Gothic romanticism: Hawthorne, Poe, and Bauldelaire

Objective:
READ: Dr. Heidegger's Experiment
READ: The Fall of the House of Usher
READ: The Masque of Red Death

ANSWER ON YOUR BLOG: 

1. There are many interpretations of “The Fall of the House of Usher”. One interpretation suggests that Usher’s nervousness and weakness are the results of Madeline Usher’s being a vampire. Using details from the story, write an analysis of the story that supports this interpretation.
2. How do the Gothic fiction writers express—either directly or indirectly—a criticism of human nature. Explain what the writers criticize about human nature, and how they communicate this criticism to the reader. Do the writers have similar attitudes toward human nature? Explain.

answer 1: In the story, "The Fall of the House of Usher" certain details within the story may lead the reader with the impression that Madeline Usher is a vampire, and that is why Usher is so nervous and weak. These details include, but are not limited to the rosiness of Madeline's cheeks when she was buried,  the fact that Usher knew that Madeline had probably been buried alive, because he'd been hearing her. And of course this line, "Her rare disease which He admitted, however, although with hesitation, that much of the peculiar gloom which thus afflicted him could be traced to a more natural and far more palpable origin -- to the severe and long-continued illness -- indeed to the evidently approaching dissolution -- of a tenderly beloved sister -- his sole companion for long years -- his last and only relative on earth. "Her decease," he said, with a bitterness which I can never forget, 'would leave him (him the hopeless and the frail) the last of the ancient race of the Ushers.'" Learn to use a period, buddy. Taking a look at this line under the context of Madeline being a vampire it has a whole new meaning. To an unsuspecting unnamed narrator it seems as if his friend is sick because he's been so concerned about his beloved sister, but when the vampire theory is factored in it has a double message that suggests he's trying to say, "Hey, my sister's responsible, because she's a bloodsucking monster. Hello!" So, in short that theory is probably spot -on.

answer 2: As writer's of the Gothic romanticism era, an era that emphasized the faults, and explored the capabilities of evil of the human frame, most literature of their time finds a way to criticize human nature. Whether they show it through a wise old doctor observing his friends act as idiots fumbling after youth, and beauty, or through an idiot prince who thinks it's a good idea to ignore a disease ravaging his country. The writer's criticize certain vain characteristics in humanity, and many characteristics associated with youth. They do this through  characters which display the problematic characteristics, and displaying negative effects of having those things. The writer's have similar negative view about characteristics associated with foolish youth.

essential questions for this unit... i am an idiot

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I have just now discovered that I have been tackling this unit backwards...




however if you, dear reader, ever repeat what I have just admitted to anyone I will see to it that you are locked up in the psych ward. If someone else doesn't do it for me, because let's be honest: who would believe you? I'm just too perfect. It's not like I've posted it on a blog for the whole world to see as evidence, or something. That would make me an idiot... oh, wait ...

Now looking at it from the correct perspective I can see why nothing was making any sense to me, and why, when I asked my teacher, "so, what really is the difference between southern gothic romanticism, and gothic romanticism", my teacher answered, "well, if you've read my notes you should know this, this and this..."I hadn't read the right notes yet...




and yes, I do know that the last picture makes no sense in this context, but I typed in "funny serious pictures" into google images. I saw it, and decided the world needed to see it... meaning my English teacher needed to see it. Hey, English class is my world. Don't judge... If we're not counting Speech an Debate naturally ... I need a life don't I? Mmmmmmm actually no, no I don't. Social lives are overrated anyway, and for fear of losing my head to the guillotine due to severe English teacher aggravation at my constant, and undisciplined rambling, a trait which
every English teacher I have ever known has tried to uproot desperately and, might I add, unsuccessfully like the talented and dutiful tenders and gardeners of young students' mind's they are, I will know attempt to wield my feeble powers of word construction onto a more likely-to-get me-an-acceptable-grade subject, such as answering the essential questions for this unit...

1) How are the romantics beliefs of optimism, and individualism reflected in their writing?

answer: I'm not entirely sure that relating in a poem how your soul came to be trapped in the shadow of a raven forevermore, or how a story about committing murder, and then being committed yourself to jail is optimistic, but a wise movie title once told me, "Just Go With It". ... I'll watch anything with Adam Sandler in it... don't judge. Romanticism emphasizes the individuality of a person. This is usually shown through a character misunderstood by society, or dissenting from the normal parameters which a group, community, and/or society have set. Addressing the "optimism" portion of the question, I would have to go with the answer which states, "The Romantics believed in the good of human beings. This is reflected in their writings where they explore the good, and, of course, evil of humanity. In believing in individualism they are also putting faith in the human frame themselves, and optimistically believing that human beings on their own have the capability to be good," bit of an odd answer, but you cannot deny it, can you?

2) What is Romanticism, gothic romanticism, and southern gothic romanticism? How are they similar? How are they different?

answer: Romanticism: a movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual.Gothic Romanticism is romanticism that is really depressing; has gloomier settings; supernatural elements ect. Sothern Gothic Romanticism was written specifically in the south after the civil war. They took Romanticism characteristics and made them the characteristics of Southern people, places and things, not actively of course, but romanticism was becoming popular in that era of America, but it became darker, and set in a setting the author felt comfortable with writing it in, and used the familiar elements of the south. The only reason people say that they "turned romanticism elements into southern characters" (shut -ins and the like) is because it's a short way to explain it, but the truth is that they stressed the same things romanticism did; therefore it is romanticism, but it was set in a different sort of setting, and therefore had different sorts of characters and such. Romanticism is a huge umbrella term under which the last 2 classifications fall. They all share some common themes, and are all revolutions against classicism, but they all have different, and varying levels of mood, and their settings really define them into their categories
3) How is the Southern Gothic movement a response to literary movements that preceded it, as well as a manipulation of romantic literary conventions?

answer: I explained before that authors did not deliberately manipulate romantic literary conventions. Books are a reflection of their culture of origin. Romanticism became a popular, and well-agreed-on idea, but an author is going to write their own story, and though they write in the romanticism genre they are writing of their own ideals. That's why they put things in the context of their own world; why the imprisoned hunchback is now the town shut-in; why the dashing knight is now the town sheriff. It is also a response to literary movements before it because as a romanticism subgenre it is also in revolt of classicism.

4) How did the American culture prompt the dark sides of romanticism (think southern, and gothic)?
answer: During this time period hostilities between North and South of America were far from over. Though not as loud, the backlash from losing the war hit the south hard, and the genre's of gothic, and southern gothic romanticism are a result of that. These genre's depict a distrust of change, an almost religious reverence to tradition, and manners, and the presence of social, and racial inequality or tension. The American culture prompted this dark side of Romanticism by essentially creating these subgenre's.

5) how do the writings of these time periods influence the writings of today?


answer: The writings of days past, when read, often give students clear insight into not only our history as a nation, but a history of our race, our progression from delusion to almost enlightenment, and give an opportunity for us to form our own opinions on todays, and yesterday's problems. Studying and reading these stories help us understand the minds and surrounding culture of these writers, and create our own strong voice through observance, and empathy. Which influences our culture, and likewise the writings of our community members and even countrymen, and also the writings of the future generation which is us... god save us all...

 

This needs no explanation...

 

What is Romaticism? blah blah part 2: swing low sweet chariot

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Swing Low Sweet Chariot
questions:  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 it's time period? How does it relate to today?

In the spirit of brevity this is more than likely to be the most boring post I have made yet...


How is this song about escaping the physical conditions of slavery?
This song is about angels riding down from heaven on a golden chariot to take people to their heavenly home. The song says, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot, comin' for to carry me home. Swing Low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home." This line is repeated throughout the song as the chorus refers to death, and their ascension from this earth where they are slaves to heaven where they are taught they will all be happy. This song is the expression of their faith that someday they will escape their bondage, and the horrible conditions of slavery, and meet their creator.

How is this song about religious hope and faith?
This song speaks of bands of angels that will whisk them away from their heartache here. This song was an expression of their religious hope and faith by truly believing that god would save them. The song declares, "I looked over Jordan and what did I see?... a band of angels comin' after me." These lines describe a persons faith in what will happen after their death, which is that they will go for heaven. This was a song mainly sung by African Americans  originally. It describes their hope in their position in life because the author of this song truly believes that god loves them, and will take them home.

How is this song reflective of it's time period?
During the period that this song was sung slaves would have been everywhere. It was also one of those time periods where most slaves had been born into slavery, and were taught Christianity at a young age. People of that time clung to their faith deeply, and it would be especially true for African Americans, because this faith promised them a final reward; a bright infinity; hope. This song is a clear reflection of that. The song describes the strong faith that was felt at that time.

How does it relate to today?
This song is about strong faith, and arguably we have, today, a large amount of faith, not necessarily in god, or any other deities, but in life itself. No one seems particularly troubled at the thought that everything that seems to be happening right now could be all a simulation, and we could be nothing but a bunch of brains floating around in goo... hey, I don't even know if you guys really exist this could all be one crazy voodoo mind trick created by aliens which have taken over the earth, and left a select few humans alive for experimentation... but what can you do? People have faith in everything until they're given a reason not to, but many people have faith in a god. I mean when you have an entire party one of the worlds largest governments whose ideas about money are the only thing that aren't in sync with The Bible, you know that faith is important to the people of today's society. The song relates to today in other ways than just in drawing parallels. This song is a part of history. It speaks about one of our darkest periods of time, and that is slavery. It relates to today by reminding the people who live in today to look back at the past, and be reminded of our mistakes, and learn from them.


 "And I suppose… if it’s my last chance to say it… Rose Tyler…"