chosen text? Choose one convention that you found in your text and provide a 100-150 word explanation of how that convention was used to support the romance in the text.

Suggested Texts: Relationship Bella and Edward Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase Book/ Series The Twilight Saga The Last Olympian, The Son of Neptune, The Mark of Athena Jane Eyre Author Stephanie Meyer Rick Riordan

Jane and Mr. Rochester Jamie and Landon Scarlett and Rhett Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy Ron and Hermione Allie and Noah Mia and Michael Katniss and Peeta Clare and Henry

Charlotte Bronte

A Walk to Nicholas Sparks Remember Gone With the Wind Margaret Mitchell Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows The Notebook The Princess Diaries series The Hunger Games Trilogy The Time J.K. Rowling Nicholas Sparks Meg Cabot Suzanne Collins Audrey Niffenegger

Luce and Daniel Ever and Damen Mutnodjmet and Nakhtim Nefertari and Ramesses Zoe and Stark

Travellers Wife The Fallen Novels Evermore Nefertiti The Heretic Queen Later House of Night books

Lauren Kate Alyson Noel Michelle Moran Michelle Moran P.C. and Kristen Cast