The Horror! The Horror!What Hath Goth Wrought? Characteristics and Origins of the Gothic Literature/Horror Genre
Transcript
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The Horror! The Horror!What Hath Goth Wrought? Characteristics
and Origins of the Gothic Literature/Horror Genre
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Horror or just Gore? Before the days of Freddie Kruger,
Hollywood made many suspense/horror movies, some cheapie thrillers
(I Dismember Mama), and some that became classics for chilling the
blood of the audience. The master of these movie-makers was Alfred
Hitchcock, who built suspense slowly and subtly, usually without
blood or overt violence. The original Psycho was a masterpiece of
subtle horror as were Rear Window and The Birds. Before the days of
Freddie Kruger, Hollywood made many suspense/horror movies, some
cheapie thrillers (I Dismember Mama), and some that became classics
for chilling the blood of the audience. The master of these
movie-makers was Alfred Hitchcock, who built suspense slowly and
subtly, usually without blood or overt violence. The original
Psycho was a masterpiece of subtle horror as were Rear Window and
The Birds.
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Horror or just Gore? Todays master of the horror novel is
Stephen King, whose books (often made into movies) are true
spine-chillers that use suspense to terrify readers. Todays master
of the horror novel is Stephen King, whose books (often made into
movies) are true spine-chillers that use suspense to terrify
readers. Did you know that before horror there was Gothic
Literature, part of the Romantic Movement? Did you know that before
horror there was Gothic Literature, part of the Romantic
Movement?
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Romantic Roots Imagination, intuition, and feelings (versus
reason and intellect) Imagination, intuition, and feelings (versus
reason and intellect) Spirituality (versus science) Spirituality
(versus science) Innocence (versus experience) Innocence (versus
experience) Nature and the country (versus industrialization and
the city) Nature and the country (versus industrialization and the
city) Nostalgia (versus progress) Nostalgia (versus progress)
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Romantic Roots In America, Romanticism most strongly impacted
literature. Writers explored supernatural and gothic themes.
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Romantic Roots Yesterday and today: Horace Walpoles Castle of
Otranto (1764); Anne Radcliffe, Edgar Allen Poe, Bram Stoker, H.P.
Lovecraft, Shirley Jackson, Stephen King; Freddy, Jason, Mike, et
al. Yesterday and today: Horace Walpoles Castle of Otranto (1764);
Anne Radcliffe, Edgar Allen Poe, Bram Stoker, H.P. Lovecraft,
Shirley Jackson, Stephen King; Freddy, Jason, Mike, et al.
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Whats so great about fear anyway? Do you feel moments of
terror? Do you hold your breath? Do you laugh? Why do you react as
you do? Do you feel moments of terror? Do you hold your breath? Do
you laugh? Why do you react as you do? How do you explain the
desire of people to be terrified? How do you explain the desire of
people to be terrified? As children, we delight in ghost stories
told in the dark. As adults, we read books or see movies that we
know will scare us. Why? As children, we delight in ghost stories
told in the dark. As adults, we read books or see movies that we
know will scare us. Why?
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Elements of Horror Setting
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a deserted (or sparsely inhabited) castle or mansion in a state
or ruins or semi-ruins a deserted (or sparsely inhabited) castle or
mansion in a state or ruins or semi-ruins labyrinths/mazes, dark
corridors, and winding stairs filled with dusty cobwebs
labyrinths/mazes, dark corridors, and winding stairs filled with
dusty cobwebs castles or mansions which have hidden
tunnels/staircases, dungeons, underground passages, crypts, or
catacombs. castles or mansions which have hidden
tunnels/staircases, dungeons, underground passages, crypts, or
catacombs. Edgar Allen Poes Fall of the House of Usher, Charlotte
Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper, Hitchcocks Psycho. Edgar
Allen Poes Fall of the House of Usher, Charlotte Perkins Gilmans
The Yellow Wallpaper, Hitchcocks Psycho.
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if set in a broken down modern house, the basement or attic
becomes the place of terror threatening natural landscapes, like
rugged mountains, dark forests, or eerie moors, exhibiting stormy
weather Shellys Frankenstein, Sherlock Homes Hounds of the
Baskervilles.
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Cemetery A place for the burial of the dead. A place for the
burial of the dead. Caves, temples, mounds, catacombs, churchyards,
crypts. Caves, temples, mounds, catacombs, churchyards, crypts.
Crosses cultures and ages. Crosses cultures and ages.
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Entrapment/Imprison ment Being confined or trapped, as shackled
to a floor or hidden away in a dark cell. Being confined or
trapped, as shackled to a floor or hidden away in a dark cell.
Heightens the psychology of feeling theres no way out. Heightens
the psychology of feeling theres no way out. Poes Usher in which
Madeline awakens having been buried alive. Poes Usher in which
Madeline awakens having been buried alive.
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Elements of Horror Lighting/Mood
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Blackout
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Mist/Fog A grouping of water particles due to a change in
atmospheric conditions. Literary convention used to obscure
objects, reduce visibility, or preclude the insertion of something
terrifying.
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Characters
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Unreliable Narrator The narrators ability to accurately relate
events is suspect. The narrators ability to accurately relate
events is suspect. The narrator makes incorrect assumptions or
conclusions, or misunderstands situations or other characters. The
narrator makes incorrect assumptions or conclusions, or
misunderstands situations or other characters. Poes Tell-Tale Heart
or James Turn of the Screw. Poes Tell-Tale Heart or James Turn of
the Screw.
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Devil A spirit of incarnate evil. A spirit of incarnate evil.
Latin: diabolus. Latin: diabolus. Ranges from tragic villain-hero
(Miltons Paradise Lost) to punisher of sinners (Lewis The Monk) to
tempter and deceiver (Marlowes Dr. Faustus) to pure evil. Ranges
from tragic villain-hero (Miltons Paradise Lost) to punisher of
sinners (Lewis The Monk) to tempter and deceiver (Marlowes Dr.
Faustus) to pure evil.
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Villain-Hero The villain poses as a hero at the beginning of
the story, or The villain poses as a hero at the beginning of the
story, or The villain possesses enough heroic qualities (charisma,
sympathetic past) so that either the reader and/or the other
characters see the V-H as more than a charlatan or bad guy. The
villain possesses enough heroic qualities (charisma, sympathetic
past) so that either the reader and/or the other characters see the
V-H as more than a charlatan or bad guy. Miltons Satan; Prometheus.
Miltons Satan; Prometheus.
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The Pursued Protagonist A force that relentlessly, terminally
and unavoidably pursues, persecutes or chastizes another for some
real or imagined wrong. A force that relentlessly, terminally and
unavoidably pursues, persecutes or chastizes another for some real
or imagined wrong. A crime and retribution cycle, but also A crime
and retribution cycle, but also A hero-villain can be both the
pursued and the pursuer (Shelleys Frankenstein, Stokers Dracula). A
hero-villain can be both the pursued and the pursuer (Shelleys
Frankenstein, Stokers Dracula).
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The Pursued Heroine A virtuous, idealistic, and usually poetic
young woman is pursued by a wicked, older, potent aristocrat. A
virtuous, idealistic, and usually poetic young woman is pursued by
a wicked, older, potent aristocrat. The pursuit threatens the young
ladys morals and ideals (and often her virginity). The pursuit
threatens the young ladys morals and ideals (and often her
virginity). She usually responds with passive courage. She usually
responds with passive courage.
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Ghosts, Werewolves, Vampires, Witches Assorted supernatural
(usually malignant) beings, bogies, and baddies. Assorted
supernatural (usually malignant) beings, bogies, and baddies.
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Doppelganger German: doublegoer. German: doublegoer. Ghostly
counterpart of another person. Ghostly counterpart of another
person. Body double, alter ego, identical other person. Body
double, alter ego, identical other person. Blochs Psycho,
Stevensons Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Blochs Psycho, Stevensons Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
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Other Elements
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Ancestral Curse The current generation suffers for evil deeds
of ancestors. The current generation suffers for evil deeds of
ancestors. Nathaniel Hawthornes The House of the Seven Gables.
Nathaniel Hawthornes The House of the Seven Gables.
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Body-Snatching Grave-Robbing. Grave-Robbing. Stealing corpses
from graves, tombs, or morgues. Stealing corpses from graves,
tombs, or morgues. Illicit trade in cadavers. Illicit trade in
cadavers. Violation of religious space. Violation of religious
space. Commercially motivated by science. Commercially motivated by
science. Kings Pet Semetary. Kings Pet Semetary.
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Claustrophobia Abnormal dread of being confined in a close,
narrow space. Abnormal dread of being confined in a close, narrow
space. Small, dark, windowless spaces. Small, dark, windowless
spaces.
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Gothic Counterfeit Playful fakery of authenticity. Playful
fakery of authenticity. The text is presented as a discovery or
recovery by the editor, sometimes of an ancient or forgotten text.
The text is presented as a discovery or recovery by the editor,
sometimes of an ancient or forgotten text. Cloaks the real writers
authorship. Cloaks the real writers authorship. Complicates the
point of view (making things more fun and intriguing). Complicates
the point of view (making things more fun and intriguing).
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Dreaming/Nightmares Dredge up strong emotions, such as ecstasy,
terror, joy. Dredge up strong emotions, such as ecstasy, terror,
joy. Reveal urges, impulses, desires, even truths about oneself one
tries to hide. Reveal urges, impulses, desires, even truths about
oneself one tries to hide. Reveal the future; premonitions. Reveal
the future; premonitions.
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Gothic Gadgets Physical elements allowing supernatural powers
to display uncanny presence and abilities. Physical elements
allowing supernatural powers to display uncanny presence and
abilities. Supernatural props: vocal and mobile portraits; animated
statues and skeletons; doors, gates, portals, hatchways which open
and close independently; secret passageways; secret messages and
manuscripts; forbidden chambers and sealed compartments; casket
lids seen to rise, etc. Supernatural props: vocal and mobile
portraits; animated statues and skeletons; doors, gates, portals,
hatchways which open and close independently; secret passageways;
secret messages and manuscripts; forbidden chambers and sealed
compartments; casket lids seen to rise, etc.
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The Grotesque Mutations, often deformities. Mutations, often
deformities. The flowers in Hawthornes Rappaccinis Daughter; the
jester in Poes Hop-Frog. The flowers in Hawthornes Rappaccinis
Daughter; the jester in Poes Hop-Frog. A mix of two separate modes,
such as comedy and tragedy, creating a disturbing fiction, in which
comic circumstances often preclude horrific tragedy and vice-versa.
A mix of two separate modes, such as comedy and tragedy, creating a
disturbing fiction, in which comic circumstances often preclude
horrific tragedy and vice-versa.
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Necromancy The dark art of communicating with the dead. The
dark art of communicating with the dead. Marlowes Dr. Faustus.
Marlowes Dr. Faustus.
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Revenant The return of the dead upon the living. The return of
the dead upon the living. A ghostly being who returns to life. A
ghostly being who returns to life. Wilke Collins The Dream Woman.
Wilke Collins The Dream Woman.
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Revenge The act of repaying someone for a harm caused. The act
of repaying someone for a harm caused. Revenge can be enacted upon
a loved one, a family member, a friend, an object or area. Revenge
can be enacted upon a loved one, a family member, a friend, an
object or area. Poes Cask of Amontillado. Poes Cask of
Amontillado.
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Somnambulism Sleepwalking Sleepwalking Hidden sources of stress
may be revealed or acts of guilt replayed. Hidden sources of stress
may be revealed or acts of guilt replayed.
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Transformation/Metamorphosis A striking change in appearance; a
change in the form or function of an organism by a natural or
unnatural process. A striking change in appearance; a change in the
form or function of an organism by a natural or unnatural process.
Poes Morella and Ligeia; HG Wells Dr. Moreau, Stevensons Mr. Hyde,
Kings It. Poes Morella and Ligeia; HG Wells Dr. Moreau, Stevensons
Mr. Hyde, Kings It.
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Your Task Create an original horror story Create an original
horror story 2-3 pages in length. 2-3 pages in length. must include
dialogue, characterization, theme, and suspense, BUT no gore. must
include dialogue, characterization, theme, and suspense, BUT no
gore. This is not an experiment in how much bloody violence you can
write about. It is a piece about fear, suspense, and terrornot
blood and guts. This is not an experiment in how much bloody
violence you can write about. It is a piece about fear, suspense,
and terrornot blood and guts.
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Elements of a Short Story
http://www.flocabulary.com/fivethings/
http://www.flocabulary.com/fivethings/
http://www.flocabulary.com/fivethings/ Listen to and follow along
with the song about the five major elements of a story. A copy of
this song has been given to you for your information. Listen to and
follow along with the song about the five major elements of a
story. A copy of this song has been given to you for your
information.
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Acknowledgement Material in this powerpoint is a combination of
two on- line PowerPoints as well as my own insertions. Presentation
created by Paul Reiff of the English Department at Vernon Hills
High School, District 128, Illinois. Presentation created by Paul
Reiff of the English Department at Vernon Hills High School,
District 128, Illinois. Most material gathered from A Glossary of
Literary Gothic Terms on the web at
www2.gasou.edu/facstaff/dougt/goth. Most material gathered from A
Glossary of Literary Gothic Terms on the web at
www2.gasou.edu/facstaff/dougt/goth. Site maintained by Douglas H.
Thomson of the Department of Literature and Philosophy at Georgia
Southern University. Site maintained by Douglas H. Thomson of the
Department of Literature and Philosophy at Georgia Southern
University. Presentation found at
http://www.etsu.edu/coe/uschool/faculty/borthwik/
honors/documents/The_Horror_Story_Unit.ppt. Presentation found at
http://www.etsu.edu/coe/uschool/faculty/borthwik/
honors/documents/The_Horror_Story_Unit.ppt.
http://www.etsu.edu/coe/uschool/faculty/borthwik/
honors/documents/The_Horror_Story_Unit.ppt
http://www.etsu.edu/coe/uschool/faculty/borthwik/
honors/documents/The_Horror_Story_Unit.ppt