American Gothic Literature

Gothic Movement in America The Gothic Tradition was firmly established in Europe before American writers had made names for themselves. First became popular in Europe in mid 1700’s Visible in gardens Seen in architecture (gargoyles) of the Middle Ages Saw it in German Literature first – very popular with female writers, eventually became best sellers!

Famous european gothic authors Horace Walpole– The Castle of Ontranto (1765) Jane Austen -- Northanger Abbey Charlotte Bronte -- Jane Eyre Emily Bronte -- Wuthering Heights Mary Shelley – Frankenstein (1818) Bram Stoker– Dracula (1897)

Gothic Architecture The Gothic tradition was also reflected in architecture: vaulted ceilings, arches, stained glass windows, gargoyles Gargoyles are really water spouts that force water out and away from the building to protect the mortar. The water traditionally pours out of the creature’s mouth. They are shaped as grotesque caricatures of demons to fight off evil spirits. Those that do not function as water spouts are really called “grotesques.”

American Gothic Lit Important from the mid-18th Century on Related to “Romantic Period” Criticizes “national myth of new-world innocence by voicing the cultural contradictions that undermine the nation’s claim to purity and equality” - Teresa A. Goddu Tells of historical horrors that make national identity

Characteristics of Gothic Fiction Setting - A castle or ancient family estate (may be haunted) Ruined buildings which appear sinister or full of secrets Dungeons, underground passages, or crypts (attics and basements – modern examples) Labyrinths, dark corridors, winding stairs

Characteristics of Gothic Fiction Setting - Shadows, beam of moonlight in the darkness, flickering candles, failing/poor light source Extreme landscapes/weather such as rugged mountains, thick forests, icy wastelands, rain storms, blizzards Atmosphere of gloom, grief, melancholy, or hidden secrets

Characteristics of Gothic Fiction Characters - Hero whose true identity may be hidden Villain or villain/hero full of passion, envy, or revenge Curious heroine that needs to be rescued – often Women under control of tyrannical male figure Ghosts , angels, or other supernatural beings

Characteristics of Gothic Fiction Plot - Hidden secrets, ancient curses, omens, visions, dreams Ghostly legend or unexplained occurrence (like murder) that took place in that setting Focus on the abnormal or grotesque Emotions of terror, insanity, panic, obsession, or revenge Violence

By the 19th century, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathanial Hawthorne, and to a lesser extent Washington Irving and Herman Melville were using the Gothic elements in their writing. Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be the master of the Gothic form in the United States.

Edgar Allan Poe His biography is often distorted His life was filled with personal tragedy and professional failure Poe drank to escape this failure but had a low tolerance for alcohol Numerous women whom he loved died, most from tuberculosis His true love, his wife Virginia, died from tuberculosis; Poe watched her slowly die for five years

from “The Philosophy of Composition” Death of women was a common topic of his works because he had experienced such loss himself, including his stepmother, his childhood love, and his wife. “The death…of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world – and equally is it beyond doubt that the lips best suited for such topic are those of a bereaved lover.” Edgar Allan Poe from “The Philosophy of Composition”

Poe’s professional life was full of failure His greatest success was “The Raven,” which brought him fame, but earned him only $14.00 Poe wrote many short stories simply for the money; ironically he is most famous for these stories He saw himself as a poet, but could not make a living from writing poetry

*Poe has been called the father of the modern horror story influencing writers such as Stephen King and Anne Rice. *Poe is credited with the invention and development of the modern detective story. *Detective stories provided Poe with the order and logic that was lacking in his own life.

Edgar Allan Poe His stories have: Settings that featuring Dark, medieval castles Decaying ancient estates Characters that are Male—insane Female—beautiful and dead (or dying) Plots that include Murder Live burials Physical and mental torture Retribution from beyond the grave For Poe, it was only in these extreme situations that people revealed their true nature.

Timeline of Poe’s Work 1839 Poe published Tales of Grotesque and Arabesque including “The Fall of the House of Usher” 1845 Poe published “The Raven” 1827 Poe published Tamerlane and Other Poems 1836 Poe married Virginia Clemm 1809 Poe was born on January 19th 1831 Expelled from West Point Publishes Poems 1847 Poe dies in Baltimore on October 7th 1841 Poe wrote “The Murders of Rue Morgue”

“Thriller” video analysis Create 3 columns by folding your paper “burrito” style. Title the columns CHARACTERS, SETTING, and PLOT. Jot down as many examples as you can for each column while watching the video.

Nathanial Hawthorne He also used Gothic elements in his work to express what he felt were essential truths Instead of looking at the mind for its dysfunction, Hawthorne examined the human heart under conditions of fear, vanity, mistrust, and betrayal.

Journal What gives you the creeps? Why?

Add to notes: Mood- atmosphere; creates an emotional setting Point of View- 1st 2nd 3rd

Southern Gothic After the real horrors of the Civil War, the Gothic tradition lost its popularity. During the 20th century, it made a comeback in the American South. Authors like William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, Truman Capote, and Flannery O’Connor are grouped together because of the gloom and pessimism of their fiction.

Southern Gothic Southern Gothic stories transferred the Gothic fascination with old European castles, with their secret passages, dark halls, and trapdoors, to the crumbling estates of the pre-Civil War South. Characters are often mysterious. Macabre and ironic events are often used to examine the values of the South. It uses Gothic tools not only for the sake of suspense, but to explore social issues and reveal the cultural character of the American South. Turn to 1064 to read about William Faulkner.

William Faulkner 1897-1962 The places Faulkner lived influenced his stories although he spent the majority of his life in Mississippi. He often wrote about Southern social dynamics, specifically the inequality felt by African Americans. Architecture also played a role in his writing as he was obsessive with “restoring his own house, naming his books after buildings and depicting them carefully” (Liukkonen, Petri). Wrote the short story “A Rose For Emily”

Journal How do the elements of Gothicism contribute to the story.

journal What role does time play in the story? Why did Faulkner choose to tell the story out of order?

Edgar Allan Poe His stories have: Settings that featuring Dark, medieval castles Decaying ancient estates Characters that are Male—insane Female—beautiful and dead (or dying) Plots that include Murder Live burials Physical and mental torture Retribution from beyond the grave For Poe, it was only in these extreme situations that people revealed their true nature.

Timeline of Poe’s Work 1839 Poe published Tales of Grotesque and Arabesque including “The Fall of the House of Usher” 1845 Poe published “The Raven” 1827 Poe published Tamerlane and Other Poems 1836 Poe married Virginia Clemm 1809 Poe was born on January 19th 1831 Expelled from West Point Publishes Poems 1847 Poe dies in Baltimore on October 7th 1841 Poe wrote “The Murders of Rue Morgue”

Add to journal (start a page for literary elements): Internal rhyme- rhyming words within a line. EX: Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December… Rhyme scheme- the ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines. EX: ABCBBB Alliteration- repetition of initial consonant sounds EX: While I nodded, nearly napping… Repetition Read p. 410

Look for examples of: Repetition Rhyming words Imagery (descriptive words) for Lenore and the Raven Any examples of figurative language, alliteration, onomatopoeia, allusion, etc.

Respond… Why a raven? What is the significance of the word “nevermore”?

Examine Tone in “The Raven” Tone- attitude For each of the following passages, describe the speaker’s tone toward the raven. The raven’s first appearance (lines 43-44) The thoughts the raven inspires (lines 71-74) The purpose the speaker attributes to the raven (lines 81-84) The speaker’s command to the raven (lines 97-98)

Imagery What imagery does Poe use for Lenore? What imagery does Poe use for the Raven?

Find examples of… Onomatopoeia Allusion

Write A 2-3 sentence summary of the poem

“A Rose for Emily” SARs How do the townspeople feel about Ms. Emily and the Grierson family? Support with text evidence. Faulkner lived, as one critic put it, “with one foot deep in the traditions of the Old South and the other poised in the possibilities of a modern era.” What are some of the indications that this story was written in another time? Citing evidence, describe how Faulkner’s story reflects an American society different from our own.