Gothic Literature

Gothic Literature A Review Guide

Gothic Literature • Literature characterized by grotesque characters, bizarre situations, and violent events • Popular in the 1800s • Major writers include Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne

Think “Gothic” • Some gothic buzzwords are: • Evil • Fantastic • Distorted • Fear • Insane • Grotesque • Horror • Death • Torture • Nothing ever dies • Revenge from beyond the grave

Edgar Allan Poe • The “Master of the Macabre,” Poe was the main writer in the gothic movement • Male narrators are often insane, female characters are often dead (or dying) • Plots include murder, torture, ghosts

Poe’s Tragic Life • Born in 1809 to actor parents; died 1849 • By age three his father had left and mother died of tuberculosis • Lived with foster parents, John & Frances Allan; Frances died when Poe was 20 • At 22, Poe lived with his aunt & 1st cousin, Virginia, who he married when she was 13 • Virginia died of tuberculosis at 24 • Poe’s death is still mysterious; some feel it was alcohol-related, others suspect rabies!

“The Raven” by Poe • The narrator grieves alone in his chamber, when a raven flies in and lands on a statue above the door. He asks the raven if his lost love, Lenore, is in heaven. The raven replies only, “Nevermore.” • Sound Devices in “The Raven” • Internal and end rhyme • Rhyme scheme • Alliteration/consonance

Sound Devices • Internal Rhyme • “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary…” • End Rhyme • “Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door-- Only this and nothing more.” • Rhyme Scheme- the pattern of end rhyme • Weary a • Lore b • Tapping c • Door b • Door b • More b

Rhyme Scheme Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.  "'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door --   Only this, and nothing more.” Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,   And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; -- vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow -- sorrow for the lost Lenore --  For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -   Nameless here for evermore.

Alliteration & Consonance • Used to add musical quality to poems; Poe used them to make the poem sound more dreamlike; as if under a spell • Alliteration: repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words • Consonance: repetition of consonant sounds within and at the ends of words • Assonance: repetition of vowel sounds within words

“The Pit & The Pendulum” by Poe • A prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition is sentenced to death, and sent to a dark dungeon to await his death. He stumbles around the room in darkness and narrowly avoids falling into a pit filled with water. He falls into a deep sleep and awakes to find that he is shackled below a swinging pendulum with razor sharp edges, moving ever closer to him. He is freed from the ties when he rubs meat on the ropes and rats chew through them. Soon, the walls become red hot and begin to close in, bringing him ever closer to the pit. Just as it looks like he will die, General Lasalle bursts in and saves him.

Suspense • Suspense is the excitement or tension that readers feel as they become involved in a story and eagerly await the outcome • It may cause a growing feeling of anxiety as the reader becomes curious about the outcome of a story, and anticipate resolution of a conflict

“The Masque of the Red Death” by Poe • An allegory about an arrogant prince who tries to avoid the plague by sealing up his abbey with 1,000 of his closest friends; they enjoy six months, until a “mystery guest” arrives and kills the prince, then the rest of the revelers one by one

Allegory • A work in which most of the people, places & things stand for abstract qualities, like greed, or pride • In “Masque,” the prince stands for selfishness, the abbey stands for security, the clock stands for time, or impending doom, and the stranger stands for death, aka the plague

“The Black Cat” by Poe • An animal lover slowly descends into alcohol-induced madness. He becomes increasingly cruel to his wife and especially his cat. One day, he gouges out the cat’s eye, and later hangs the cat from a tree. As time passes, he replaces the cat, but is stunned as it’s markings start to resemble a noose. He decides to kill the new cat, but when his wife stays his hand, he lashes out in rage & kills his wife. He buries her in the basement, then looks to finish off the cat but it is gone. Police arrive, and thinking he has committed the perfect crime, the narrator pounds on the basement wall. A beastly cry emits from the wall, the police tear it down, and find the body of the slain wife, as well as the black cat!

Nathaniel Hawthorne • Born in 1804 in Salem, MA • Died in 1864 • A descendant of Judge Hathorne, famous in the Salem Witch Trials • Gained success and acclaim as a writer, but still died in poverty • Famous friends included Longfellow and Emerson

“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Hawthorne • A bizarre doctor invites four elderly guests over to help with his experiment. He has a bottle full of water from the fountain of youth. He drops a withered rose in the water which becomes revitalized. The guests are invited to drink the water, but first, Heidegger advises them to write down some ground rules to prevent them from making the same mistakes again. They refuse, and when “young” again, they revert to their old ways. As they celebrate, they spill the water, then vow to travel to Florida to find the fountain of youth. Dr. Heidegger learns that he doesn’t want to be young again b/c he would not have all the experience and wisdom that he has today.

Each guest in the “experiment” stands for a quality intended to teach the audience a moral lesson. • Mr. Medbourne is a failed speculator who loses his money. When given a second chance at youth, he immediately schemes to make $$ again. He symbolizes “Greed.” • Col. Killigrew is an unhealthy man who spent his youth partying. When he regains his youth, he quickly reverts to partying to excess. He symbolizes “Gluttony.”

Mr. Gascoigne is a ruined politician who immediately tries to get back into politics when he is given a second chance. He stands for “Corruption” and “Ambition.” • Widow Wycherly was once a great beauty. When she becomes young again, she admirers herself in the mirror and flirts with the men. She symbolizes “Vanity.” • The lesson is that it is better to be older and wiser, than young, but lacking wisdom and judgment. • What does Dr. Heidegger stand for?

Southern Gothic • Coming Soon

Gothic Literature