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American writer during the
time of Romanticism
Writer of American Gothic
literature
Creator of the short story as
a genre
Author of short stories,
poems, and novels
The short story is short because of the following
things:
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Very short exposition
No details about the setting, only the essentials, the
most necessary information
The story starts shortly before the climax
Small number of characters
No development of the characters
Covers a short period of time
Often an ppen ending
On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which
I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my
friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a
large number merely strange, but none commonplace; for,
working as he did rather for the love of his art than for the
acquirement of wealth, he refused to associate himself with
any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and
even the fantastic. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot
recall any which presented more singular features than that
which was associated with the well-known Surrey family of
the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The events in question occurred
in the early days of my association with Holmes, when we
were sharing rooms as bachelors in Baker Street.
It is possible that I might have placed them upon record
before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the time,
from which I have only been freed during the last month
by the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge
was given. It is perhaps as well that the facts should now
come to light, for I have reasons to know that there are
widespread rumours as to the death of Dr. Grimesby
Roylott which tend to make the matter even more terrible
than the truth.
It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one
morning to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed,
by the side of my bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and
as the clock on the mantelpiece showed me that it was
only a quarter-past seven, I blinked up at him in some
surprise, and perhaps just a little resentment, for I was
myself regular in my habits.
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No introduction
Limited amount of characters
In medias res
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How are the plot structure of a regular plot and a threeact plot different?
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In your own words, explain what plot and subplot stand
for.
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Plot: The main events in a story
Subplot: a story embedded in a story. Example: The
bachelor’s story in “The Story-Teller”
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What does this fish stand
for?
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What does the eye stand for
in “The Tell-Tale Heart”
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A person, place, or thing that has other levels of
meaning in addition to its literal meaning.
Examples:
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A dove is a symbol of peace
A red rose is a symbol of love
Fish is a symbol of Christianity
The color black is often a symbol of death and grief
Direct Characterization
 how an author tells his or
her reader about a character.
 Direct
characterization
occurs when the author
specifically reveals traits
about the character in a
direct,
straightforward
manner.
Indirect Characterization
 the process by which the
writer shows the character's
personality through his/her
speech,
actions
and
appearance.
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a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and
reasoning.
Let’s Practice:
 Which inferences can we draw about the narrator in
“The Tell-tale Heart”?
 Which inferences can we draw about the aunt in “The
Story-Teller”?
 Which inferences can we draw about the Sioux
grandfather in “The Medicine Bag”?
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Instinct vs. Knowledge
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Nature vs. Human beings
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How is nature described in the story?
Who is superior – the man or the dog?
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