Romanticism The Dark Romantics Celebrated the individual, human emotions, and the imagination Celebrated the individual, human emotions, and the imagination Hopeful about human potential Hopeful about human potential Inspired by the splendors of nature Inspired by the splendors of nature Fascinated with spirituality Fascinated with spirituality Explored the dark side of the imagination Explored the dark side of the imagination Less optimistic about individual potential Less optimistic about individual potential Sinister aspect to nature Sinister aspect to nature Fascinated with supernatural Fascinated with supernatural

Gothic Literature The gothic explores the dark or uncertain side of human nature The gothic explores the dark or uncertain side of human nature Influenced by Gothic architecture of the Middle Ages Influenced by Gothic architecture of the Middle Ages Characterized by gloomy settings such as castles or old, dark houses Characterized by gloomy settings such as castles or old, dark houses Mysterious and sometimes violent or supernatural occurrences Mysterious and sometimes violent or supernatural occurrences

American Gothic Writers Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne Washington Irving Washington Irving Herman Melville Herman Melville Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe Born in 1809 Born in 1809 Personal life marred by tragedy Personal life marred by tragedy Poe’s mother died when he was two Poe’s mother died when he was two Father abandoned the family Father abandoned the family At 20, foster mother died; had a falling out with foster father At 20, foster mother died; had a falling out with foster father Went to live with his aunt and her daughter Virginia Went to live with his aunt and her daughter Virginia Virginia and Poe eventually married; she died several years later Virginia and Poe eventually married; she died several years later Poe’s death at the age of 40, remains a mystery Poe’s death at the age of 40, remains a mystery

Best known for his short stories and poetry such as: “The Raven”“The Raven” “The Tell-Tale Heart” “The Tell-Tale Heart” “The Pit and the Pendulum” “The Pit and the Pendulum” “The Fall of the House of Usher” “The Fall of the House of Usher” His works greatly influenced later writers His works greatly influenced later writers Credited with inventing the detective story Credited with inventing the detective story

Edgar Allan Poe’s Writing Interested in exploring the psychology of the mind Interested in exploring the psychology of the mind Put characters into extreme situations Put characters into extreme situations Involving murder, live burials, torture, and revenge Involving murder, live burials, torture, and revenge The mood is dark and brooding The mood is dark and brooding Set in dark castles or ancient estates Set in dark castles or ancient estates

Poe’s “Philosophy of Composition” Short stories and poems should be read in one sitting Short stories and poems should be read in one sitting “Unity of Effect”: emotional response the author wants to elicit from his reader “Unity of Effect”: emotional response the author wants to elicit from his reader The death of a beautiful woman is the most poetic topic The death of a beautiful woman is the most poetic topic

The Fall of the House of Usher Interested in creating mood Interested in creating mood Detailed descriptions of setting Detailed descriptions of setting Use of imagery and figurative language Use of imagery and figurative language First person point of view First person point of view

Think about… How is setting used to create to desired effect? How is setting used to create to desired effect? What kind of mood is produced in the story? What kind of mood is produced in the story? What are some of the words or phrases that Poe uses to create mood? What are some of the words or phrases that Poe uses to create mood? Think about how the point of view effects the story’s emotional intensity. Think about how the point of view effects the story’s emotional intensity.