Poe, Jacobs, & Douglass Quiz (Romanticism Part II & Civil Rights)

Edgar Allen Poe’s parents, family, & job

died by age two; taken in by John Allan but never adopted; joined army at age 18

Who did Poe marry?

His cousin Virginia; Aunt Mary’s daughter; she was 13

How did Poe gain noteriety?

as a critic with “slashing reviews”; fired multiple times for drinking & demanding higher salaries

What were Poe’s jobs?

working for journals and magazines while publishing poetry & short stories

Poe’s aesthetics

poetry should appeal only to sense of beauty rather than trying to teach lessons or pass on info/knowledge

Unity of effect

short enough to be read in one sitting; author should decide on how the audience should feel before writing & make written choices support that effect

Short stories

appeal to the mass market but explore irrationality, violence, & possibilities of one’s mind & consciousness

Gothic horror

battle between humanity & unnatural forces of evil; villains as metaphors for human vices or temptations

Setting of gothic horror

desolate, inescapable, claustrophobic landscape

Gothic horror can include

psychological trauma, emotion, terrible secrets, abuse of power

Examples of gothic horror

Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Haunting of Hill House

Life of Harriet Jacobs

first slave narrative from AA woman; grew up in a trad family household; work was seen as fictional because of different names

Dr. Norcrom/Flint

pursued Harriet sexually & made wife jealously mistreat Harriet

Mr. Sawyer/Sands

father of Harriet’s children; was used to avoid & as protection from Norcrom/Flint; relationship seen as sinful

When was Harriet emancipated?

1852

When did Harriet escape?

1842

Target audience for Jacobs’ narrativw

Christian white women

Maternal instinct

Harriet’s mother dying at 6 & mistress at 12; Grandmother breastfeeding mistress’s children rather than her own

Appeal to audience in sections 2 & 10

speaks to audience directly to explain reasoning for relationship with Mr. Sawyer/Sands