Gothic Literature

Background Originated in the 18 th century Genre is devoted to tales of horror and dark supernatural forces Gothic literature was a reaction to social upheaval in Britain due to economic and political problems.

Gothic Literature addresses What it means to be a human being The outsider/outcast: the “other” – punished for being different Injustice – reactions to inequality Class relations Element of uncertainty

Components of Gothic Lit. The Double: A 2 nd or alternate identity – Represents opposing forces in human nature – Suggests that humans have a dual nature Forbidden knowledge or forbidden power – Hero attempts to control supernatural powers – Ambition leads to Hero’s fall

Components of Gothic Lit. Castles – Reflect the hero’s psychological character – scary/haunting feeling Mystery – Lack of identity and nameless individuals give a mysterious feel to cover truths

Components of Gothic Lit. Dreams and Visions – Reveal hidden truths of the unconscious mind Graveyards/Churches/Ruins – Suggest human confrontation with infinite forces (no boundaries or limits) Madness – Reflects realities beyond rational comprehension – Mad characters speak the truths that we wish to deny!

Importance of Setting The setting is greatly influential in Gothic novels. It not only evokes the atmosphere of horror and dread, but also portrays the deterioration of its world. The decaying, ruined scenery implies that at one time there was a thriving world.

Setting Elements A castle, ruined or intact, haunted or not Ruined buildings which are sinister or a pleasing melancholy Metonymy: something is used to stand for something else – Extreme landscapes, like mountains, thick forests, fog and extreme weather.

What is mood? How the READER feels when reading the text.

Different Moods You Feel When You Read Positive Moods Amused Calm Content Dreamy Ecstatic Excited Exhilarated Hopeful Loving Mellow Optimistic Passionate Rejuvenated Relaxed Satisfied Sentimental Surprised Sympathetic Touched Vivacious Warm Welcoming Negative Moods Aggravated Annoyed Anxious Brooding Cold Confused Cranky Cynical Depressed Disappointed Dreary Enraged Exhausted Foreboding Gloomy Hopeless Indifferent Irate Jealous Lonely Morose Nervous Numb Overwhelmed Pensive Pessimistic Scared Serious Sick Stressed Suspenseful Tense Terrifying Violent Worried

Let’s Practice “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe lee/ lee/

It was many and many a year ago. In a kingdom by the sea. That maiden there lived whom you may know By the name of Annabel Lee;- And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me. Atmosphere (mood)

I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea, But we loved with a love that was more than love– I and my Annabel Lee— With a love that the winged seraphs of Heaven Coveted her and me. 1 st person point of view Repetition

And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud by night Chilling my Annabel Lee; So that her highborn kinsmen came And bore her away from me, To shut her up in a sepulchre In this kingdom by the sea. The Notebook Scene Rhyme Scheme & Repetition

The angels, not half so happy in Heaven, Went envying her and me-- Yes! that was the reason (as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea) That the wind came out of the cloud, chilling And killing my Annabel Lee. Consonance: repetition of similar consonant sounds

But our love it was stronger by far than the love Of those who were older than we— Of many far wiser than we— And neither the angels in Heaven above Nor the demons down under the sea, Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee-- Mood ImageryImagery

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise but I see the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride, In her sepulchre there by the sea— In her tomb by the side of the sea. SymbolismSymbolism Assonance Repetitive vowel sounds

Quote example from poem Analysis of that example (Have you made a connection to a picture that is painted for EVERY word) What is the mood generated by your quote? (Name it!) How does the quote connect to the mood? (If it doesn’t connect, YOU CAN’T USE IT!) And the stars never rise but I see the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride, In her sepulcher there by the sea— In her tomb by the side of the sea “sepulcher” is a crypt--- shows what it means to be human and the cycle of life. Repetition of “Lee,” “me” and “sea” reiterates and repeats his emotions of sorrow and loss of his love. “Stars never rise” connects to his motivation to live without “my life” and “my bride” The mood generated by this quote is BLEAK and MELANCHOLY. The mood is cold and bitter and seems to suggest that the individual telling the story is willfully tortured. This willful torture is best displayed in the last stanza when it is revealed that he sleeps in Annabel Lee's tomb.

Now let’s make a connection… Based on the analysis of the poem and the mood, how does this connect to the historical context of the time period and gothic literature?

Connection: Mystery: The narrator is nameless with a lack of identity and is a mysterious figure in the poem. There is a mystery of how Annabel died and if the narrator played a role in the death. Castle: “A kingdom by the sea” refers to a castle. This signifies a haunting feeling to propel the plot. The castle affects the narrator and his emotions as a reminder of his love for her.