What is "the romantic drama"

Drama \Dra"ma\ (dr[aum]"m[.a] or dr[=a]"m[.a]; 277), n. [L. drama, Gr. dra^ma, fr. dra^n to do, act; cf. Lith. daryti.]

1. A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action, and intended to exhibit a picture of human life, or to depict a series of grave or humorous actions of more than ordinary interest, tending toward some striking result. It is commonly designed to be spoken and represented by actors on the stage.

   A divine pastoral drama in the Song of Solomon.
   --Milton.

2. A series of real events invested with a dramatic unity and interest. ``The drama of war.''
   --Thackeray.

   Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last.
   --Berkeley.

   The drama and contrivances of God's providence.
   --Sharp.

3. Dramatic composition and the literature pertaining to or illustrating it; dramatic literature.

   Note: The principal species of the drama are tragedy and comedy; inferior species are tragi-comedy, melodrama, operas, burlettas, and farces.

   The romantic drama, the kind of drama whose aim is to present a tale or history in scenes, and whose plays (like those of Shakespeare, Marlowe, and others) are stories told in dialogue by actors on the stage.
   --J. A. Symonds.

Romantic \Ro*man"tic\, a. [F. romantique, fr. OF. romant. See Romance.]

1. Of or pertaining to romance; involving or resembling romance; hence, fanciful; marvelous; extravagant; unreal; as, a romantic tale; a romantic notion; a romantic undertaking.

   Can anything in nature be imagined more profane and impious, more absurd, and undeed romantic, than such a persuasion?
   --South.

   Zeal for the good of one's country a party of men have represented as chimerical and romantic.
   --Addison.

2. Entertaining ideas and expectations suited to a romance; as, a romantic person; a romantic mind.

3. Of or pertaining to the style of the Christian and popular literature of the Middle Ages, as opposed to the classical antique; of the nature of, or appropriate to, that style; as, the romantic school of poets.

4. Characterized by strangeness or variety; suggestive of adventure; suited to romance; wild; picturesque; -- applied to scenery; as, a romantic landscape.

   Syn: Sentimental; fanciful; fantastic; fictitious; extravagant; wild; chimerical. See Sentimental.

   The romantic drama. See under Drama.