Concluding Essay: Gothic Fiction Unit
Ms. Thoreson, 11CP Engish
In class, we have read the following short works:
Wieland, or the Transformation (excerpt) by Charles Brockden Brown
“The Man of Adamant” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
“The Black Cat” by Edgar Allen Poe
“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
“Cry Pretty” by Stevie Smith.
All of the stories from the Gothic fiction unit featured characters that have ranged from
being maladjusted to society, to downright amoral and murderous. Likewise, Stevie
Smith’s poem also presents a dire or pessimistic view about human nature.
ASSIGNMENT:
Compare/contrast Stevie Smith’s ideas about human nature in “Cry Pretty” with the view
of humanity developed in two of the following stories from the Gothic fiction unit.
(NOTE: Since you have already written body paragraphs on Wieland and “The Man of
Adamant” YOU MAY USE ONLY ONE OF THESE STORIES in your final paper.)
The paper should have an introduction, 2 well developed body paragraphs (each with at
least two integrated quotes/commentary) and a conclusion.
SUGGESTED PAPER OUTLINE:
Introduction:
 Explain the main ideas in Smith’s poem
 Include the title/authors of the two stories you will focus on
 Thesis: A statement explaining how the poem compares/contrasts with your two
stories.
Body paragraph #1:
 Will quote from Smith’s poem and explain an idea from the poem that connects
with the story.
 Will quote from the story and develop how the story has an idea that is similar to
(or contrasting from) the poem
Body paragraph #2:
Will do the same as body paragraph #1, but focusing on a different line/idea from the
poem and a different short story.
Conclusion:
 Sum up main ideas of the paragraph
 Include your own opinion of whether or not you agree with the view of human
nature shown in these works. Are people really as dark and negative as these
stories/poem depict? (For this part of the paper only, you may use “I” if it makes
it easier to write.)