Philosophies of Death
What is one thing Nagel believed about death was unique to him?
He believed that a tragic death happened when a person died too soon.
What trait must the protagonist of a Gothic story possess?
Tormented/tortured
"I looked so weak and tottery that the two or three ladies I applied to were afraid to engage me."
Hartley
What does the bell symbolize?
The relationship between the living and the dead.
When was The Lady's Maid's Bell published?
1902
What did the Renaissance philosophers consider to be a "good" death?
Dying surrounded by family.
In a traditional Gothic story, what is characteristic of the ending?
Violence
"She was a delicate-looking lady, but when she smiled I felt there was nothing I wouldn't do for her."
Mrs. Brympton
What does the season of autumn symbolize?
Dying
What major literary prize did Edith Wharton win? (She was the first woman to ever win this prize.)
The Pulitzer Prize
Socrates believed that death was the freeing of the soul from the body. What about the context of his time made him have such an optimistic view of death?
The high mortality rate in ancient Greece. (Average lifespan between 25-30 years.)
From what does Gothic literature derive its name?
"He was standing on the hearth; a big fair bull-necked man, with a red face and little bad-tempered blue eyes..."
Mr. Brympton
What does the snow symbolize?
A beautiful/peaceful death
Where was Edith Wharton born?
New York
What was the famous, philosophy-defining phrase used by the existentialists?
Existence precedes essence.
What is distinct about the dialogue in Gothic stories?
It is very descriptive.
"She was a thin woman with a white face, and a darkish stuff gown and apron. I took her for the housekeeper and thought it odd that she didn't speak, but just gave me a long look as she went by."
Emma Saxon
What can the color red symbolize?
Anger, love, passion, hatred, evil
What kind of ambiguity does Wharton use in the ending of her story?
Pragmatic ambiguity
What are the names of the two philosophers who believed that there is nothing before life and nothing after death?
Lucretius and Epicurus
Who is the author of The Fall of the House of Usher?
Edgar Allan Poe
"He was a slight tall gentleman of about thirty, and I thought him rather melancholy-looking till I saw his smile, which had a kind of surprise in it, like the first warm day in spring."
Mr. Ranford
Secrecy and deception
Name the four languages Edith Wharton spoke fluently.
Italian, French, English, and German