Three Short Gothic Romanticism Stories

One of the interpretations of "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe is that Usher's nervousness and weakness is a result of Madeline Usher being a vampire. This interpretation could possibly stem from Madeline Usher's unusual behavior. Usher mentions a "constitutional and a family evil, and one which he despaired to find a remedy"(Poe 235). This shows that something is going on and Usher is trying to hid it the best he can, the quote is speaking of a disease in which had infected his family and he wishes to get rid of. The fact he is not bluntly stating it and that no doctor can cure it adds the suspension of something more supernatural, since it is Gothic Romanticism this is well expected of Poe to add a supernatural element into his stories.  Also with Madeline not even acknowledging the fact that there is a guest in the house and just strolls on away like nothing is going on gives her a real zombieish, undying feel, she doesn't even care what is going on and just continues on completely unaffected by the current events. During the storm we see the narrator slowly becoming more and more anxious and weary and Usher becoming more insane and mad. Whenever the narrator is reading the story he starts hearing different noises and Usher waits till the end until he rambles on about hearing the noises for a very long time.When the narrator final gets out of the house and looks back upon the house he witnesses the fall of the house of Usher.

Gothic Fiction writers expresses criticism of human nature mostly indirectly by showing the insanity or the obliviousness of people. While they emphasize on insanity and more mock the obliviousness it is still a criticism none the less. In "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe Usher kept rambling on about how he "heard them-many, many days ago- yet I dared not-I dared not speak. And now- to-night- Ethelred- ha! ha!- ..." (Poe 245). This shows the insanity of Usher and how he is becoming more and more mad as the story progresses to the point he isn't making direct since but vaguely  explaining what is happening. It appears that most Gothic Fiction writers express a general idea of human nature. Their idea could conclude that people are insane and completely irrational. Human nature is depicted as spontaneous and completely irrational thus giving off the since of insanity.

Southern Gothic Romanticism and Life Saving and a gal names Emily

What is Southern Gothic Romanticism?

Southern Gothic Romanticism is a writing style that is a version of Gothic Romanticism but in the more Southern parts of America. It is generally darker, more mysterious, and talks about the parts of life that at the time most people tried to ignore (Example would be death). Southern Gothic Romantic authors took what is generally seen and took it to much deeper levels. These two works, "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" and "A Rose for Emily", show Southern Gothic Romanticism writing styles by having a darker love story that is southern based, and show a more grotesque side.
In "A Rose for Emily" she shows a darker side to love by keeping her deceased husband on a bed upstairs, and every night she goes to sleep next to his corpse. Emily, in "A Rose for Emily", is an elderly women who gets away with more crimes than most. She has been in the town for generations and no others remain from her generation. Faulkner stated "Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town...". This quote not only explains why the townsfolk don't make her pay her taxes but also how she is to the town. Not so much as she is sneaky and being sly but mostly because the towns people felt sorry for "Poor Emily". Emily doesn't leave her house very much, the only person that comes to or from her house is Tobe, her servent.
Flannery O'Connor, author of "The Life You Save May Be Your Own", is the typical Romantic author, with a twist. He has the whole hopelessness and  twisted love. The hitchhiker is what makes it different and darker. The hitchhiker "makes the story work" because he adds the sense of mystery to the story. The hitchhiker, in the end, is unknown if alive or dead, or even what is wrong with him, why he snapped or the reason he acted so oddly. These questions we cannot answer as the reader all we can go off of is O'Connor saying "A cloud, the exact color of the boy's hat and shaped like a turnip, had descended over the sun, and another, worse looking, crouched behind the car." So what happened to the boy and who he was is a mystery to the reader and we must decide it for ourselves.

A Sleepy Hollow and its Legend plus Chariots that are Swinging

How does this story capture the readers imagination?

The story Legend of Sleepy Hollow captures the readers imagination by being a fun and interesting story to listen to, or read. The story takes place in a small town that "However wide-awake they may have been before they entered that sleepy region, they are sure, in a little time, to inhale the witching influence of the air and begin to grow imaginative, to dream dreams, and see apparitions." (Irving 2). This quote shows us that the town is a very sleepy, laid back, and unexciting little town. The story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is about a guy named Ichabod Crane. Ichabod was basically a teacher who was simple and everything going well until a girl comes into his life. He, and several other male callers, fall for the young beautiful girl. It ends up being a long competition on who can win over the girl. So this one guy learns Ichabod is really superstitious and gets scared easily, so he tells Ichabod, and everyone else at this little party thing the girl threw on Halloween, a story about the headless horsemen. Ichabod was terrified and anxiety ridden on his way home. All was going well until the headless horsemen appeared and chased him around. The next morning nothing was found of Ichabod except his hat next to a smashed jack-o-lantern.


This is the kind of stories people grow up with and learn to love as they get older. No matter who you ask people will no the story of Ichabod Crane and the headless horsemen because it is a classic and easy read.

How is this song about escaping the physical conditions of slavery? How is this song about religious hope and faith? How is this song reflective of its time period? How does it relate to today?

The song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" by Wallis Willis is about escaping physical conditions of slavery because it is talking about angels and chariots coming to save him. Willis shows this by saying "A band of angels comin' after me, Comin' for to carry me home." This isn't meaning it literally, it is meaning at the singers death he/she will be free from chains that hold them. This is to give religious hope and faith by saying one day the Lord is going to set them free and they will no longer be enslaved or in pain. It reflects on its time period showing how sad and oppressed these people were how they were awaiting death just so that they could have their freedom. The way it is sung shows the sorrow of it and how to the people then death was better than any life they could live for they weren't free. It relates today showing the oppression people face and the discrimination between people because of gender or race.

Questions of Essentialness

How are the Romantics' beliefs of optimism and individualism reflected in their writing?

Optimism and individualism is reflected in Romantics' writing by showing strong emotion and telling from the authors point of view instead of telling it from the point of view of a made up character.

What is Romanticism, Gothic Romanticism and Southern Gothic Romanticism? How are they similar how are they different?

Romanticism focuses on emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual. Gothic Romanticism uses grotesque, gloomy settings, and mysterious, violent, supernatural occurrences to build suspense and awe. Southern Gothic Romanticism is very similar and just a sub genre to Gothic Romanticism, just as the name suggest it is more southern orientated. 
The ways they are similar would be they see things in a deeper more personal level and that's how the Romantics write. Where others see only what is on the surface and that is all they speak of Romantics see things different and deeper. They way that the genres are different is because they all have a base subject that is different or a different location or view on the situation. 

How is the Southern Gothic movement a response to literary movements that have preceded it as well as a manipulation of Romantic literary conventions? 

The Southern Gothic movement is a response to literary movements that have preceded it as well as a manipulation of the Romantic literary conventions because it was the start of something bigger. Southern Gothic was different then anything else that had been seen before and whenever it came around it was a genre of its own and it created something bigger than itself it set the stage for the genres following in its footsteps but at the same time set itself apart from the already made genres.

How did the American culture prompt the dark sides of Romanticism? 

The American culture prompted the dark sides of Romanticism by introducing a whole different side of life. Before the Romantics came around everyone was looking at the same side of a coin completely ignoring the fact there is another side to the same coin. The Romantics revealed to the world there is another side. The coin that is being spoke of is the coin of life, before the Romantics everyone would just look at the life side of the coin ignoring the other. But the Romantics brought the other side into the light, they brought death into their stories. Most others wouldn't dare think of putting death into a story for death means the end, well the Romantics saw death as a new beginning. 

How do the writings of these time periods influence the writings of today? 

The writings of these time periods influenced the writings of today by giving inspiration and ideas. The stages have been set for today's authors, they can either choose a stage or pick their own. Today, just like back in the Romantics' time, authors kill characters and speak of spirits and after lives, without the Romantics this would never be done and quite honestly literature would be boring and dry without the author constantly killing off favorite characters. *cough cough* John Green *cough cough*

The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe

1) How did Poe's anonymous narrator kill his wife?

Poe's anonymous narrator killed his wife whenever he was trying to kill his second black cat, the one with white on his chest. Whenever he went to kill his cat, he lifted up his axe and was about to swing down upon the cat, but instead his wife grabbed his arm not allowing him to kill another cat. So this infuriates Poe's narrator and "...buried the axe in her brain. She fell dead upon the spot without a groan"(Poe 228). The anonymous narrator killed his wife in one deadly swing. For protecting the cat she lost her life, and got shoved into a wall.

2) Why is it the unnamed narrator treats the animals the way he does?

The unnamed narrator shows the reader he treats his animals the way he does because he simply knows he shouldn't through this thought "...to violate that which is Law, merely because we understand it to be such?" (Poe 225). This is the reason so many people do things they are told not to. As soon as it is known that it shouldn't be done the desire to do it is overwhelming. Poe's anonymous narrator does these things because he knew that when he did it he would be committing a sin.

3) Do people still make judgement off of simply what they shouldn't do today?

Yes, everyday someone somewhere is told not to do something so the person immediately does it because they were told not to. It is a factor of everyday life that it will be specifically said not to do something and the person will just do it anyways disregarding what was said.

4) How is it possible that a person could kill someone they loved?

It is perfectly possible and actually quite a reoccurring theme through out literature. The anonymous narrator was driven to insanity by the cats and as he was about to seize the opportunity to rid himself of his insanity his wife stopped him, which the unnamed becomes "Goaded by the interference into a more than demoniacal"(Poe 228), he was so mad he just struck his wife down without a moment of hesitation. He was determined to acquire his peace of mind so much that even his wife was not going to stand in his way.

5)Does Poe get the message of insanity across?

Poe does a brilliant job on showing the insanity that the cats bring. He also shows a brilliant job of insanity by showing how "I soundly and tranquilly slept; aye, slept even with the burden of murder upon my soul"(Poe 229). This quote shows that him murdering his wife fazed him not and he isn't bothered by it whatsoever. The reader does not have to be completely insane to understand what is going on in the story or comprehend the emotion Poe is trying to get across through the use of an anonymous narrator.