While some classify her works as "social realism" because of their focus on everyday life and societal norms, the key elements of her novels align with the characteristics of Romanticism:
* Emphasis on individual experience and emotion: Austen's novels center around the inner lives and feelings of her characters, particularly their romantic relationships.
* Exploration of social issues and morality: Austen uses her stories to comment on the social structures and values of her time, particularly those surrounding marriage, class, and gender.
* Idealization of love and nature: Though not directly focused on nature, Austen's works express a romantic view of love, often emphasizing its beauty and importance.
Although some consider Austen to be a "transitional" writer between the Enlightenment and Romanticism, her works are undeniably rooted in the Romantic sensibility.