Journal 1-7 What do you associate with “Gothic”? What do you associate with “Gothic”? Make a...
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Journal 1-7 What do you associate with “Gothic”? What do you associate with “Gothic”? Make a list of all the people, places, things, ideas, authors, films,
Journal 1-7 What do you associate with Gothic? What do you
associate with Gothic? Make a list of all the people, places,
things, ideas, authors, films, music, etc. that comes to your mind.
Make a list of all the people, places, things, ideas, authors,
films, music, etc. that comes to your mind. As a group, select 3-5
items to write on the board. As a group, select 3-5 items to write
on the board. Also, answer the following questions: Why did you
take this class? What do you hope to learn from this class? Also,
answer the following questions: Why did you take this class? What
do you hope to learn from this class?
Slide 2
Gothic Literature And the Works of Edgar Allan Poe
Slide 3
The Gothic
Slide 4
The Gothic Tradition The words Goth and Gothic describe the
Germanic tribes (e.g., Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths) which sacked
Rome and also ravaged the rest of Europe in the third, fourth, and
fifth centuries. The words Goth and Gothic describe the Germanic
tribes (e.g., Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths) which sacked Rome and
also ravaged the rest of Europe in the third, fourth, and fifth
centuries. By the eighteenth century in England, Gothic had become
synonymous with the Middle Ages, a period which was in disfavor
because it was perceived as chaotic, unenlightened, and
superstitious. By the eighteenth century in England, Gothic had
become synonymous with the Middle Ages, a period which was in
disfavor because it was perceived as chaotic, unenlightened, and
superstitious.
Slide 5
Horace Walpole 24 September 1717 - 2 March 1797 Walpole wrote
what is considered the first gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto
(very melodramatic) Walpole wrote what is considered the first
gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto (very melodramatic) Published
in 1764 Published in 1764 Inspired by his reconstruction of his
home and a nightmare hed had Inspired by his reconstruction of his
home and a nightmare hed had
Slide 6
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Slide 8
Frankensteins Monster
Slide 9
Gothic Architecture The Gothic tradition was also reflected in
architecture: vaulted ceilings, arches, stained glass windows,
gargoyles
Slide 10
Gothic architecture 12 th ~16 th century Gothic architecture
used pointed arches and vaults, flying buttresses, narrow spires,
stained glass windows, intricate traceries, and varied details; its
upward movement was meant to suggest heavenward aspiration. Gothic
architecture used pointed arches and vaults, flying buttresses,
narrow spires, stained glass windows, intricate traceries, and
varied details; its upward movement was meant to suggest heavenward
aspiration.
Slide 11
Gargoylescarvings of small deformed creatures squatting at the
corners and crevices of Gothic cathedrals were supposed to ward off
evil spirits, but they often look more like demonic spirits
themselves. Gargoylescarvings of small deformed creatures squatting
at the corners and crevices of Gothic cathedrals were supposed to
ward off evil spirits, but they often look more like demonic
spirits themselves. Think of the gargoyle as a mascot of Gothic,
and you will get an idea of the kind of imaginative distortion of
reality that Gothic represents. Think of the gargoyle as a mascot
of Gothic, and you will get an idea of the kind of imaginative
distortion of reality that Gothic represents.
Slide 12
Notre Dame
Slide 13
Gothic vs. Romanticism Romantic writers celebrated the beauties
of nature. Gothic writers were peering into the darkness at the
supernatural. Romanticism developed as a reaction against the
rationalism of the Age of Reason. The romantics freed the
imagination from the hold of reason, so they could follow their
imagination wherever it might lead. For some Romantics, when they
looked at the individual, they saw hope For some Romantic writers,
the imagination led to the threshold of the unknown the shadowy
region where the fantastic, the demonic and the insane reside. When
the Gothic's saw the individual, they saw the potential of
evil.
Slide 14
Gothic Movement in America The Gothic Tradition was firmly
established in Europe before American writers had made names for
themselves. By the 19 th 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 was the master of the Gothic form in the United
States.
Slide 15
Slide 16
The deathof 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
Slide 17
Edgar Allan Poe His biography is often distorted His biography
is often distorted His life was filled with personal tragedy and
professional failure His life was filled with personal tragedy and
professional failure Poe drank to escape this failure but had a low
tolerance for alcohol Poe drank to escape this failure but had a
low tolerance for alcohol Numerous women whom he loved died, most
from tuberculosis 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 His true
love, his wife Virginia died from tuberculosis; Poe watched her
slowly die for five years
Slide 18
The death of a beautiful woman 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 was a common topic of his works because he had
experienced such loss himself, including his stepmother, his
childhood love, and his wife
Slide 19
Poes professional life was full of failure Poes professional
life was full of failure His greatest success was The Raven, which
brought him fame, but earned him only $14.00 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 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 He saw himself as a poet, but could not make a living from
writing poetry
Slide 20
Poe Poe can be considered the father of the modern horror
story, influencing writers such as Stephen King and Anne Rice
Slide 21
Slide 22
Poe explored the dark and often irrational side of the human
mind (Hawthorne explored the dark side of the human heart) Poe
explored the dark and often irrational side of the human mind
(Hawthorne explored the dark side of the human heart) His stories
often are filled with a sense of anxiety & have a dreamlike
quality His stories often are filled with a sense of anxiety &
have a dreamlike quality
Slide 23
Master of the Short Story Along with Nathaniel Hawthorne, Poe
perfected the modern short story Along with Nathaniel Hawthorne,
Poe perfected the modern short story Poe stressed a single dominant
effect in his short stories Poe stressed a single dominant effect
in his short stories The Premature Burial
Slide 24
Poe After the death of his wife, Poe went insane, desperately
trying to find someone to take her place After the death of his
wife, Poe went insane, desperately trying to find someone to take
her place His death remains a mystery; his final words were, God
help my poor soul. His death remains a mystery; his final words
were, God help my poor soul.
Slide 25
Six years ago, a wife whom I loved as no man ever loved before,
ruptured a blood-vessel in singing. Her life was despaired of. I
took leave of her forever, and underwent all the agonies of her
death. She recovered partially, and again I hoped. At the end of a
year, the vessel broke again. I went through precisely the same
scene. Again, in about a year afterward. Then againagainagainand
even once again, at varying intervals. Each time I felt all the
agonies of her deathand at each accession of the disorder I loved
her more dearly and clung to her life with more desperate
pertinacityI became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.
During these fits of absolute unconsciousness I drank, God only
knows how often or how much. - Edgar Allan Poe, 1848
Slide 26
Poe saw women as angelic figures: Women have been angels of
mercy to me. Poe saw women as angelic figures: Women have been
angels of mercy to me. Poes characters are often tortured by guilt
Poes characters are often tortured by guilt Poes stories are quite
modern in their psychoanalytical components Poes stories are quite
modern in their psychoanalytical components Like many of his
characters, Poe was caught between Like many of his characters, Poe
was caught between Rationality & irrationality Order &
chaos
Slide 27
Nathanial Hawthorne He also used Gothic elements in his work to
express what he felt were essential truths 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. Instead of looking at the mind for its
dysfunction, Hawthorne examined the human heart under conditions of
fear, vanity, mistrust, and betrayal.
Slide 28
Southern Gothic After the real horrors of the Civil War, the
Gothic tradition lost its popularity. After the real horrors of the
Civil War, the Gothic tradition lost its popularity. During the 20
th century, it made a comeback in the American South. During the 20
th century, it made a comeback in the American South. Authors like
William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, Truman Capote, and Flannery
OConnor are grouped together because of the gloom and pessimism of
their fiction. Authors like William Faulkner, Carson McCullers,
Truman Capote, and Flannery OConnor are grouped together because of
the gloom and pessimism of their fiction.
Slide 29
Archetypal Characters The Gothic hero becomes a sort of
archetype as we find that there is a pattern to his
characterization. There is always the protagonist, usually isolated
either voluntarily or involuntarily. Then there is the villain, who
is the epitome of evil, either by his (usually a man) own fall from
grace, or by some implicit malevolence. The Wanderer, found in many
Gothic tales, is the epitome of isolation as he wanders the earth
in perpetual exile, usually a form of divine punishment. The Gothic
hero becomes a sort of archetype as we find that there is a pattern
to his characterization. There is always the protagonist, usually
isolated either voluntarily or involuntarily. Then there is the
villain, who is the epitome of evil, either by his (usually a man)
own fall from grace, or by some implicit malevolence. The Wanderer,
found in many Gothic tales, is the epitome of isolation as he
wanders the earth in perpetual exile, usually a form of divine
punishment.
Slide 30
Basic Plot Structure for a Gothic Novel Action in the Gothic
novel tends to take place at night, or at least in a
claustrophobic, sunless environment. Action in the Gothic novel
tends to take place at night, or at least in a claustrophobic,
sunless environment. ascent (up a mountain high staircase); ascent
(up a mountain high staircase); descent (into a dungeon, cave,
underground chambers or labyrinth) or falling off a precipice;
secret passage; hidden doors; descent (into a dungeon, cave,
underground chambers or labyrinth) or falling off a precipice;
secret passage; hidden doors; the pursued maiden and the threat or
rape or abduction; the pursued maiden and the threat or rape or
abduction; physical decay, skulls, cemeteries, and other images of
death; ghosts; revenge; family curse; blood and gore; torture; the
Doppelganger (evil twin or double); demonic possession;
masking/shape-changing; black magic; madness; incest and other
broken sexual taboos. physical decay, skulls, cemeteries, and other
images of death; ghosts; revenge; family curse; blood and gore;
torture; the Doppelganger (evil twin or double); demonic
possession; masking/shape-changing; black magic; madness; incest
and other broken sexual taboos.
Slide 31
Other Gothic Novels 1765: Horace Walpole. The Castle of Otranto
1794: Ann Radcliffe. The Mysteries of Udolpho 1794: William Godwin.
Caleb Williams 1796: Mathew Lewis. The Monk 1798: Regina Maria
Roche. Clermont 1806: Ann Mary Hamilton. Montalva or Annals of
Guilt 1807: Charlotte Dacre. The Libertine 1818: Mary Shelly.
Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus 1820: Charles Robert Maturin.
Melmonth the Wanderer 1826: Ann Radcliff: Gaston de Blondeville
1826: William Child Green. The Abbot of Montserrat or The Pool of
Blood
Slide 32
Modern Gothic Novels Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier Rebecca by
Daphne Du Maurier Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bront Jane Eyre by
Charlotte Bront Wuthering Heights by Emily Bront Wuthering Heights
by Emily Bront
Slide 33
Other Gothic Writers Anne Rice Anne Rice Edgar Allan Poe Edgar
Allan Poe Joyce Carol Oates Joyce Carol Oates Stephen King Stephen
King Stephenie Meyer Stephenie Meyer