Visceral Through Harrowing Imagery Humans have two reactions in response to a perceived harmful event or threat: fight or flight. These innate responses come deep from visceral feelings of fear and distress or the natural urge to question ideas and institutions, fighting against them. These strong feelings, both of which Halloween in the Anthropocene by Craig Santos Perez and Windigo by Louise Erdrich explore, are expressed through vivid imagery. While each poem is written differently, both Windigo and Halloween in the Anthropocene grab the attention of the reader and make them feel a strong way, provoking emotional responses. Windigo utilizes a classic horror story telling based narrative that makes the reader slowly feel a sense of dread …show more content…
In Windigo, Erdrich tells a story of an ominous, supernatural creature that preys on, and abducts a child. “The Windigo is a flesh-eating, wintry demon with a man buried deep inside of it,” she describes in her poem (Erdrich, “Windigo”). She builds anticipation and tension by describing the setting. “You knew I was coming for you, little one,” the Windigo says to the child as the “kettle jumped into the fire [while] towels flapped on the hooks, and the dog crept off, groaning, to the deepest part of the woods” (Erdrich, “Windigo” 1-5). Halloween in the Anthropocene tells multiple smaller stories that tie into a bigger picture narrative. The poem tells us to “praise the souls of black boys, enslaved by supply chains…under West African heat,” and the “souls of brown girls who sew our clothes as fire unthreads…smoke and ash,” while the “souls of Asian children who manufacture toys…until gravity sharpens their bodies enough to cut through suicide nets” (Perez, “Halloween in the Anthropocene” 3-5, 8-10, 12-14). He also …show more content…
Bestial imagery is used to convey the monstrosity that is the Windigo. The “hackles of dry brush,” while the dog creeps off into the “deepest part of the woods” signals the threatening presence looming (Erdrich, “Windigo” 4-6). “You [see] me drag toward you,” the Windigo says to the child as the reader sees its “pale, melting fur” (Erdrich, “Windigo” 12, 15). It is important to note, while sight is an integral part in horror, arguably even more important, is the utilization of sound. The reader can hear the flapping of the towels “on the hooks,” and the dog creeping off, “groaning, to the deepest part of the woods,” as well as the Windigo speaking to the child “in the hackles of dry brush [as] a thin laughter started up” (Erdrich, “Windigo” 3-6). Through the cold trees, the Windigo says, “New one, I have come for you, child hide and lie still” (Erdrich, “Windigo” 10). Although Erdrich makes great use of both sight and sound, what makes Windigo even more frightening is Erdrich’s usage of the senses touch and taste. “Oh touch me, [the Windigo], murmur[s]…lick[ing] the soles” of the child’s feet, as the child “dug [her] hands into the Windigo’s “pale, melting fur” (Erdrich, “Windigo” 14-15). The Windigo steals the child away, “a huge thing in [its] bristling armor,” as “steam rolled from [its] wintry arms, each leaf [shivering] from the bushes [they] passed
Poe’s frightening stories acts as helpful inspiration for entertainment in the present, and for many years to come. The timeless relevance of his work, and its merciless scrutiny of the human condition, solidifies its place in history and its position of high admiration. In conclusion, the extraordinary-fleeting-tragic life of Edgar Allan Poe will forever remain on record as the tale of an orphan, a gentleman, a soldier, and one of the most prominent literary figures in American history.
The case of the Nedlands Monster was very much a defining moment for Perth. The city lowered its safety as a big country town, and raised its profile to new heights. “down the swept side path into the heartland where it smells of...vegetables and the hard labour of people...with his heart a-dance he comes wheezing”(pg367) .Through the effective use of dialogue cultural ideas are threatened. Winton uses connotative language such as “his heart a-dance” to reinforce the violent and dysfunctional nature of Edgar who was able to threaten Perth’s identity so strikingly without feeling any sense of apathy in doing so. How Edgar was able to manipulate a very vulnerable society was by challenging the resilience of not only working class people, but an entire society from the loss of security, optimism and innocence that the murders brought to Perth. “The town is in frenzy this is what it means to be a city...no one at night moves” (pg365). T...
In the year 1625, Francis Bacon, a famous essayist and poet wrote about the influences of fear on everyday life. He stated, “Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other” (Essays Dedication of Death). Clearly, external surroundings affect perceptions of fear as well as human nature in general. Although C.S. Lewis published the novel, Out of the Silent Planet, over three centuries after Bacon wrote his theory on fear, Lewis similarly portrayed external surrounding to manipulate perceptions of fear. From the first chapter of the novel, Lewis revealed fear to be a weakness that leads to ignorance. It was this ignorance that apparently fueled the cycle of corruption and immorality on “The Silent Planet.” Using the character Ransom to reveal the effect of memory and morality on fear, C.S. Lewis demonstrates that fear is a quality of the “bent” race (humans), and only by eliminating fear in our lives can the human race become hnau.
The windigo narrative is a tool used by Boyden to create a threshold between fiction and reality with the use of symbolism. In Joseph Boyden’s Three Day Road, the windigo narrative symbolically represents the loss of control over the self. Xavier and Elijah are transformed into a monstrous condition. Both are dependent at some point on morphine, as the windigo is dependent on flesh. This is a result of the extreme conditions imposed by the First World War. This key element of choice and consequence for actions taken is the main critique of Boyden on World War I, crossing the line from literary fiction to critique of factual
For the first two paragraphs, ominous and abstract diction, such as “uneasy”, “ominously”, and “roamed” is used to describe “the victim's” feelings towards the wind (paragraphs 1-2). This creates a tense, uneasy tone that hints towards the idea that the winds are supernatural. Her diction changes as the third paragraph progresses. Here, it goes from supernatural tone to one of well researched analysis. This is assisted by the use of specific terms like “foehn”, “surgeons”, and “ions”, which are words that are not ominous, but specific and scientific. It is also a turn in tone from the mystical “folklore” paragraphs into ones that are not speculative. The overall mood of the remains ominous and uneasy, despite the fact that the cause of everybody’s discomfort is disclosed to some degree at the end. Because this disclosure is not very thorough and people’s reactions are so strange, the mood stays the same as the tone of the first two
Edgar Allan Poe is known for some of the most horrifying stories ever written through out time. He worked with the natural world, animals, and weather to create chilling literature. Two most notable thrillers are “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tell-Tale Heart”. Poe was infatuated with death, disfigurement, and dark characteristics of the world. He could mix characters, setting, theme,and mood in a way that readers are automatically drawn into reading. Both of these short stories have the same major aspects in common.
Authors use various styles to tell their stories in order to appeal to the masses exceptionally well and pass the message across. These messages can be communicated through short stories, novels, poems, songs and other forms of literature. Through The Masque of the Red Death and The Raven, it is incredibly easy to get an understanding of Edgar Allen Poe as an author. Both works describe events that are melodramatic, evil and strange. It is also pertinent to appreciate the fact that strange plots and eerie atmospheres are considerably evident in the author’s writings. This paper compares and contrasts The Masque of the Red Death and The Raven and proves that the fear of uncertainty and death informs Edgar Allen Poe’s writings in the two works
Edgar Allan Poe is known to observe humans reaction to… Both Poe, in his short stories “The Fall of the house of Usher”, and Bierce, in his short story “One of the Missing”, expose their characters to fear.
Gothic texts are typically characterized by a horrifying and haunting mood, in a world of isolation and despair. Most stories also include some type of supernatural events and/or superstitious aspects. Specifically, vampires, villains, heroes and heroines, and mysterious architecture are standard in a gothic text. Depending upon the author, a gothic text can also take on violent and grotesque attributes. As an overall outlook, “gothic literature is an outlet for the ancient fears of humanity in an age of reason” (Sacred-Texts). Following closely to this type of literature, Edgar Allan Poe uses a gloomy setting, isolation, and supernatural occurrences throughout “The Fall of the House of Usher”.
More than death itself, Harwood’s poetry shows how many people fail to accept death. Their belief in immortality and fear of the end is also potrayed in Nightfall. Although when the subject of the poem is death, the words describe life, as if reluctant to face up to reality. The images are of suburbs, lights, birds and trees. Even with so many experiences, many of us will forever be ignorant seems to be the truth ringing perpetually though Harwood’s verses.
In society today, people tend to go with their feelings instead of reasoning or recalling situations to have happened to them before for insight. The reasoning behind this is due American Romanticism, created in 1800 and lasting through 1860. In this period literature, music, and art was created on how the writers and artists felt instead of logic and reasoning. American Romanticism is clearly shown in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”. Both Moby Dick and “The Masque of the Red Death” show the struggle of everyday life with vivid use of the five senses, the all-being truth of the cycle of nature, and the wonder, awe, and fear of supernatural beings.
Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, sets a tone that is dark, gloomy, and threatening. His inclusion of highly descriptive words and various forms of figurative language enhance the story’s evil nature, giving the house and its inhabitants eerie and “supernatural” qualities. Poe’s effective use of personification, symbolism, foreshadowing, and doubling create a morbid tale leading to, and ultimately causing, the fall of (the house of) Usher.
Word by word, gothic literature is bound to be an immaculate read. Examining this genre for what it is could be essential to understanding it. “Gothic” is relating to the extinct East Germanic language, people of which known as the Goths. “Literature” is defined as a written work, usually with lasting “artistic merit.” Together, gothic literature combines the use of horror, death, and sometimes romance. Edgar Allan Poe, often honored with being called the king of horror and gothic poetry, published “The Fall of House Usher” in September of 1839. This story, along with many other works produced by Poe, is a classic in gothic literature. In paragraph nine in this story, one of our main characters by the name of Roderick Usher,
As a gothic writer, Edgar Allan Poe created horror using gloom as his weapon. Hidden within the suspenseful story of “The Masque of Red Death” is an allegorical tale of how individuals deal with the fear of death as time passes. Frantic activities and pleasures (as represented by Prince Prospero and his guests) seek to wall out the threat of death. However, the story reminds the reader that death comes “like a thief in the night”(Poe 3), and even those who seek peace and safety shall not escape. Poe uses symbolism to illustrate that man cannot hide from his own mortality.
Reading Edgar Allen Poe’s works such as “The Cask of Amontillado” and “Tell-Tale Heart” are both written around 1840’s and written in the gothic style. Poe displays his horror short stories, in which the reader can differentiate his signature style. Although many of Poe’s significant works may have a similar theme, the reader can distinguish the themes through the characters in “The Cask of Amontillado” and “Tell-Tale Heart.”