For a romance to be bad, does it have to end in tragedy? What is it that dooms a romance? Romance is one of the most popular genres of literature, and in this class, we will find out why. We will examine literary romance, from Shakespeare to James Baldwin to Mary Gaitskill. We will start with the original star-crossed lovers in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and we will work our way up to contemporary literary romance, learning about the genre and its tropes along the way. In addition to Romeo and Juliet, texts may include James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room, Mary Gaitskill’s Bad Behaviour, and Sally Rooney’s Conversations With Friends, among others. 

Offered Spring 2026