American Gothic Tales Romanticism Artistic movement that dominated

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American Gothic Tales

American Gothic Tales

Romanticism Artistic movement that dominated Europe and America during the 19 th century Elevated

Romanticism Artistic movement that dominated Europe and America during the 19 th century Elevated imagination and intuition over fact Reveled in nature Accented fantastic aspects of human experience

American Gothic Rooted in European (English) Gothic literature Firmly established in Europe before making

American Gothic Rooted in European (English) Gothic literature Firmly established in Europe before making its way to America Branch of Romanticism Concern with frontier wilderness anxiety and lasting Puritanical ideas Imagination leads to the unknown – shadowy region of fantastic, demonic and insane Gothics see potential for evil in individual Peering into the darkness of the supernatural

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Cultural attitudes Revealed about people living in New England

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Cultural attitudes Revealed about people living in New England in the 1720 s Irving does not reveal these attitudes directly – he suggests them through the details of the story Make Inferences, or draw conclusions, about cultural attitudes based on the details Irving provides

Washington Irving First American writer to achieve international reputation Grew up in New York’s

Washington Irving First American writer to achieve international reputation Grew up in New York’s Hudson Valley Lived in Europe from 1815 -32 Best example of early Colonial American Gothic fiction Inspired by European folk tradition Wrote Tales of a Traveler while in Europe, which includes “The Devil and Tom Walker”

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Setting: Eastern shore of the Hudson River in New

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Setting: Eastern shore of the Hudson River in New York state where many Dutch settled (Tarry Town) Frontier – “Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles, there is a little valley, or rather lap of land, among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world. …” (p. 19) Romantic/Gothic setting Quiet, tranquil, solitude, nature

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Gothic elements “Some say that the place was bewitched

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Gothic elements “Some say that the place was bewitched by a high German doctor, during the early days of the settlement; others, that an old Indian chief, the prophet or wizard of his tribe, held powwows there before the country was discovered by Master Hendrick Hudson” (p. 20). Mystical, magical, witchcraft Dark side of the human mind – highlight the fantastic elements of Sleepy Hollow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Legendary superstition Apparition of a figure on horseback without

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Legendary superstition Apparition of a figure on horseback without a head Ghost of Hessian trooper Haunts extend out of Sleepy Hollow to adjacent roads, especially to the church Rides nightly to the scene of the battle in which he lost his head Rides quickly to return to churchyard before day break

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Single effect In a short story, every detail leads

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Single effect In a short story, every detail leads to one single effect No extra details exist – everything in the story leads to the climax and resolution Short stories also lack character development Static character vs. Dynamic character Physical descriptions of both Ichabod and Brom Neither changes from the beginning of the story to the end of the story

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Ichabod Crane Sojourned or “tarried” in Sleepy Hollow Teacher

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Ichabod Crane Sojourned or “tarried” in Sleepy Hollow Teacher Native of Connecticut – heart of Puritanism and education Tall & lank, narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, “hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together” … (p. 21) Resembled a scarecrow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Brom Bones Dutchman & native of Sleepy Hollow Outdoorsman

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Brom Bones Dutchman & native of Sleepy Hollow Outdoorsman – modern day “redneck” “the hero of the country round, which rang with his feats of strength and hardihood. He was broadshouldered and double-jointed, with short curly black hair, and a bluff, but not unpleasant countenance, having a mingled air of fun and arrogance. From his Herculean frame and great powers of limb …” (p. 28) Comparison to Greek legend – incredible strength

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Conflict Again single effect – there’s only one conflict

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Conflict Again single effect – there’s only one conflict Ichabod vs. Brom in quest of Katrina Van Tassel’s love Ichabod able to steal the show with his dancing even though he is less desirable and/or attractive than Brom As a result, Brom sits brooding in the corner

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Gothic elements Dark corners of the human mind Brom’s

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Gothic elements Dark corners of the human mind Brom’s “bullying” of Ichabod (p. 31) Van Ripper’s horse Gunpowder – broken down, vicious old steed Tales of ghosts and apparitions (p. 36) Major Andre – “the great tree where the unfortunate Major Andre was taken” Brom’s tale of the Headless Horseman Brom’s horse – Daredevil outrunning the Headless Horseman Ichabod stays behind setting up climax

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Climax/Resolution What is the single effect achieved by Irving?

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Climax/Resolution What is the single effect achieved by Irving? Ichabod Crane leaves and is chased by the Headless Horseman (or possibly Brom Bones). Crane is hit by a pumpkin and thrown from his horse, never to be seen or heard from again Dark corners of the human mind Was it the Headless Horseman or Brom Bones? Headless Horseman a creation of Brom

Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorne New England author Wrote The Scarlet Letter – shows

Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorne New England author Wrote The Scarlet Letter – shows Puritan preoccupation with sin, salvation 19 th century author who wrote about the 17 th century Wrote about heart, personality, power of conscience New England forests – Early American frontier

Young Goodman Brown Salem Witch Trials Puritanism – Strictly religious, morality, punishment Temptation always

Young Goodman Brown Salem Witch Trials Puritanism – Strictly religious, morality, punishment Temptation always loomed What does the title suggest?

Young Goodman Brown Terms to know Irony – effect gained by implying a meaning

Young Goodman Brown Terms to know Irony – effect gained by implying a meaning quite different from apparent or literal meaning Connotation – implied or suggested meaning of words (denotation is literal meaning)

Young Goodman Brown Foreshadowing immediately Wife’s name – Faith Troubling dreams Faith asks him

Young Goodman Brown Foreshadowing immediately Wife’s name – Faith Troubling dreams Faith asks him to stay home Doubt – only married three months Goodman Brown has “a present evil purpose”

Young Goodman Brown Mood Dreary road, gloomiest trees, forest Narrow path, closed behind him

Young Goodman Brown Mood Dreary road, gloomiest trees, forest Narrow path, closed behind him Lonely, peculiar, solitude What if the Devil himself be at my very elbow? “Faith kept me back awhile. ” Double meaning

Young Goodman Brown People of prayer Knows what he is doing is wrong Searching

Young Goodman Brown People of prayer Knows what he is doing is wrong Searching for witches? Goody Gloyse – a witch His companion – a witch?

Young Goodman Brown Two men on horseback Deacon Gookin & the minster Going to

Young Goodman Brown Two men on horseback Deacon Gookin & the minster Going to a witch’s ordination Dark cloud passes overhead Goodman hears familiar voices, including Faith Pink ribbon falls from the sky – symbolic? “My Faith is gone. ” – double meaning again Temptation – instinct guides mortal men to evil

Young Goodman Brown Witch in all of us Sin – hidden “Evil is the

Young Goodman Brown Witch in all of us Sin – hidden “Evil is the nature of mankind – evil must be your only happiness” A dream? Reveals man’s sins Goodman Brown becomes distrustful

The Lonesome Place Narrative perspective – first-person limited Provides only the details that the

The Lonesome Place Narrative perspective – first-person limited Provides only the details that the narrator knows and are shared through quotes with other characters Man reflecting on his experiences as a young boy walking down a dark street through low-hanging trees in their neighborhood at night Reveals he and Johnny Newell have committed murder Single effect – everything (all details and events) contributes to the climax/resolution

The Lonesome Place Gothic elements Setting “There it was, half a block long, black

The Lonesome Place Gothic elements Setting “There it was, half a block long, black as black could be, dark as the deepest night, with the shadows of the trees making it a solid place of darkness, with the faint glow of light where a streetlight pooled at the end of the street, far away it seemed, and that other glow behind, where the other corner light lay” (192)

The Lonesome Place Gothic elements Steve and Johnny Newell admit at the beginning that

The Lonesome Place Gothic elements Steve and Johnny Newell admit at the beginning that they murdered someone Dark corners of the human mind Did Johnny and Steve actually murder someone? Two boys (now men) allow their imaginations to run wild The Lonesome Place, the Thing, running through the darkness

The Black Cat Edgar Allan Poe Father of the short story/horror story Inventor of

The Black Cat Edgar Allan Poe Father of the short story/horror story Inventor of the detective story Wrote psychological thrillers Used vivid imagery Explored altered mental states Focused on the dark side of human nature

The Black Cat Single Effect (unity of effect) Short story should be constructed to

The Black Cat Single Effect (unity of effect) Short story should be constructed to achieve “a certain unique or single effect” In other words - every element of a story should help create a single emotional impact (from http: //www. poemuseum. org/teachers-poestechnique. php) Every character, incident, and detail in a short story should contribute to this effect

The Black Cat Creating suspense Shadows of the imagination – fascinated by the dark

The Black Cat Creating suspense Shadows of the imagination – fascinated by the dark reaches of the imagination, which can inhabit the mind when a person is under great stress Also employ foreshadowing Suspense – Feeling of growing uncertainty about outcome of events

The Black Cat How is suspense created? Writers raise questions in the minds of

The Black Cat How is suspense created? Writers raise questions in the minds of readers Because readers are concerned or curious, they keep reading to find out what will happen next Suspense builds until the climax of the plot, at which point the suspense reaches its peak -----resolving suspense

The Black Cat Other literary terms Climax – high point of interest or suspense

The Black Cat Other literary terms Climax – high point of interest or suspense in a literary work; generally appears near end of story, play, or narrative poem Hyperbole – Deliberate exaggeration or overstatement; often used for comic effect Ex: The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge

The Black Cat More literary terms Conflict – Struggle between opposing forces; can be

The Black Cat More literary terms Conflict – Struggle between opposing forces; can be internal (within a character) or external (between a character and an outside force); primary element of narrative literature because most plots develop from conflicts Irony – Contrast between what is stated and what is meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually happens Types of irony – Verbal, Dramatic, Situational