Elements of Gothic Lit
Describe the weather in Gothic literature
It is almost always bad; weather in Gothic literature is often dark, dreary, and full of storms.
How would you describe the visitor in "Where Is Here?"
The visitor in "Where Is Here" could be described as nostalgic, strange, pushy, or emotional. He does not want to leave the house, but also seems to be very upset by the house. He speaks in riddles and is very invasive with the family's space.
What does the tapping in "The Raven" foreshadow?
The tapping foreshadows that someone or something ominous is going to enter the narrator's chamber.
Choose a word that could use to describe the mood of all three stories we have read in this unit: "The Fall of the House of Usher," "Where Is Here," and "The Raven."
Answers will vary; ex. unsettling, eerie, dark, depressing
Describe one of the conflicts in "Where is Here."
The father vs. the mother (they are in disagreement about who is at fault for allowing the visitor in their home)
Internal conflict of the visitor (he is clearly troubled by his past and upset by his visit in the house)
What kinds of characters might you find in Gothic literature?
Monsters, ghosts, or regular people who act like monsters; characters who are strange or reclusive
Why does Usher ask the narrator in "The Fall of the House of Usher" to come and stay with him?
Usher says that he is suffering from a type of mental affliction. He later states that he simply suffers from nervous, but we know that he is also hypersensitive to different things like clothing, food, and light.
What does the fissure in the house of "The Fall of the House of Usher" foreshadow?
The fissure foreshadows that the house is going to split or fall apart. The fissure can also foreshadow how Usher's mind is going to split or fall apart later on in the story.
What does the narrator notice about the front of the house in "The Fall of the House of Usher?"
There is a fissure running from the roof all the way down to the ground.
How does the narrator in "The Fall of the House of Usher" try to aide Usher with his internal conflict?
He tries to distract him by reading, writing, singing, playing instruments, and painting with him.
He helps him encoffin Madeline's body.
He tries to calm Usher during the supernatural events taking place on the night of Madeline's return.
When does MOST Gothic literature take place?
Before the year 1900
What can we infer about the character of the narrator in "The Fall of the House of Usher" based on his actions?
We can infer that the narrator is kind and selfless. He is willing to give up his time to help a childhood friend. He not only helps Usher "encoffin" Madeline, but he also tries to calm him down during the storm.
What does the visitor's statement, "We've all been dead. They've all been dead..." foreshadow in "Where is Here?"
The visitor's statement is foreshadowing the idea that he is a ghost who is now haunting or cursing the family and their house.
Describe how the house changes in "Where Is Here" after the visitor leaves?
Answers may vary; the color fades from the walls, the rooms become dimmer/darker, the lights flicker, there is a foul smell, etc.
How does the theme of death impact each of the three stories? How does it affect the characters?
In "The Fall of the House of Usher," Madeline's "death" worsens Usher's mental state. Her return leads to the destruction of the House of Usher.
In "Where Is Here," it is assumed that the visitor is a ghost who is either haunting the family or is there to warn the boy about his life with an abusive father, just like the one that he had.
In "The Raven," the narrator is overcome by grief for his long lost love, Lenore.
Describe the setting in most Gothic literature stories
A mansion, castle, or stately home that is sometimes haunted or cursed; it is often rundown or in a state of disrepair
Who or what is the visitor in "Where Is Here" most likely to be?
A ghost haunting the family's home. The house changes after the visitor "leaves," meaning that he could be haunting it or he could have left it cursed.
When Roderick Usher describes his worsening mental condition, he says, "I must perish in this a bounden slave." What does this statement foreshadow?
Roderick's death
What does the constant repetition of the word "Nevermore" from the Raven contribute to the mood of the poem?
The constant repetition of the word adds to the sense of dread, creating an unsettling, ominous, and slightly derange mood.
Describe a theme of "Where is Here" with specific evidence from the story to support your answer.
Answers will vary; potential topical themes include: domestic violence, family, marriage, childhood, nostalgia
potential moral themes include: don't talk to strangers, be cautious of who you let enter your life, strangers can be reflections of ourselves
What is Gothic literature?
Gothic literature is a genre of literature that combines dark and/or supernatural elements, spooky settings and characters, and is meant to strike horror, fear, or suspense in the reader.
Why do you think Usher allowed his sister to be buried alive in the coffin? Give evidence to support your answer.
Answers will vary; he was afraid of her, she was a burden, she made him nervous, she was already dead, etc. Must be backed by evidence.
How does the symbolism of the Raven sitting atop of the bust of Athena act as foreshadowing?
The Raven sitting on top of the bust of Athena foreshadows the idea that the narrator will lose his sanity and ability to think clearly and logically. As the poem continues, he devolves deeper into his grief and madness.
How might the fissure in the house act as symbolism for Usher's mental state? Explain.
Just as there is a crack in the foundation of the house, there is also a crack in Usher's worsening mental state. As his nervousness increases and he worsens after the death of his sister Madeline, his mind finally overtakes him just as the fissure overtakes the house.
How are the main conflicts in "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Raven" directly related to the events of Edgar Allan Poe's life?
In "The Fall of the House of Usher," Usher's mental condition only worsens after the "death" of his sister Madeline. In "The Raven," the narrator is overcome by grief over his lost love Lenore that is only worsened by a visit from The Raven. This relates back to Poe's life because every woman who was important to Poe in his life passed away at a young age.