The Love-Charm

Name: The Love-Charm
Author: Johann Ludwig Tieck

A young nobleman falls under the spell of a mysterious woman who claims to have magical powers. She convinces him that she can make his beloved appear to him, but at a terrible cost: he must surrender his own life force. The nobleman agrees and becomes increasingly enthralled by the woman's charms, even as he begins to realize the true nature of her magic.

By Johann Ludwig Tieck · First published 1799 · Genre: Romanticism, Gothic Fiction, Drama · 13,107 words

First lines

Emilius was sitting in deep thought by a table, waiting for his friend Roderick. A light was burning before him; the winter evening was cold; and, glad as he was at other times to dispense with his companion's society, on this occasion he was particularly anxious for his presence, as he wished to tell him a secret, and to ask his advice. The shy, retiring Emilius, in the common business and the ups and downs of life, found such difficulties and so many insuperable obstacles, that Destiny seemed to have been in one of her ironical moods when she connected him with Roderick, who was, in all respects, the very opposite of his friend. Unstable and flighty, with the first impression he was all on fire; there was nothing he would not undertake; he had plans for every thing; no project could be too difficult, no obstacle could deter him; while in carrying them out he soon tired, and flagged as rapidly as he had been eager and elastic at the outset; and difficulties, instead of being a spur to urge him to increased activity, then only caused him to fling aside in disgust what he had at first so enthusiastically undertaken. Hence he was for ever full of schemes of some sort, but throwing them away and forgetting them with as little reason as he had before thoughtlessly adopted them. Between two such contradictory tempers not a day passed without a quarrel, which threatened to be fatal to their friendship. Yet perhaps, what seemed at first sight only to be a cause of division, was, at bottom, one of the closest bonds that held them together. In their hearts they were exceedingly fond of each other, yet each found the greatest satisfaction in being able to complain of the way the other treated him.

What this Textopian page supports

The Love-Charm is listed on Textopian as a novella by Johann Ludwig Tieck, dated 1799 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novella
Author: Johann Ludwig Tieck
Date: 1799 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romanticism, Gothic Fiction, Drama, Fantasy, Tragedy
Length: 13,107 words
Structure: 1 section, 135 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Love-Charm by Johann Ludwig Tieck
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Love-Charm?
How does this novella by Johann Ludwig Tieck fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Romanticism first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Romanticism — The exploration of deep emotions, individualism, and the conflict between idealism and reality aligns with Romantic themes.
Gothic Fiction — Elements of horror, the supernatural, and psychological tension are present, particularly in the depiction of the old woman and the dark themes surrounding love.
Drama — The intense interpersonal conflicts and emotional dialogues between characters create a dramatic narrative.
Fantasy — The presence of magical elements, such as the old woman's rituals and the concept of love charms, introduces a fantastical aspect.