Period 2 Dark Romantics Review

Dark Romanticism

“The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving

Plot Summary

• Meeting in the Swamp: Tom Walker meets the devil; skeptical of his powers and reluctant to accept the deal for fortune.

• Relationship with Wife: Engaged in constant arguments.

• Wife's Disappearance: She goes to make her own deal with the devil; Tom finds she loses in her encounter.

• Tom's Path to Fortune: Engages in dishonest practices, scamming others while pretending to be a devout Christian, maintaining an appearance of wealth and respectability.

• Story Conclusion: Tom Walker is taken away by the devil, symbolized by a horse with the devil riding it.

Author's Intentions, Tone, and Bias

• Slavery Reference: Tom refuses to work in the slave trade, reflecting Irving's anti-slavery stance.

• Economic Commentary: Tom represents the negative aspects of the economic boom, exploiting those less fortunate.

• Hypocrisy: He pretends to be Christian to gain social power, underscoring the moral decay.

Romanticism and Edgar Allan Poe

Overview of Romanticism

• Shift from Enlightenment to Emotions: Emphasizes feelings over rational thought.

• Nature vs. Man: Nature is viewed as perfect; humans are seen as flawed.

• Idealism: Encourages individuals to aspire beyond their limitations.

• Sublime and Terrifying: Acknowledges both beauty and horror as sources of inspiration.

• Optimistic Perspective: Romantics display an idealistic view of the world.

Edgar Allan Poe Biography

• Background: Southern writer known for gothic tales; struggled financially.

• Writing Style: Favored tales of horror reflecting personal loss; his famous poem "The Raven" is noted despite financial failure.

• Legacy: Considered the first professional writer and recognized as the father of the detective story with works like "Murder of the Rue Morgue."

• Themes of Death: Fascination with mortality, likely due to personal experiences with illness in loved ones.

Poe Poetry Worksheet

To Helen

• Structure: AABB rhyme scheme, lyrical.

• Stanza Themes:

  • 1st Stanza: Beauty compared to a sailor's return.

  • 2nd Stanza: Desire for intimacy; physical description of Helen.

  • 3rd Stanza: Referencing Cupid and Psyche, emphasizing love's unification.

El Dorado

• Rhyme Scheme: AABCCB.

• Stanza Symbolism:

  • 1st Stanza: Darkness and despair.

  • 2nd Stanza: Doubt.

  • 3rd Stanza: Death and acceptance.

Annabel Lee

• First Stanza: Sets the timeless nature of love.

• Seraphs Jealousy: Depicts divine envy toward their love.

• Death of Annabel: Tuberculosis implied as her cause of death.

• Narrator's Condition: A descent into madness; maintains a connection beyond death.

“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

Summary

• Plot: A grieving man confronts the haunting raven, lamenting Lenore's death while spiraling into despair triggered by the raven's refrain of "Nevermore."

Notes

• Perspective: First-person; contributes to somber mood.

• Tone: Dark, melancholic, echoing personal grief and madness.

Themes

• Grief and Loss: The narrator's inability to move on.

• Madness: Gradual psychological decline due to sorrow.

• Supernatural Elements: The raven symbolizes a connection to darkness and despair.

Literary Devices

• Internal Rhyme: Creates rhythmic harmony.

• Symbolism: The raven embodies death and mourning.

• Personification: Assigns human traits to the raven, enhancing its ominous presence.

“The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

Summary

• Plot: A man sentenced to death faces psychological and physical torture as he narrowly escapes death multiple times.

• Characters: Narrator, captors, General Lasalle, rats.

Class Notes

• Themes of Torture: Psychological anticipation proves more torturous than the actual threat of death.

• Human Survival: Instinct to live encourages the narrator to find means of escape despite dire circumstances.

Literary Elements

• Setting: Historical context of the Spanish Inquisition enhances fearfulness.

• Allegory: Represents the human struggle against inevitable death.

“Rappaccini’s Daughter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Summary

• Plot: Giovanni is drawn to Beatrice but discovers she is poison. Their love grows alongside the danger posed by her nature.

Class Notes

• Rappaccini’s Experiment: Juxtaposes beauty and corruption, illustrating unintended consequences of unchecked ambition.

Author's Intentions, Tone, and Bias

• Exploration of Themes: Examines the dark ties between love, ambition, and moral corruption.

• Tone: Dark and dreary, reflecting pessimistic outlook on humanity's capability for destruction.