Introduction to Gothic Lit

Everyone needs a sheet of paper… You have 8 minutes to create a short GOTHIC story. Your story must use the following words: Castle Skull Blood Crow Magic Book Take 5 minutes to share your stories with the folks around you…

What is Gothic Literature? What do you think of when you hear the word “GOTHIC”? Gothic fiction is a genre or mode of literature and film that combines fiction, horror, death, and romance. The term ‘gothic’ refers to the medieval buildings in which many of these stories take place.

Defining Gothic The term Gothic novel broadly refers to stories that combine elements from horror and romanticism. The Gothic novel often deals with supernatural events, or events occurring in nature that cannot be easily explained or over which man has no control, and it typically follows a plot of suspense and mystery.

Romantic writers celebrated the beauties of nature. Gothic vs. romanticism Romanticism developed as a reaction against the rationalism of the Age of Reason. The romantics freed the imagination from the hold of reason, so they could follow their imagination wherever it might lead. For some Romantics, when they looked at the individual, they saw hope (think “A Psalm of Life”). For some Romantic writers, the imagination led to the threshold of the unknown— the shadowy region where the fantastic, the demonic and the insane reside. When the Gothic's saw the individual, they saw the potential of evil. Romantic writers celebrated the beauties of nature. Gothic writers were peering into the darkness at the supernatural.

Origins of Gothic Lit Where did Gothic literature start? 1764 The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole Tells the story of Lord Manfred and the family curse that seems to appear when a stone helmet falls on his son and kills him on the day he is to be married Is Gothic literature just one thing? Nope! It has lots of different branches and sub genres, which we will be exploring throughout the semester (Wilderness gothic, space gothic, Southern gothic, suburban gothic, etc.)

Elements of Gothic Literature Setting in a castle (Translated into modern filmmaking this might be an old house or a mansion) An atmosphere of mystery and suspense An ancient prophecy Omens, portents, visions Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events High, even overwrought emotion Women in distress (often threatened by a powerful, impulsive, tyrannical male)

ma·ca·bre Macabre məˈkäbrə,məˈkäb/ adjective disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury. Originally used in discussing the ‘dance of death’ and celebrating the grotesque and disturbing nature of death through art

Robert Louis Stevenson Gothic Authors Edgar Allan Poe Mary Shelley Bram Stoker Robert Louis Stevenson Tim Burton

Edgar Allan Poe 1809-1849 Effectively orphaned at 3, unpleasant childhood Dropout of West Point At 25, moved in with aunt and married her 13 year old daughter Supported them as editor of lit magazines- during this period did much of his writing Tortured soul- drank heavily Wife died of TB in 1847, sending Poe into a deathly spiral of heavy drinking- died of complications in 1849

The Tell Tale Heart As you listen: How and why is this story an example of GOTHIC literature? What THEMES does Poe seem to be working with here? The Tell Tale Heart is the first person narrative of one man’s descent into madness The struggle between the scientific and the rational mind

Poe movie Posters Universal pictures has decided to turn a series of Edgar Allan Poe’s greatest short stories into films, and YOU have been asked to run the promotional campaign! Congratulations on landing this very exciting opportunity! First: Critically read the Poe story you have been assigned, marking specifically for the elements of Gothic literature and the macabre as you see them appear. (you will be turning this in for points)

You will have all day in class tomorrow as a work day. Poe movie Posters You and a group of 3-4 will put together a movie poster to advertise for your story. Your poster must be completed on poster-sized paper, and demonstrate an understanding of the elements of Gothic literature and the macabre that you see within the story. You will have all day in class tomorrow as a work day. Your posters are DUE in class on Thursday 2/2.