30 Questions
What sets Dark Romanticism apart from Romanticism?
Focus on life's negativity and human fallibility
What do Dark Romantics believe about human nature?
Naturally drawn to evil forces of life
What is a key characteristic of Gothic literature that distinguishes it from Romanticism?
Horror, madness, and supernatural beings
How do Dark Romantics view the Puritans' moral code?
As restrictive and judgmental
What are the main elements to look for when analyzing a Dark Romantic text?
Individual prone to sin, anthropomorphization of Evil, sinister nature, inability to change for the better
How does American Gothic differ from Romanticism in its depiction of nature?
Focuses on perversions of nature and darkness
Which of the following is NOT a common theme in American Gothic literature?
Exploration of the natural world and man's place in it
Which of the following is a characteristic of American Gothic literature?
The supernatural: demons, ghosts, monsters, witchcraft, omens, or other irrational elements that torment and wreak havoc on characters and settings
Which of the following is a theme unique to American Gothic literature?
The Rational Cannot Overcome the Irrational
What is the main purpose of using dark and confusing physical settings in American Gothic literature?
To depict the sense of terror that comes with the unknown
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of American Gothic literature mentioned in the passage?
Exploration of the human psyche and the subconscious
What is the 'Blurred Line Between Reality and Fantasy' theme in American Gothic literature referring to?
The inability to fully distinguish what's real and what isn't
Which of the following was NOT one of the tragedies that shaped Poe's work?
The loss of his wife Virginia
What was the relationship between Poe and his foster father John Allan?
Their relationship worsened over time
What did Poe do in 1827?
Both A and B
What was the significance of the year 1829 for Poe?
Both A and B
How did Poe's birth mother die?
From tuberculosis
What was Poe's original name before being taken in by the Allan family?
Edgar Poe
What type of literature did Edgar Allan Poe contribute to during his lifetime?
Gothic literature and early works of horror
In which year did Poe publish his most famous short story 'The Fall of the House of Usher'?
1839
What significant achievement did Poe have in 1841 that later inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Released 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue'
Which of the following is a recurring theme in Edgar Allan Poe's literary works?
Death
'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe became popular after its publication in which newspaper?
The Evening Mirror
How long did Edgar Allan Poe's marriage to Virginia Clemm last before her death at the age of 24?
Eleven years
What was the main idea advocated by Thophile Gautier?
Art should exist for its own sake, independent of any other purpose
Which American thinker and critic shared a similar concern for aesthetic value in literature?
Edgar Allan Poe
What did Poe believe writers should focus on?
Style and producing aesthetic effects through technical control
Which of Poe's poems is cited as an example of his careful control of literary techniques?
Annabel Lee
What did Poe believe was the purpose of evoking deeper truths or beauty through careful control of literary techniques?
To evoke a deeper truth or beauty beyond the surface level
Which of the following genres is Poe not known for?
Romantic poetry
Study Notes
Edgar Allan Poe's Life
- Born on January 19, 1809, in Boston to traveling actor parents, David Poe Jr. and Elizabeth "Eliza" Arnold Hopkins Poe
- Father abandoned the family, and mother died of tuberculosis when Edgar was two years old
- Sent to foster care and lived with John and Frances Allan in Richmond, Virginia, where he was educated at private academies and traveled abroad
- Close to his foster mother but had a worsening relationship with his foster father, eventually being disowned by the Allan family
Writing Career
- Enrolled in the U.S. Army in 1827 and began publishing poetry seriously, releasing "Tamerlane and Other Poems" the same year
- Published his second poetry book, "Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems", in 1829
- First American author to try to make a living as a writer
- Published his third volume of poetry, "Poems", in 1831
- Worked as a writer, editor, and literary critic for several newspapers and magazines, traveling around cities on the East coast
- Published "Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque" in 1839, which included the famous short story "The Fall of the House of Usher"
- Released "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" in 1841, the first modern detective story
Literary Themes and Style
- Murder, death, madness, grief, and psychological horror were common themes in his work
- Focused on the dark side of human nature, sin, and self-destruction
- Shaped the genre of Dark Romanticism
- Influenced by Gothic literature and the Victorian era
- His work was characterized by an emphasis on the aesthetic value of art, with a focus on style, technique, and evoking a deeper truth or beauty
Personal Life
- Married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm, in 1836, and the marriage lasted eleven years until her death at the age of 24
- They had no children
Dark Romanticism and American Gothic
- Dark Romanticism focuses on human fallibility, sin, and self-destruction, especially in the face of social reforms
- American Gothic literature includes horror, terror, irrationality, madness, supernatural beings, and the unexplained
- Characteristics of American Gothic include the macabre, the supernatural, psychological trauma, fear of the unknown, and dark and confusing physical settings
- The genre explores the idea that the rational cannot overcome the irrational, and the past is alive and present in the characters' lives
Explore the contrasting themes of dark romanticism, focusing on negative aspects of life, with light romanticism, focusing on beauty and optimism. Learn about how dark romanticism authors valued individuality, emotion, and subjective experience, while primarily being influenced by themes of loss and death.
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