2. ● A sub-genre of Gothic writing style ● Not used solely for the sake of suspense ● Often relies on ironic, supernatural, or unusual events ● Often uses flawed, grotesque, unpleasant characters social issues and reveals the cultural character of the American South ● Explores social issues and reveals the cultural character of the American South Southern Gothic Traits

3. Southern Gothic Gothic popular in Europe in 1800s Gothic popular in Europe in 1800s Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Dracula by Bram Stoker Dracula by Bram Stoker Takes classic Gothic archetypes, such as the monster or the heroic knight, and turns them into American Southerners Takes classic Gothic archetypes, such as the monster or the heroic knight, and turns them into American Southerners a spiteful, reclusive spinster a spiteful, reclusive spinster an uneducated drunk an uneducated drunk a quiet, wise lawyer a quiet, wise lawyer

4. Background Most notable feature is the “grotesque” Most notable feature is the “grotesque” a character whose negative qualities allow the author to highlight unpleasant aspects in Southern culture a character whose negative qualities allow the author to highlight unpleasant aspects in Southern culture Something in the town, the house, the farm is bizarre and often falling apart Something in the town, the house, the farm is bizarre and often falling apart

5. Defining Feature Cast of off-kilter characters Broken bodies, minds or souls Used to symbolize problems created by the established pattern Used to question established pattern’s morality and ethical justification The “Innocent” is a common character, who may or may not be “broken,” but who often acts as a redeemer for others

6. Other Specific Features of Southern Gothic Freakishness Freakishness Outsider Outsider Imprisonment Imprisonment Violence Violence Sense of Place Sense of Place

7. Freakishness In most Southern gothic stories, there is an important character who is set apart from the world in a negative way by a disability or an odd, and often negative way of seeing the world.

8. Outsider Southern novels are filled with characters who are set a part from the established cultural pattern, but who end up being heroes because their difference allows them to see new ways of doing things that ultimately help to bring people out of the “dark.” Southern novels are filled with characters who are set a part from the established cultural pattern, but who end up being heroes because their difference allows them to see new ways of doing things that ultimately help to bring people out of the “dark.”

9. Imprisonment Often both literal and figurative. Often both literal and figurative. Many Southern gothic tales include an incident where a character is sent to jail or locked up. Many Southern gothic tales include an incident where a character is sent to jail or locked up. There are also Southern gothic characters that live in prison. There are also Southern gothic characters that live in Fate's prison.

10. Violence Racial, social and class difference often create underlying tension in Southern gothic novels that threatens, and usually does, erupt in violent ways

11. Sense of Place You can’t read a Southern Gothic novel without understanding what a Southern town “feels” like: Old small towns Houses have front porches with rocking chairs Old downtown with stately but worn-down buildings

12. Flannery O’Connor An only child Born on March 25, 1925 in Savannah, Georgia Life-long Roman Catholic Novelist and short story writer

13. She then entered Georgia State College for Women (now known as Georgia College and State University) where she majored in English and Sociology. She graduated from the Peabody Laboratory School in 1942.

14. Flannery O’ Connor is renown for many works: ■ Wise Blood ■ “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” ■ The Violent Bear It Away ■ “Everything that Rises Must Converge”

15. In 1949, Flannery O’Connor decided to live with Robert and Sally Fitzgerald in Redding, Connecticut.

16. In 1951, O’Connor was diagnosed with lupus and returned to Milledgeville.

17. And raised 100 peafowl.

18. Flannery O’Connor died at the age of 39 on August 3, 1964 from disseminated lupus. (1925-1964)