Dr Heideggers Experiment Nathaniel Hawthorne n old friend

Dr. Heidegger's Experiment Nathaniel Hawthorne

n old friend Deeply allegorical writer. n Hawthorne wrote about many Gothic themes. n

Literature n n Literature is like music There are certain “go to” techniques for the “artist” to reach his/her desired effect.

Six Traits of Gothicism 1. Gothic Architecture n 2. Dark Colors/Imagery n 3. Supernatural n

Six Traits of Gothicism n n n 4. The Dark Side of the Individual 5. Mental/Emotional Anguish 6. Allegory/Symbolism n How do these traits work in a story?

Objectives 1. Share and discuss your examples n 2. Analyze each trait’s effectiveness n 3. Discover what these traits bring to a story. n

Architecture n Student responses:

Architecture n Creepy laboratory (many quotes about it) n n “Dr. Heidegger's study must have been a very curious place. It was a dim, old-fashioned chamber, festooned with cobwebs, and besprinkled with antique dust” What does this do for the story?

Dark Imagery n Student responses:

Dark Imagery Some items carry dark imagery. n The book n Black ebony table n Red rose (black and red again)

Dark Imagery "My dear widow, you are charming!" cried Colonel Killigrew, whose eyes had been fixed upon her face…like darkness from the crimson daybreak. ” (p. 378) n “Their eyes grew clear and bright; a dark shade deepened among their silvery locks: (p. 379) n n How is Hawthorne using this trait?

Supernatural n Student responses

Supernatural Magical water n Mysterious mirror n The folio (book of magic) n n What do these things do for the story?

Dark Side of the Individual n Student responses

Dark Side of the Individual Mr. Gascoigne was a ruined politician, a man of evil fame n Fighting guests (“Hands on throats”) n n n What do these things do for the story? How might this trait be working differently than the previous 3?

Mental/Emotional Anguish n Student responses

Mental/Emotional Anguish Loss and gain (and loss) of youth. n Hawthorne loved this one! n n What’s different about what we gain from examples of this trait?

Theme n Complicated themes are being revealed: n n Impossibility of earthly perfection Loss of innocence n Can’t have youth and wisdom (Zack R)

Mental/Emotional Anguish n Another theme of this story is that a person’s character, once developed does not change over time, and when faced with conflict and adversity, his/her true character becomes boldly evident. - www. classicreader. com

Allegory/Symbolism n Student responses

Allegory/Symbols The Mirror = Failure n The Rose = Bride, Youth and natural balance, wisdom of age, the inevitability of death. n

Allegory The bride’s portrait = Failure, mistakes of youth n The magic book = ? ? ? (strong forces, moral stability) n

Allegory n Dr. Heidegger = God figure? The Guests = Lust, Greed, Vanity, Lies, Anti. Progress n

Other symbols The butterfly n The skeleton n The fountain of youth n The table n

In summary The traits help: n Create a mood/atmosphere n Develop (darker) themes n Challenge the reader to interpret meaning n

Two Questions: n 1. Was it real or a delusion? n n On a scrap piece, answer the following: 2. What is more valuable: n "Life is about having fun and having fun now" or live a quiet life, analyzing and correcting mistakes, with the aim to reach calm and happy life when you are old.