ENGL 1005 Literature: A Global Perspective - Week 5, Day 1

Housekeeping

• No tutorials this week; regular scheduled lecture in the lecture hall.
• Guest speaker: Lindsay McNiff from the Killam Library.
• Upcoming reading: The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (Chapters 1-16).

Overview of Setting

• Definition of Setting: Refers to the when and where of a literary work; the locale where the action unfolds.
• It is not merely background; it actively influences the narrative and action.
• Setting involves descriptions as seen and conveyed by the narrator or characters, often carries emotional and psychological weight.

Thought Experiment on Setting

• Scenario 1: Two sisters stay in a cramped, dusty, hot room.
  • Potential story themes: neglect, tension, claustrophobia.
• Scenario 2: The same sisters enjoy a sunny day at the beach.
  • Potential story themes: freedom, joy, warmth.

Mood and Setting

• Setting infuses mood, which refers to emotional response or state of mind.
• Pathetic Fallacy: Assigning human emotions to nature and the environment.

Angela Carter

• British author (1940-1992) known for her diverse works: novels, poems, essays, short stories.
• Most recognized for The Bloody Chamber, which contains feminist retellings of fairy tales.
• Neogothic Writing Style: Characterized by dark, fantastical themes and complex characters.

Analysis of Carter's The Werewolf

• Opening Passage: Describes a harsh northern landscape - cold weather, poverty, and death in a gothic style.
• Gothic Elements: Key themes include horror, mystery, and supernatural elements, often set in desolate landscapes.
• Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood: Subverts traditional narratives by presenting an empowered protagonist.
  • Quotes:
  • “When she heard that freezing howl of a wolf… she dropped her gifts, seized her knife, and turned on the beast.”
  • The child is connected with her dangerous surroundings and is depicted as actively asserting her agency.

Le Guin's The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

• Setting Description: An idyllic city filled with festivals, joy, and aesthetic beauty.
• Concept of Utopia: Represents a perfect society devoid of guilt or suffering.
• Interior Setting: Contrasting the beautiful city, a locked, dark room symbolizes hidden suffering, housing a child in horrible conditions.

The Child as Sacrifice

• The child's suffering underpins the utopian happiness of Omelas, emphasizing moral complexity.
• The story raises questions about collective happiness at the expense of an innocent being.

Themes of Choice

• Those Who Leave Omelas: Some individuals reject this happiness and choose to leave, symbolizing moral dissent.
• The story proposes an allegorical interpretation, questioning the morality of societal happiness based on exploitation.