Gothic Romanticism: Hawthorne, Poe and Baudelaire

Gothic Romanticism - slideshows

In class we will be reading "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe. When reading "Spleen" by Baudelaire note the similarities and differences between the American approach to Dark Romanticism as compared to Baudelaire's European approach. Need a little help? Check out some reading here and/or here.

READ: "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment"
READ: "The Fall of the House of Usher"
READ: "The Masque of the 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.

Anytime you want me to check your progress comment below 

and I'll look at what you've been writing.

[The Father of Gothic Fiction: Edgar Allen Poe]