Early and Southern Gothic Literature

Gothic Literature a genre that was popular in 18th century England. -authors wanted to expose the problems they saw in society. -supernatural and romantic elements. -often stories of hauntings, death, darkness and madness. -well-known examples of this genre are Frankenstein and Dracula.

While Gothic writing initially began in England, American Gothic literature began in the 19th century, -short stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe. -Nathaniel Hawthorne also writes with a sense of mystery, and his characters are very flawed. some supernatural elements to his writings and many questions about the society that they represent. -Poe's short stories usually focus on death, but he tells the tale of death with a dark humor and a desire to expose the complexity of his characters and society.

Southern Gothic literature is a genre of Southern writing. -focus on grotesque themes. includes supernatural elements, but mainly focuses on damaged, even delusional, characters. (does not dwell on suspense and the supernatural.) - dark humor in the stories. -exposes the problems of society, but does so by developing complex characters. - authors explored the behaviors of people (usually strange) and the social order of the South. -authors hoped to show that the social order was fragile, and the realities behind it were actually disturbing. -authors point out truths of Southern culture and its moral shortcomings.