The Dark Side of Individualism
American Gothic
The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and
strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.
H.P. Lovecraft
Imagination is the queen of darkness; night the season of her despotism.
James Kirke Paulding
The death...of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical
topic in the world – and equally is it beyond doubt that the lips best suited
for such topic are those of a bereaved lover.
Edgar Allan Poe
American Gothic – Discussion Notes
Gothic literature was inspired by _____________________________________________________
Gothic cathedrals were intended to ___________________________________________________
European gothic architecture: ________________________________________________________
American gothic architecture: ________________________________________________________
Gothic architecture makes me think of....
Gothic
Architecture
A mascot for gothic writers could be a ________________________________.
Draw an example:
Show it to a friend 
Romanticism
Gothic
American gothic writers of the 19th century include _________________,
________________________, _____________________, and _______________________.
The most popular gothic writer of this time period is ____________________________________.
Southern gothic: ____________________________________________________________________
Writers: ____________________________________________________________________________
Characteristics of their works: _________________________________________________________
“The Dark Side of Individualism”
pgs. 446-448
1. Why is gothic writing tradition referred to as the dark side of individualism?
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2. What are 2 popular gothic novels from the 1800s?
__________________________ by: _____________________ and
__________________________ by: _____________________
3. Who are the lead characters in these novels and what made them so appealing?
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4. What is a common setting for Poe’s writing? __________________________________________
5. What is a common event in a Poe plot? _______________________________________________
6. How did Hawthorne differ from Poe? ________________________________________________
7. Why did Southern Gothic arise in the 20th century? ____________________________________
8. How are southern gothic writers different from original gothic writers?
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Quick Write #1: Me and the Macabre – In 8 sentences describe the last time you were really
afraid. What contributed to your fear? Was it a spooky setting? Was suspense involved? Were
you alone? What do you think makes people afraid and why do you think that some people
like being scared?
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The Masque of the Red Death
Edgar Allan Poe
454-462
Vocabulary: Go through the story and write the word, word form, and your own sentence for
each word.
Word
Word Form
Definition/Sentence
Allegory
(no sentence needed for this one!)
contagion
courtier
dauntless
grotesque
impetuosity
license
pervade
sagacious
tangible
untenanted
Summary of Events – Read this before you read the story. It will help you understand what is
happening. It is the literal interpretation of the plot!
A disease known as the Red Death plagues the fictional country where this tale is set, and it causes its victims to die quickly
and gruesomely. Even though this disease is spreading rampantly, the prince, Prospero, feels happy and hopeful. He decides
to lock the gates of his palace in order to fend off the plague, ignoring the illness ravaging the land. After several months, he
throws a fancy masquerade ball. For this celebration, he decorates the rooms of his house in single colors. The easternmost
room is decorated in blue, with blue stained-glass windows. The next room is purple with the same stained-glass window
pattern. The rooms continue westward, according to this design, in the following color arrangement: green, orange, white, and
violet. The seventh room is black, with red windows. Also in this room stands an ebony clock. When the clock rings each hour,
its sound is so loud and distracting that everyone stops talking and the orchestra stops playing. When the clock is not
sounding, though, the rooms are so beautiful and strange that they seem to be filled with dreams, swirling among the revelers.
Most guests, however, avoid the final, black-and-red room because it contains both the clock and an ominous ambience.
At midnight, a new guest appears, dressed more ghoulishly than his counterparts. His mask looks like the face of a corpse, his
garments resemble a funeral shroud, and his face reveals spots of blood suggesting that he is a victim of the Red Death.
Prospero becomes angry that someone with so little humor and levity would join his party. The other guests, however, are so
afraid of this masked man that they fail to prevent him from walking through each room. Prospero finally catches up to the
new guest in the black-and-red room. As soon as he confronts the figure, Prospero dies. When other party-goers enter the
room to attack the cloaked man, they find that there is nobody beneath the costume. Everyone then dies, for the Red Death has
infiltrated the castle. “Darkness and Decay and the Red Death” have at last triumphed.
Note-Taking Strategy for The Masque of the Red Death
Directions: While you read, you will be looking for the allegorical meaning of the story. You already
know what physically happens to the characters. This story has a deeper meaning. It’s like a puzzle.
See if you can figure it out!
Element
“Prospero”
(the name)
Masquerade
Ball/party
attendees
The
number/order
of rooms in
the palace
The colors
red and
black
The final
room in the
palace
The clock
The
mysterious
guest
Description
My Symbolic Interpretation
Another Symbolic Interpretation
Quick Write #2: Symbolism in The Masque of the Red Death – Now that you have done the
most of the research on the symbolism in Poe’s story, it’s time to write a short essay. Read the
Seven Stages of Man from Shakespeare’s play As You Like It below. Some scholars believe that
Poe refers to these 7 stages in The Masque of the Red Death. In 2-3 eight sentence paragraphs,
explain what elements of the story could pertain to these stages and how they are symbolically
represented in the story.
All the world's a stage, / And all the men and women merely players: / They have their exits and their entrances; / And one
man in his time plays many parts, / His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, / Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
/ And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel / And shining morning face, creeping like snail / Unwillingly to
school. And then the lover, / Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad / Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, / Full
of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, / Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, / Seeking the bubble reputation /
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice, / In fair round belly with good capon lined, / With eyes severe and beard of
formal cut, / Full of wise saws and modern instances; / And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts / Into the lean and
slipper'd pantaloon, / With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, / His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide / For his
shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, / Turning again toward childish treble, pipes / And whistles in his sound. Last scene of
all, / That ends this strange eventful history, / Is second childishness and mere oblivion, / Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste,
sans everything." (II, vii, 139-66)
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Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment
Nathaniel Hawthorne
500-513
Vocabulary: Go through the story and write the word, word form, and your own sentence for
each word.
Word
Word Form
Definition/Sentence
Foreshadowing
(no sentence needed for this one!)
decrepit
deferential
dispute
efface
exhilaration
exultingly
stigma
transient
tremulous
venerable
Quick Write #3: Old vs Young – There are obvious benefits and detriments to each stage of
life. In the chart below list at least 2 benefits and 2 detriments for each stage of life.
Stage of Life
Childhood
(5-12)
Teenage
(13-17)
Young Adult
(18-25)
Adult
26-40
Middle Age
41-60
Old Age
61-really old 
Pros
Cons
Note-Taking Strategy for Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment
Directions: Like Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death, Hawthorne’s characters in Dr. Heidegger’s
Experiment are symbolic of a broader human characteristic. As you read the story, fill in the
chart below. Think about each character and then judge what abstract quality s/he could
symbolize.
Character
What s/he loses or wastes
What happens when given a second chance
Quality that s/he could
represent
Mr.
Medbuorne
Col. Killigrew
Mr.
Gascoigne
Widow
Wycherly
Quick Write #4: Lesson Learned – What lesson do you think Hawthorne intended his readers
to learn from this story? Choose one theme that is strongly represented and write 1 eightsentence paragraph discussing the why you think this is the theme of the story. (You must
include 2 direct quotes from the work that supports your point of view.)
Theme: ____________________________________________________________________________
Quote 1: ___________________________________________________________________________
Who says it? ____________________________________ What page? ________________________
Quote 2: ___________________________________________________________________________
Who says it? ____________________________________ What page? ________________________
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A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner
516-524
Vocabulary: Go through the story and write the word, word form, and your own sentence for
each word.
Word
Word Form
Definition/Sentence
Characterization
(no sentence needed for this one!)
circumvent
coquettishness
dank
diffident
divulge
edict
encroach
obliterate
obscure
pallid
profoundly
tedious
temerity
thwart
virulent
Quick Write #5: Little Old Lady – Think of the sweetest little old lady you know (maybe
grandma?). Describe her in 5 sentences. What makes her so special? Why do you respect her?
Admire her?
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Note-Taking Strategy for A Rose for Emily
Directions: Let’s look at characterization! Faulkner’s protagonist Emily Grierson has passed on
but she led an interesting life. As you read, write down the important events in her life that
shaped her as a person. Think about why Faulkner would choose to include this information.
What does he want you to think about Emily’s personality?
Event
What it says about Emily...
Group Discussion – Work in a small group to discuss these questions. Write your answers on
the lines provided.
Why did Miss Emily do it? ___________________________________________________________
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Were you surprised by the ending? Was this an effective use of situational irony? ___________
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Look at your Characterization Chart above and paraphrase your thoughts about Emily. What
kind of person was she? Do you agree with the others in your group or disagree? (Don’t just
write “crazy”...I want at least 2 other characteristics!!)
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Do you think anyone other than Emily (her father, the community) should bear some
responsibility for Emily’s crime? Why or why not?
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The Life You Save May Be Your Own
Flannery O’Conner
528-538
Vocabulary: Go through the story and write the word, word form, and your own sentence for
each word.
Word
Word Form
Definition/Sentence
Situational
(no sentence needed for this one!)
Irony
Dramatic Irony
(no sentence needed for this one!)
composed
gaunt
list
morose
rue
Note-Taking Strategy for The Life You Save May Be Your Own
Directions: As we read keep track of the tone the author uses. Flannery O’Conner creates a
mood for the reader through her word choice, setting, and characterization. Choose phrases
that are intended to make the reader feel a certain way and explain the feeling that you get as
you read.
Author’s phrase
Mood created for the reader/ How this phrase sets
the mood
Group Discussion – Work in a small group to discuss these questions. Write your answers on
the lines provided.
What do you think of Mr. Shiftlet? In 3 sentences share your opinion of his character. ________
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Do you blame Mrs. Crater for what happens to Lucynell? Why or why not?
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How do you interpret the title of the work? Why do you think the author chose this title?
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What mood did the author create for the reader? How do you feel after reading this story?
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Would you change the ending of the story? Why or why not?
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Quick Write #6: Tone analysis of O’Conner’s The Life You Save May Be Your Own – Write 2
paragraphs analyzing the author’s tone in this story. How does she portray the characters?
How does she want you to feel about the characters? How does she portray the setting? What
is the prevailing emotion that you take away from reading this story? (Those questions will
help you get started!) Use your chart to come up with 2 specific examples from the story to
prove your point.
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