The Black Cat

Abbey in an Oak Forest, Caspar David Friedrich, 1810.

What is Dark Romanticism? Features. The Gothic Movement in Europe & America The Life and Styles of Edgar Allan Poe Styles and Themes in ‘The Black Cat’ Reading Review Discussion

Focus on Individual Spirit in Connection with Nature – Optimistic in Nature of Man as Good Creature with Spirit of Survival & Improvement Against cold Rationalists and Values in Dreams, Imagination and Freedom of mankind in connection with Nature and Good side But also Dark Side in Dark Romanticism

What is Romanticism? Imagination, American Dream, Individualism and Spiritual World Dark side of Romanticism? – Includes Disease, Madness, Death, Evil, American Nightmare Evil in Humans and Nature with a Puritan background of Original Sin – the Dark Side of Mankind in the Mysterious World

Medieval European Art Style from Germany and France – Dark Northern countries with Gargoyles – Spirits to Protect against Evil Spirits. Later into Dark Tales 0f Murder, Knights, and Terror in Germany and England – The Power of Darkness, Horror and Mystery with Monsters. Settings in Castles or Ancient Times – Great Evil Creatures and Knights

Ego as mad, Irrational and Unable to Comprehend– dark side of Man – becoming psychologically & physically Destroyed Placed in Ancient Manors, Caves or Unknown Connected to British Gothic Tradition but with Puritanism and connection Reason – Madness Individual as Destructive, Guilty and with Freudian Self-destructive impulse – Death wish

Edgar Allan Poe – The First American Master of the Gothic “Terror of the Soul” – Exploring the Dark Side of Human Nature & Creating the Modern Horror Story

Inventor of Modern Mystery Story, Horror Story but with Tragic, Short and Poor Life – Taken into Allan family as orphan – Alcoholic Expelled from University & Foster Family with unending poverty and fascination with Death Unknown during lifetime except – The Raven Mystery of Poe’s Death with forgery of Life & Death by Rufus Griswold after Poe’s death

Fascination with Death, Madness & Perverse Best American author of Dark Romanticism with large numbers of poems & short stories Common themes 0f conflict within protagonist – Murder and Guilt – Destruction of Self with eternal conflict between Good & Bad Side Psychological & Physical Struggles in Writings

‘Black Cat’ starts with Superstition of Evil in Cat Theme of Madness – Protagonist increasingly in different state caused by the Perverse – caused by Alcohol and Opium Addiction – Destruction Focus on Moral Disintegration of Character and unforgiveable Sin & Guilt – connected to Puritans Contrast between Reason and Increasing Madness Quick pace towards Perverseness & Death Wish

Focus on when the Protagonist becomes mad and what it is that causes this – Explain Focus on what is meant by the ‘Spirit of Perverseness’ – How does it affect the story? Focus on the Importance of the Black Cat in the Story – What makes the Cat important? Read the Short Story Aloud and Discuss

Is the Narrator of the story Reasonable or Insane towards the end? Explain. What is it that drives the main Protagonist of the story towards Madness? How is this done? What is the role of the Black Cat(s) in the story – Why are they important and how? How can the Protagonist’s ‘Desire for Death’ be seen in the Story? When does it start?

Choose a Romantic Poem or a Short Story and prepare to Read it or a part of it(short stories) by week 6 together with Presentation on Why the Poem/Short Story was chosen and on it’s Deep Meaning. Remember to hand in all suggestions to me before the end of week 5!

LINKS /lit/poe.htm /lit/poe.htm ex.htm ex.htm

BOOKS Nina Baym (Gen. Ed.); ‘The Norton Anthology of American Literature’, 2003, pp Wilhelm, Jeffrey D. et al (eds.); ‘The Glencoe Guide to American Literature’, 2007; pp Edgar Allan Poe: Selected Works; Gramercy 1985, pp. 5-7?

American Romantic Poetry during the 19 th century and preparing Presentations. Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson’s Romantic Poetry from the Civil War Era