Gothic Romanticism

Review The Rationalistic view of urban life was replaced by the Romantic view at the turn of the century (1800) The Rationalistic view of urban life was replaced by the Romantic view at the turn of the century (1800) Rationalists saw cities as a place to find success and self-realization (a la Ben Franklin) Rationalists saw cities as a place to find success and self-realization (a la Ben Franklin) Romantics saw the city as a place of moral corruption, poverty, disease, crime, horror, and death Romantics saw the city as a place of moral corruption, poverty, disease, crime, horror, and death

The Romantic Sensibility Romanticism: valuing feeling and intuition over reason Romanticism: valuing feeling and intuition over reason Romanticism: viewing life as we would like it to be (looking for beauty in everything) rather than how it really is Romanticism: viewing life as we would like it to be (looking for beauty in everything) rather than how it really is Romanticism is a reaction against Rationalism

Characteristics of Romanticism values feelings over intuition values feelings over intuition values the power of the imagination values the power of the imagination seeks the beauty of unspoiled nature seeks the beauty of unspoiled nature values youthful innocence values youthful innocence values individual freedom values individual freedom Romantics believed in contemplating, or becoming one with the natural world Romantics believed in contemplating, or becoming one with the natural world finds beauty in exotic locales, the supernatural, and in the imagination finds beauty in exotic locales, the supernatural, and in the imagination values poetry as the highest expression of the imagination values poetry as the highest expression of the imagination values myth, legend, and folk culture values myth, legend, and folk culture

The Romantic journey is to escape to the countryside

The Romantics associated the country with independence, moral clarity, and purity (la pura vida) Early Romantics, such as Washington Irving saw the country as idyllic and mysterious The Gothic Romantic, E.A. Poe, saw the country as a place of isolation and phantasm The Gothic Romantic, E.A. Poe, saw the country as a place of isolation and phantasm

Gothic Romanticism The Gothic novel had wild, isolated, and often haunted settings The Gothic novel had wild, isolated, and often haunted settings Supernatural events drive the plot Supernatural events drive the plot The human psyche is of emerging importance (Sigmund Freud) The human psyche is of emerging importance (Sigmund Freud) Edgar Allan Poe is considered the father of American Gothic style Edgar Allan Poe is considered the father of American Gothic style Poe’s work were immediately successful in Europe

Edgar Allan Poe For works such as "The Raven," which has been called the best-known poem in the Western Hemisphere, Poe has assumed a place among the greatest masters of popular imagination, alongside William Shakespeare and Mark Twain

Did you know…? Perhaps Poe's most enduring contribution to popular culture has been his invention of the detective story. His chief detective, C. Auguste Dupin, and stories such as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" have inspired countless imitators, most notably Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.

What is Gothic about Poe’s work? Poe tirelessly explored subjects such as self-destruction, madness, and imagination in works such as "The Black Cat," “Fall of the House of Usher," and “The Tell-tale Heart." If the mind was Poe's favorite place, it should come as no surprise that many of his tales are set there.

What should you look for? You will notice themes of isolation and despair Watch out for the unreliable narrator Look for nature to have a significant and sometimes malevolent role in Gothic literature

Facts about the Raven (the bird)

1 meter wingspan Skillful fliers, on par with eagles and falcons Extremely intelligent, can mimic as well as parrots; have been taught to count Playful (Rhys) Long lifespan (80 years) has earned ravens mystical reputation: considered messengers from the earned ravens mystical reputation: considered messengers from the “other side” “other side” ens/video-raven-intelligence/1549/ ens/video-raven-intelligence/1549/

“The Raven” Assignment 1. Listen to the audio recording of Basil Rathbone reading “The Raven: 2. Follow along in your textbook on page Make a mental note of Gothic elements 4. When the reading is done, take 10 minutes to note Gothic elements with your partner (see post-it for pair number) The pair with the most accurate notes will receive 2 extra credit points on the Gothic Literature test Literature test

“The Raven” in pop culture simpsons-raven/ simpsons-raven/