The Romantic Period was a cultural movement that emerged in the late 18th century and lasted into the mid-19th century. It emphasized emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature, reacting against the rationalism of the Enlightenment. Artists and writers sought to express their feelings and explore the human experience, often drawing inspiration from folklore, mythology, and the sublime aspects of nature. Key figures of the Romantic Period include poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, as well as composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Frédéric Chopin. This era also saw the rise of the Gothic novel, with works like Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Edgar Allan Poe's tales, which explored darker themes and the complexities of the human psyche.