Gothic Elements
This element includes old, rundown structures, especially castles or great country manors that are declining from former greatness
What is Setting & Atmosphere?
How does the narrator's behavior change over the course of this poem?
(Sample Answer) The narrator’s behavior does change over the course of the poem because his isolation in addition to grief, his imagination and interactions with the raven are filling him with wrath and anger. The effect that this has on the poem is that we can see how the narrator’s desolate environment are increasingly deteriorating his mental health, which keeps readers interested as to what is to happen next.
This is the author of Fall of the House of Usher.
Who is Edgar Allen Poe?
Give examples of Gothic characteristics of setting and atmosphere in the Sleepy Hollow movie.
What are foggy skies, gloomy, far from civilization, etc?
This style of writing employs dark and picturesque scenery, startling and melodramatic narrative devices, and an overall atmosphere of exoticism, mystery, and dread.
What is Gothic?
In this element, a formerly great family, community, country or individual who has peaked and now begins a slow process of decline. This appears both in the landscape (crumbling buildings) and in the characters themselves.
What is Decay?
Is it possible that the speaker is making up or imagining some of the weird events in this poem?
(Sample Answer) Yes, it is possible that the author was making up some of the weird events in this poem. For example, the narrator often believed that the Raven was speaking to him, when in fact it was all in his head.
What is an example of setting and atmosphere in Fall of the House of Usher?
Various answers may apply. (ie. the House & surrounding area)
Who was the Damsel in Distress featured in the film? Why?
Katrina Van Tassel because she is in the hands of her father, and she faints a lot: Ichabod “saves” her
(adj.) open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.
What is equivocal?
In Gothic Literature, this character is isolated or alone. This isolation Can be self-imposed or a result of circumstances beyond her control.
What is a Protagonist?
Do you think the Raven pushes our speaker over the edge, or does he do it to himself? Is nature torturing him, or his own mind?
(Sample Answer) I do not think that the Raven is torturing the narrator, however, I think that he is torturing himself because he is unable to come to terms with Lenore’s death. This is true because when he initially hears the knocking on the door he thinks that it is Lenore, and he asks the Raven a series of questions about her as well. Yet, the Raven tells him to forget about her.
What is an example of decay in Fall of the House of Usher?
Various answers may apply. (ie The House, Usher family, Mental State)
What supernatural quality was in the story?
Various answers may apply. (ie. the Headless Horseman)
(n.) a name or title
What is appellation?
In Gothic Literature, characters are often passionate and strong-willed, defying others or even their own common sense in pursuit of their goals. The events emphasize high emotion and often reflect a heightened sense of drama.
What are Emotions?
Why do you think Poe uses the raven as a symbol? What if, instead, the ghost of Lenore had shown up?
(Sample Answer) I think that Poe used the raven as a symbol because it is an omen for death. Had Poe used a dove, which is a symbol of peace, or a parrot, which has a more light-hearted and comical connotation in this poem, it would not have the same dark, gloomy, and gothic effect as it does when the raven is used. I think that had the ghost of Lenore showed up, this poem would be a lot less interesting and suspenseful. I think so because the wrath of the narrator that progressed over the course of the plot is what made the poem very intriguing.
What are the conditions that the narrator found his friend Roderick in?
Various answers may apply.
How did the town represent the gothic element of decay?
Van Tassel and Van Garrett families decline.
This term states that every element of a story should contribute to a singular emotional effect of the story.
What is single effect?
In this element; ominous implications precede dark events in Gothic literature, and unlucky omens appear, ancient curses in the air, and dark forces beyond the protagonist's control thwart his ambitions.
What is Foreboding?
What are some examples of Gothic Elements that can be found in the Raven?
- The dark, desolate, and mysterious setting/atmosphere
- The narrator was a lonely character in a state of deep emotion (protagonist)
- The Raven could speak (supernatural)
- Poe uses descriptive language to paint the image of a dark and gloomy setting in the minds of the reader. (foreboding)
- Lenore is in hell (damsel in distress)
How does the narrator perceive the situation of Roderick once the character of Madeline is physically introduced into the story?
Various answers may apply.
What male protagonist traits does Ichabod show?
Byronic hero, dark clothing, very unexpected savior, etc.
This method is used when faced with long, intricate sentences. First, look for a sentence’s core (subject and verb). Then, look for clues in punctuation, conjunctions, and modifying words.
What is breaking down long sentences?