southern gothic literature. background sub-genre of the gothic style popular in europe in 1800s ...
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Southern GothicSouthern Gothic
LiteratureLiterature
BackgroundBackground
Sub-genre of the Gothic style Popular in Europe in 1800s
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Dracula by Bram Stoker
Unique to American literature relies on supernatural, ironic, or unusual events to guide the plot
explores and reveals social issues concerning the cultural character of the American South.
Sub-genre of the Gothic style Popular in Europe in 1800s
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Dracula by Bram Stoker
Unique to American literature relies on supernatural, ironic, or unusual events to guide the plot
explores and reveals social issues concerning the cultural character of the American South.
BackgroundBackground Takes classic Gothic archetypes, such as the monster
or the heroic knight, and turns them into American Southerners
Dark twist on Southern characters Southern belle as town tramp Righteous preacher as pedophile
“grotesque” a character whose negative
qualities highlight unpleasant aspects in southern culture.
Something in the town, the house, the farm is bizarre and often falling apart
Takes classic Gothic archetypes, such as the monster or the heroic knight, and turns them into American Southerners
Dark twist on Southern characters Southern belle as town tramp Righteous preacher as pedophile
“grotesque” a character whose negative
qualities highlight unpleasant aspects in southern culture.
Something in the town, the house, the farm is bizarre and often falling apart
Defining FeatureDefining Feature Cast of ‘off-kilter’ characters
Broken bodies, minds, or souls
symbolize problems created by the established pattern
question established pattern’s morality and ethical justification
“Innocent” that acts as a redeemer for others
Cast of ‘off-kilter’ characters
Broken bodies, minds, or souls
symbolize problems created by the established pattern
question established pattern’s morality and ethical justification
“Innocent” that acts as a redeemer for others
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Other Specific FeaturesOther Specific Features
Freakishness
Outsider
Imprisonment
Violence
Sense of Place
Freakishness
Outsider
Imprisonment
Violence
Sense of Place
FreakishnessFreakishness character negatively set apart from the world by a
disability or oddity Skewed world view
character negatively set apart from the world by a disability or oddity
Skewed world view
OutsiderOutsider
characters set apart from the established cultural pattern, but end up being heroes
difference allows enlightened perspective that ultimately helps to bring people out of the “dark.”
characters set apart from the established cultural pattern, but end up being heroes
difference allows enlightened perspective that ultimately helps to bring people out of the “dark.”
ImprisonmentImprisonment
Both literal and figurative
Often includes incident where a character is sent to jail or imprisoned
Some characters live in fate's prison.
Both literal and figurative
Often includes incident where a character is sent to jail or imprisoned
Some characters live in fate's prison.
ViolenceViolence
Racial, social, and class differences often create underlying tension, oftentimes, erupting in violently
Racial, social, and class differences often create underlying tension, oftentimes, erupting in violently
Sense of PlaceSense of Place Clear depiction of rural southern setting
Old small towns Creaky front porches with rocking chairs Old downtown with stately but worn-down buildings
Clear depiction of rural southern setting Old small towns
Creaky front porches with rocking chairs Old downtown with stately but worn-down buildings
Notable Southern Gothic Lit.
Notable Southern Gothic Lit.
Bastard Out of Carolina
Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil
To Kill a Mockingbird
Streetcar Named Desire
A Rose for Emily
Bastard Out of Carolina
Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil
To Kill a Mockingbird
Streetcar Named Desire
A Rose for Emily
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