October 27 2012 Edgar Allan Poe and Gothic Literature Important Concepts of EAP Unit Elements of Gothic Literature Background on Edgar Allen Poe Comprehension of The Masque of the Red Death and The Raven ID: 497556
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The Week of October 27, 2012Edgar Allan Poe and Gothic Literature Slide2
Important Concepts of EAP Unit Elements of Gothic LiteratureBackground on Edgar Allen PoeComprehension of “The Masque of the Red Death” and “The Raven”Literary Elements: Allegory, Archetypes, Allusion, Symbolism, Unreliable NarratorVocabularyConnecting historical plagues and current events with the “Red Death”Summary, Making Connections, Note-TakingSlide3
Elements of Gothic LiteratureWhat makes a work Gothic is a combination of at least some of these elements:a castle, ruined or intact, haunted or not;ruined buildings which are sinister or which arouse a pleasing melancholy;dungeons, underground passages, crypts, and catacombs which, in modern houses, become spooky basements or attics;Slide4
Gothic Elements continued:labyrinths, dark corridors, and winding stairs, shadows, a beam of moonlight in the blackness, a flickering candle, or the only source of light failing (a candle blown out or an electric failure), extreme landscapes, like rugged mountains, thick forests, or icy wastes, and extreme weather, omens and ancestral curses, Slide5
…yet more Gothic Elements:magic, supernatural manifestations, or the suggestion of the supernatural,a passion-driven, willful villain-hero or villain,a curious heroine with a tendency to faint and a need to be rescued–frequently,a hero whose true identity is revealed by the end of the novel,horrifying (or terrifying) events or the threat of such happenings.Slide6
GothicArchitectureSlide7
Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, FranceSlide8
Interior of Chartres CathedralSlide9
Elevation of Chartres CathedralSlide10
Rosslyn ChapelRoslin, Midlothian, ScotlandBuilt in 1456 Slide11Slide12
“For some of us--and I include myself, the prospect of safely experiencing dread or horror is thrilling and enjoyable.” Lilia MelaniSlide13
"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." — Edgar Allan Poe
19th Century Genius1809-1849
Edgar Allan PoeSlide14
Parents:Biological Parents: The PoesDavid—drank heavily
Elizabeth—deserted by husband and died at young ageEdgar was left an orphan Adopted Parents: The Allans
John—became Edgar’s guardian and provided for his education, but never supported his decisions
Francis—adored Edgar, but never legally adopted him
Edgar took Allan as his middle name, wanted to feel like he belongedSlide15
Writing Career:Most known for his Gothic writingsGothic-a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance.Nicknamed “The Father of the Detective Story”
Most respected for his career as an essayist and editor of the Southern Literary MessengerSlide16
Writing Career:Most prestigious poem—”The Raven”Other detective stories“The Purloined Letter”“The Fall of the House of Usher”“The Cask of Amontillado”
“The Tell-Tale Heart”Slide17
Personal Life:Lived with his Aunt, Maria Clemm, during times of financial hardshipFell in love and married Clemm’s
daughter, Virginia, when she was 13Virginia was Poe’s cousinSlide18
Tragedy:Many people close to Poe died.Mrs. Poe-tuberculosis Mrs. Allan-tuberculosisVirginia-tuberculosis
Much of his life was lived in poverty. He was never able to provide for his wife. Slide19
Death:Found half-dead in an alley in Baltimore.Died 4 days later in a hospital.Cause of death was unknown, but could be attributed to alcoholism, drugs, or other illness. Slide20
Just some Facts:Poe always wore black—reinforcing the Gothic theme.Always spoke in a whisper or low tones, even in a violent discussion.Wrote a short story about travelling to the moon.Slide21
PoeSlide22
Masque of the Red DeathSlide23
The bubonic plague - The Black DeathBegan in Sicily in 1347Carried on ships from the EastCarriers were rats/fleas!Trading ships carried the plague inland to ItalyConditions in the cities was perfect for the plague
No regulated garbage collectionsRefuse accumulated in piles in the streetsRushes were used instead of rugs—creating a breeding ground for verminNo running water—no regular bathingSlide24
The bubonic plague - The Black DeathPrecautions:Isolation“play today for we die tomorrow”Flee!Result:Bodies piled up in the streets and were removed with carts
Mass burials in ditchesFleas on RatsSlide25
Shroud: (verb) to cover, screen, or hideSlide26
tangible: (adjective) something you can physically touch or mentally wrap your mind aroundSlide27
Piquancy: (adjective) spicy, hot, caliente! Slide28
Habiliments: (plural noun) clothesSlide29
Imperial: (adjective) royal, kingly Slide30
Castellated: (verb, past tense) like a castleSlide31
Pestilence: (noun) a diseaseSlide32
Propriety: (adjective) having good, proper mannersSlide33
Buffoon: (noun) usually an ill-educated or stupid person; clown.Slide34
Visage: (noun) a face Slide35
Reveler: (noun) a party-goer Slide36
Profuse: (adjective) having a great abundanceSlide37
Ebony: (adjective) synonym for blackSlide38
Sedated: (verb, past tense) drowsy, very tired Slide39
Emanating: (verb) to come out from a sourceSlide40
Sagacious: (adjective) wiseSlide41
Cessation: (noun) stoppingSlide42
Pervaded: (verb—past tense) to completely fillSlide43
Contagion: (noun) something that spreads rapidlySlide44
What does the color blue represent?The east (directional not cultural)BeginningsBirth“unknown”- (Bolt out of the blue.)Sin: LustNature: water
It can also mean: peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, order, security, cleanliness, loyalty, cold, technology, depression. Slide45
What does the color purple represent?Combination of blue (birth) and red (life/intensity)Beginnings of growth A period of life when something was accomplishedSin: Pride
Nature: animalsIt can also mean: royalty, spirituality, nobility, ceremony, mystery, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning. Slide46
What does the color green represent?“spring of life”- (In the prime of his years)YouthSin: EnvyNature: plantsIt can also mean: nature, environment, health, good luck, renewal, youth, vigor, spring, envy, generosity, jealousy, inexperienceSlide47
What does the color orange represent?Summer/autumn of life- (beyond his prime but not yet old)“The harvest or fulfillment of human labor and ambition.” - Kermit VanderbiltSin: GluttonyNature: energy/ Balance – Sun
It can also mean: energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrancy, expansiveness, flamboyance, demands for attention, often worn by the self-sacrificing hero, worn by Buddhist monkSlide48
What does the color white represent?Suggests ageWhite hairBonesDecomposition- approaching deathNature: The Sun
It can also mean: reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, marriage (in Western cultures), cold, death (in Eastern cultures)Slide49
What does the color violet represent?Combination of purple/blue or purple/greyShadowy colorRepresents gravity, chastity, somberness- the dignity of old ageSlide50
What does the color black represent?DEATH!!!The west (directional not cultural)
Nature: primordial voidIt can also mean: power, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, depth, anonymity, unhappiness, style, sadness, remorse, anger, underground, mourning, death Slide51
In conclusion…EastLifeBeginningsSunrise
WestDeathEndingsSunsetSlide52
Literary ElementsGothic literature: genre of literature that combines both horror and romanceUnreliable narrator: narrator who may not always know the whole truth or may purposely choose to deceive the reader.
Allusion: a reference to another body of work which acts like a kind of shorthand, bringing additional meaning and emotional impact to a story, like the use of the terms “Achilles’ heel” (Watch for this as we read!)Slide53
Allegory …is an extended metaphor that is carried throughout an story or novel.It features a set of recognizable symbols whose meanings combine to convey a message. An allegory always operates on two levels of meaning: the literal elements of the plot (the colors of the rooms, for example) and their symbolic counterparts,
which often involve large philosophical concepts (such as life and death).The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or envy.Slide54
Quickwrite“Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.”
Rich and powerful people often build huge houses. They build high walls around their estates so that they can block out the upsetting parts of life, just like Prince Prospero. If you were Prince Prospero and could hide from your fears, what would you hide from? Would you hide? Or would you face your fear?