The Portrayal Of Death In Gothic Literature

1008 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Emily Dickinson’s view on death

Death is both an interesting and appealing concept to readers and writers alike. It is a powerful tool which can derive many emotions out of their readers and sometimes the writers themselves. Many writers use this tool to evoke emotional responses to their work by either removing a character from existence, portray a character going through the loss of a loved one or simply writing about the subject in general. There are many ways to portray death, but the outcome is usually the same, but what is it that affects of reading and writing about such a topic and why do people gravitate to this subject? The causes that lead to writing about death are not a choice but the path that was walked.
In Emily Dickinson's poem “Because I could not stop for …show more content…

Poe? These writers would be categorized under the genre of Gothic literature. Gothic literature holds both the components of horror and romance genre, but most don't know the history about their favorite Gothic writers, they enjoy the depiction of romance and mystery which these writers create. Dying for someone you love, dying peacefully and watching everyone pass you by fills people with a sense of foreboding. Andrew Tylor writes about how Gothic is not just about death and romance but the relationship intellect and nerves in a story. He mentions that Mr. Poe wrote some of the world's most influential Gothic pieces due to his continuous melancholy.
Even in today's world, the need to write about the subject, death, is fresh in many people's minds. May they be about one's misery or the wanting of misery for another. Andrew Taylor mentions that a distinguished Gothic writer is Susan Hill, she identifies with ghost stories. Her best known work, you may recognize, is The Woman in Black. This piece presents the malignant effect of frustrated maternal love. Julian Flanagan writes how Miss Hill's work was impacted by her surroundings, not her life. It was the thought of how crime and tragedy affected families and the community that got her writing in this

Show More
Related

  • Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

    1065 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many short stories in literature that share a common theme presented in different ways. A theme that always keeps readers’ attention is that of death because it is something that no one wants to face in real life, but something that can be easily faced when reading. “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut and “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson both exemplify how two authors use a common theme of death to stand as a metaphor for dystopian societies.

    Read More

  • How Did Gothic Literature Influence The Fall Of The House Of Usher

    516 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gothic literature has greatly influenced today’s horror and suspense genres. Edgar Allan Poe wrote many short stories, most of which were filled with dark elements and a deep awareness for the capacity for evil. The Fall of the House of Usher is a key example of gothic literature through the use of grotesque characters, bizarre situations, and violent events. All of these elements come together and express dark impulses and emotion.

    Read More

  • Poe's Gothic Writing Style

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    When I think of traditional gothic style writings, I picture dark, creepy, and gloomy situations. Most writings in a traditional gothic style may cause your heart to beat a little more rapid and give you chilling goose bumps. However, I feel that when I read writings by Edgar Allen Poe the ‘gothic’ theme is taken to the next level giving a petrifying suspicion. Poe leaps past ordinary and traditional writing by including symbolism within words, mysteries with hidden meanings, and more dramatic and horrifying conditions than normal. David Galloway says, “Poe was a master of intensity of the picture he is able to construct from essentially ‘Gothic’ materials. But Poe attempted to go beyond the popular gothic tradition, and deplored the meretricious use of terror and grotesquerie.” I believe that the variety of Poe’s works not only met the requests of the marketplace, but was also an expression of Poe’s own thoughts about life in a deeper meaning.

    Read More

  • Edgar Allen Poe

    1972 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many people label Edgar Allen Poe a horror writer, plain and simple others refer to Poe as the father of the detective story, but over all he´s one Americas greatest writers. His ability of expressing the world in gothic ways, really captures the reader´s attention. Even though he lead a tough life and was known as a sadistic drug addict and alcoholic, he still managed to produce great pieces of literature. Three of his greatest works were The Tell Tale heart, The Fall of the House Usher, and The Raven. All of these are very known troughout the world and are considered three of Poe´s greatest pieces.

    Read More

  • The Black Cat And The Landlady: Key Elements Of Gothic Literature

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    Key Elements of Gothic Literature Jasmine Giles People enjoy reading gothic literature due to its heart rate exciting nature. Without having to engage with any real danger, it is common for the reader to feel anxiety and impaitence when reading gothic fiction. In order for the reader to feel these emotions, the author uses certain elements, such as a gloomy setting and old-fashioned dialoge. In the stories “The Black Cat” and “The Tell Tale Heart”, by elgar allen poe, and “The Landlady”, by Roland Dahl, there are many similarites that remanticize the idea of horror and mystery. Some elements, however, bring out the disbolical horror of gothic literature: the setting, characterization, and the motif of suspense.

    Read More

  • Poe

    1849 Words  | 4 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe was an American short story writer, a poet, a novelist, an essayist, an editor, and a critic. He left a big impression on American and international literature, he left behind a legacy. Many people think Poe began the genre of science fiction (Binns, 114). In his works, he has shown that he has an original imagination, as well as a brilliant command of language and techniques. While most of his works were not much-admired during his lifetime, Poe had come to be viewed as one of the most important American authors in the Gothic tradition (Streissguth, 104).

    Read More

  • Death and Emily Dickinson

    1312 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Death, the end of life: the time when someone or something dies” (Merriam-Webster, 2014). The definition of death is quite simple, the end of life is inescapable. I chose to write about death and impermanence because it is something we all must inevitably face. People often deal with death in a number of different ways. Although it is something that we must eventually face, it can be hard to come to terms with because the idea can be hard to grasp. Some of us fear it, others are able to accept it, either way we all must eventually face it. In this essay I will look at two different literary works about death and impermanence and compare and contrast the different elements of the point of view, theme, setting, and symbolism. The comparison of these particular works will offer a deeper look into words written by the authors and the feelings that they experiencing at that particular time.

    Read More

  • Edgar Allan Poe's Impact on American Literature

    1370 Words  | 3 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most influential writers of the horror genre in American history. His horror stories have impacted numerous authors and their stories over the years. Various people have tried to copy his way of writing style, but they have failed to achieve the success he did. Even though Poe is no longer living, his impact on American literature can still be felt today.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Tell Tale Heart And The Raven

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    People say the mind is a very complex thing. The mind gives people different interpretations of events and situations. A person state of mind can lead to a death of another person. As we all know death is all around us in movies, plays, and stories. The best stories that survive throughout time involve death in one form or another. For example, William Shakespeare is considered as one of the greatest writers in literary history known for having written a lot of stories concerning death like Macbeth or Julius Caesar. The topic of death in stories keeps people intrigued and on the edge of their seats. Edgar Allan Poe wrote two compelling stories that deal with death “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Raven.” In “The

    Read More

  • Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe´s Literature

    897 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe has a unique writing style that uses several different elements of literary structure. He uses intrigue vocabulary, repetition, and imagery to better capture the reader’s attention and place them in the story. Edgar Allan Poe’s style is dark, and his is mysterious style of writing appeals to emotion and drama. What might be Poe’s greatest fictitious stories are gothic tend to have the same recurring theme of either death, lost love, or both. His choice of word draws the reader in to engage them to understand the author’s message more clearly. Authors who have a vague short lexicon tend to not engage the reader as much.

    Read More

  • American Gothic Essay

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    One great American Gothic story written by Poe is The Tell Tale Heart. What makes this story Gothic/creepy is how the narrator describes the old man 's eye. Also the fact that the narrator is constantly thinking of killing the old man because of his eyes. Then again he still wants the reader to believe that he is not insane for having these thoughts. And that he has a legitimate reason behind his own crazy reasoning. In the first paragraph of page 41 of the story he says “True! Nervous very very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that i am mad?” then later he goes on to say “I heard many things in hell. How then am I mad?” The narrator is the perfect example of a character from a Gothic novel. He is extremely irrational and believe he has a right or even a duty to kill the old man and to put a stop to his

    Read More

  • Essay On Gothic Storytelling

    671 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gothic storytelling is a form of writing that usually includes horror, death, and romance. People write gothic style for the thrill of having a little bit of scariness in their story. Gothic style can be shown through the imagery and themes. The Fall of the House of Usher and Crimson Peak are two stories that show gothic writing though the imagery of the houses and supernatural.

    Read More

  • Gothic Literature and the Writings of Edgar Allan Poe

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gothic Tradition was said to have started in Europe. Gothicism came from the Romanticism in the early 19th century (Book Rags). Two people who are said to have started the gothic writing movement are Ann Radcliffe and Horace Walpole. They started this style with their stories: “The Mysteries of Udolpho” and “The Castle of Otranto” (Book Rags). The gothic movement also came about because it was related to the art and architecture during the Renaissance era. Edgar Allan Poe three main elements romance, horror, and supernatural events are used in his short stories and poems. A few of his most famous short stories are “The Raven”, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, “The Tell-tale Heart”, “The Black Cat”, “Eleonora”, and “Annabelle Lee” (Book Rags). Some of his writing is dark and gloomy while others have romance and comedy.

    Read More

  • Is Suicide the Solution?

    1534 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout time, death has been viewed in a negative light. In general, it is an event to be mourned and is seen by some as the end to existence. People do not usually seek death as an answer to their problems. In various pieces of literature, however, suicide is contemplated by the characters as the only solution to the pain and grief that they experience.

    Read More

  • Reflection Paper On Death And Dying

    1374 Words  | 3 Pages

    I was very excited to take Death and Dying as a college level course. Firstly, because I have always had a huge interest in death, but it coincides with a fear surrounding it. I love the opportunity to write this paper because I can delve into my own experiences and beliefs around death and dying and perhaps really establish a clear personal perspective and how I can relate to others in a professional setting.

    Read More

More about The Portrayal Of Death In Gothic Literature

Open Document