Gothic Notes

Part I: Literary Terms

Key Literary Concepts

• Theme: The central idea or message of a story, often reflecting a universal truth or lesson. For example, the theme of love and loss in The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.

• Plot: The sequence of events in a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Understanding plot structure is crucial for analyzing narrative flow.

• Climax: The turning point or moment of highest tension in a story, such as the climax in The Fall of the House of Usher when the protagonist confronts the supernatural elements of the house.

• Setting: The time and place in which a story takes place, which can significantly influence the mood and tone, as seen in the eerie settings of Gothic literature.

• Tone: The author's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and style, which can shift throughout a narrative to enhance emotional impact.

Characterization and Conflict

• Protagonist: The main character of the story, often facing a central conflict, such as Roderick Usher in The Fall of the House of Usher who battles his family's legacy.

• Antagonist: The character or force opposing the protagonist, which can be a person, society, or even an internal struggle.

• Direct Characterization: When the author explicitly describes a character's traits, providing clear insights into their personality.

• Indirect Characterization: When a character's traits are revealed through their actions, speech, thoughts, and interactions, allowing readers to infer characteristics.

• Conflict: The struggle between opposing forces (internal or external), which drives the narrative forward. For instance, the internal conflict of Montresor in The Cask of Amontillado as he seeks revenge.

Figurative Language and Irony

• Metaphor: A figure of speech that compares two things without using 'like' or 'as', enriching the text's imagery.

• Simile: A figure of speech that compares two things using 'like' or 'as', often used to create vivid imagery.

• Irony: A literary device where the intended meaning is different from the actual meaning, including situational, verbal, and dramatic irony, as seen in The Cask of Amontillado.

• Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, crucial for creating mood and atmosphere in Gothic literature.

• Symbol: An object, person, or event that represents a larger idea, such as the decaying mansion symbolizing the decline of the Usher family.

Part II: Gothic and Southern Gothic Notes

Gothic Literature Overview

• Origin: Gothic literature originated in England in the 18th century, characterized by its association with darkness and grandeur, reflecting societal fears and anxieties of the time.

• Settings: Common settings include dark, mysterious castles or mansions, isolated landscapes, and foggy environments that enhance the eerie atmosphere.

• Characteristics: Key characteristics include supernatural elements, madness or psychological torment, mystery and suspense, decay and death, and high emotion.

• Notable Authors: Influential authors include Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Horace Walpole, each contributing unique elements to the genre.

Southern Gothic Features

• Authors: Prominent Southern Gothic authors include William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Harper Lee, and Tennessee Williams, who explore the complexities of Southern life.

• Settings: Typical settings feature the American South, decaying plantations, and rural towns, often reflecting the region's historical and social issues.

• Characteristics: Southern Gothic literature is marked by grotesque characters, social and racial tensions, and themes of violence, mental illness, and moral corruption.

• Protagonists: Deeply flawed and disturbed protagonists often grapple with their past and societal expectations, as seen in O'Connor's works.

Part III: Short-Answer Questions

Imagery and Setting

• Mood Creation: Imagery and setting establish mood by using descriptive language that appeals to the senses. For example, a decaying mansion with flickering candlelight creates a suspenseful atmosphere.

• Example: In The Fall of the House of Usher, the description of the house and its surroundings contributes to the overall feeling of dread and foreboding.

Analysis of Key Texts

• The Fall of the House of Usher: Gothic elements include a decaying mansion, a doomed family bloodline, and themes of madness and psychological torment. The ending symbolizes the collapse of the Usher family line.

• The Cask of Amontillado: Irony is prevalent, with situational irony in Fortunato's name meaning 'fortunate' while he meets a tragic fate. Verbal irony is present as Montresor calls Fortunato his 'friend' while plotting revenge.

Part IV: Cold Reading

Point of View

• First Person: The narrator is a character in the story, using 'I' or 'we', providing a personal perspective.

• Second Person: The narrator addresses the reader directly using 'you', which is rare in fiction but can create an immersive experience.

• Third Person Limited: The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, allowing for a focused perspective.

• Third Person Omniscient: The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters, providing a broader understanding of the narrative.

Part V: Vocabulary

Key Vocabulary Terms

• Phantasmagoric: Something that has a fantastic or deceptive appearance, often used in Gothic literature to create surreal imagery.

• Cataleptical: A medical condition where a person's body becomes stiff and stops moving, relevant in discussions of madness.

• Sentience: The ability to experience feelings and sensations, often explored in character development.

• Doughty: Brave and persistent, a trait often found in protagonists facing adversity.

• Prolixity: The act of using too many words, which can detract from clarity in writing.

• Tarn: A small mountain lake, often used in Gothic settings to evoke isolation.

• Gossamer: A fine, filmy substance, often used in descriptions to create a delicate atmosphere.

• Cadaverousness: The quality of being like a corpse, enhancing the Gothic theme of death.

• Insipid: Lacking flavor, often used to describe dull characters or settings.

• Anomalous: Deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected, relevant in character analysis.