Qualities of Southern Gothic Literature

This post if for freshmen only.

Southern Gothic

Literary Tradition

Gothic literature is fiction in which strange, gloomy settings and mysterious, violent, often supernatural events create suspense and terror. Southern gothic literature uses gothic motifs to explore social issues and reveal the cultural character of the American South.

Following are a few characteristics of gothic and southern gothic literature:

1. The gothic novel tries to evoke chilling terror and gloom by exploiting mystery and horror. Gothic is about haunting and possession.  We are supposed to feel a chill at some point in the story, and this emotional response is in part the point of the gothic experience. Paradoxically, this fear is a source of pleasure.  "Tis so appalling--it exhilarates," Emily Dickinson says in a poem.
2. In a Gothic work, there is usually confusion about good and evil. What does ‘good’ actually mean? What about ‘evil’? And how can we tell the difference?
3. Gothic reveals a fear of institutions, such as religion, education, or marriage.
4. Gothic shows the dark and hidden side of things. It rips open the lies and shows a world of cruelty, lust, perversion, and crime hidden beneath society’s rules and customs.
5. Gothic tears through censorship and explodes hypocrisies. It exposes the world as a corrupt, reeking place.
6. Gothic is a reaction to the conventional, common sense, and enlightened world. If society is supposed to be orderly and sensible, gothic shows how it really isn’t.
7. Southern gothic tips stereotypes on their side and kicks them in the gut. Sweet Southern belles are crafty and greedy, chivalrous gentlemen are sneaky and perverse, and righteous preachers are manipulative and evil.

Your task: We've tackled two short stories that can be considered Southern Gothic - "Good Country People" and "A Rose for Emily." We also viewed Night of the Hunter - again, classic Southern Gothic. Select one of the stories, and in a paragraph explain how one aspect of the story meets one of the criteria listed above.

Be sure that your response is thoughtful and thorough and includes a cited quotation. Keep in mind all of the elements of a good paragraph: topic sentence, set-up, cited quotation, explanation (claim - evidence - warrant). Write in formal third person. Post your paragraphs in the comments below. Include you name. you may comment on your peers' entries for extra credit.

The text for "A Rose for Emily" can be found HERE.  The text for "Good Country People" can be found HERE.

Night of the Hunter - Southern Gothic

This post is for freshmen only.

First, a review. Here are the criteria of Southern Gothic literature/cinema:


1. The gothic novel tries to evoke chilling terror and gloom by exploiting mystery and horror. Gothic is about haunting and possession. We are supposed to feel a chill at some point in the story, and this emotional response is in part the point of the gothic experience. Paradoxically, this fear is a source of pleasure. "Tis so appalling--it exhilarates," Emily Dickinson says in a poem.


2. In a Gothic work, there is usually confusion about good and evil. What does ‘good’ actually mean? What about ‘evil’? And how can we tell the difference?


3. Gothic reveals a fear of institutions, such as religion, education, or marriage.


4. Gothic shows the dark and hidden side of things. It rips open the lies and shows a world of cruelty, lust, perversion, and crime hidden beneath society’s rules and customs.


5. Gothic tears through censorship and explodes hypocrisies. It exposes the world as a corrupt, reeking place.


6. Gothic is a reaction to the conventional, common sense, and enlightened world. If society is supposed to be orderly and sensible, gothic shows how it really isn’t.


7. Southern gothic tips stereotypes on their side and kicks them in the gut. Sweet Southern belles are crafty and greedy, chivalrous gentlemen are sneaky and perverse, and righteous preachers are manipulative and evil.

Here is your task:

1. Find a specific moment in the film that in some way illustrates one of these criteria.
2. In a thoughtful, thorough paragraph, describe in detail the moment of the film and connect it to one of the criteria.
3. Post your paragraph in the comments bellow.
4. Check other comments to make sure no one has previously discussed the moment of the film you are discussing. (No repeats!)

Is extra credit available? Yes. After you have posted your response, feel free to comment/respond to your peers and participate in an online discussion.

Here are some images from the movie that might help jog your memory:

 

  

Spring Break Morning Announcements

Here you go...



Morning Announcements MARCH 23, 2012 from Glenbrook South Television on Vimeo.

Sci-Fi Dilemmas in District 9

This post is for JUNIORS only.

District 9 tackles a variety of real world problems: South Africa's apartheid, South Africa's racist attitudes towards Nigerians, people's willingness to buy into media smear campaigns, immigration issues, the abuse of authority by police, the utilization of concentration camps, and more. 

The film, however, is basically broken into three acts with each act focusing on one basic problem:

1. The first third of the film deals with MNU's treatment of the aliens and the way they plan to force them into a concentration camp. In other words, the first third of the film explores how horribly governments and corporations can treat groups of minorities.
2. The second third of the film deals with MNU's inhuman treatment of Wikus and how horribly governments and corporations can treat individual members of society.
3. The final third of the film deals with how people have a natural instinct for self preservation which often leads to selfish and callous behavior towards others.

Your task is to accomplish the following objectives:

• Select one of the three acts about which you would like to write.
• View the clip below that illustrates the act's central real world problem.
• Write a thoughtful, thorough, grammatically correct paragraph in which you thoroughly explain how the clip illustrates just how the problem exists in the film.
• Write a second paragraph in which you thoroughly explain how this real world problem exists in either (1) the real world, (2) A Long Way Gone, or (3) another film or book or your choice.

If you have any questions, please ask an instructor. As always, use the following list to edit your work:

• third person
• present tense
• no contractions
• correct grammar/punctuation
• correct spelling
• correct capitalization
• book titles italicized
• a creative, original title for your essay 

Act I:  The treatment of the aliens by MNU

(The treatment of minority groups by governments and corporations)

Act II:  The treatment of Wikus by MNU

(The treatment of individuals by a government or corporation)

Act III:  Wikus is ruled by his fear of MNU and his prejudice of the aliens
(Individuals are ruled by instinctive fears and prejudices)

Two more points of interest:

Be sure to bring your Fahrenheit 451 novels the day after break.

If you enjoyed District 9, you might also enjoy Monsters.

A Long Way Gone - Intro and Conclusion

This post is for juniors only.

Now that you've completed your three body paragraphs, it is time to write your introduction and conclusion.



Your introduction should include the following four elements:

1. hook (attention grabber)
2. link (in which you introduce the title and author of the book about which you are writing)
3. thesis (in which you present the claim that, throughout the book, Ishmael goes through several character changes)
4. bridge (in which you explain just what those character changes are)

Your conclusion should satisfy two criteria:

1. briefly summarize the central idea of your essay
2. ask the question, "So what?" - in other words, the conclusion should make the essay relevant to the reader

As always, you are responsible for the following editing criteria:

• third person
• present tense
• no contractions
• correct grammar/punctuation
• correct spelling
• correct capitalization
• book titles italicized
• a creative, original title for your essay 

Point/Counter Point

This post is for freshmen only.

 

 

Review page one of your study guide, the page entitled 'Anticipation Guide'. Below you will find three of the statements with which you have already agreed or disagreed.

• It does not matter how others view a person as long as that person understands himself.
• The reason for discrimination is people hating other people.
• There is a price to pay for achieving the America Dream.

Here is your task:

1. Select one of the three statments.
2. Write a thoughtful, thorough paragraph in which you present a piece of evidence that suggests the claim is true.
3. Write a thoughtful, thorough paragraph in which you present a piece of evidence that suggests the claim is not true.
4. Finally, write a paragraph in which you present your conclusion: Which piece of evidence is stronger?

Each paragraph must contain a topic sentence. Evidence must come from a book, a story, film, pop culture, history, current events, etc. The evidence must be presented within context (set up). The evidence must also be specific. The explanation - connecting the evidence to the claim/topic sentece - must be well thought out and thorough.

The same editing criteria apply as in the last essay: 

• properly cited quotations (if used)
• no first or second person
• present tense only
• no contractions or slang
• book titles italicized (if used)

A Long Way Gone - Essay Paragraph 3

This post if for JUNIORS only.

And here it is...part of your essays. Remember, here is the overall arc of the essay: What is Ishmael like at the beginning of the book, in the middle, and in the end?

This third paragraph is going to focus on what Ishmael is like during his time in the rehabilitation center and at the convention. In other words, answer the following question in a thoughtful, thorough paragraph:

Which two words (from the list provided) best describe Ismael's character

during his time as a rehab patient and as a speaker in New York?

1. hesitant
2. courageous
3. angry
4. respected
5. respectful
6. detached
7. vengeful
8. careful
9. scared
10. polite
11. happy
12. innocent
13. spiteful
14. humorous
15. generous
16. selfish
17. honest
18. deceitful
19. curious
20. loving
21. loyal
22. lonely
23. strong
24. foolish
25. wise

Your paragraph must contain two examples/two cited quotations - one for each of the words you select. Your paragraph must contain a topic sentence. It must contain a set-up for each quotation, as well as an explanation for each quotation. In addition, please pay special attention to the following editing criteria:

• third person
• present tense
• no contractions
• correct grammar/punctuation
• correct spelling
• correct capitalization

A Raisin in the Sun Essay Revision

This post is for freshmen only.

Here's an editing checklist for your A Raisin in the Sun essays. Be sure to double check all of your work.

Content

• Creative, original title centered (no bold, no ital., no underline, regular font)
• The introductory paragraph must contain (1) a hook, (2) a link, (3) a thesis statement, and (4) a bridge.
• There must be transitions between body paragraphs.
• Body paragraphs must contain topic sentences, evidence, and explanations.
• Each piece of evidence must consist of two components: set-ups and cited quotations.
• The conclusion must answer the question, "So what?"

Mechanics/Grammar

• properly cited quotations
• no first or second person
• present tense only
• no contractions or slang
• book titles italicized

Sometimes Nuthin' Can Be a Real Cool Hand - Part II

This entry is for freshmen only.

Let's start off with a new term:  'antihero.'

Think of an antihero as a main character (a protagonist) who, in at least in some ways, is very unlike a typical hero.  While heroes uphold the law, fight for justice, and follow the rules, antiheroes often fight the law, treat the world unjustly, and break the rules.

Some fans of the film have called Luke an anti-hero. Your task is to name another antihero from literature or cinema. Then briefly explain why the character you've chosen is indeed an antihero. In other words, prove it!

Be sure to read all of the responses before yours; remember, no repeats! Grammar and spelling counts. Your responses should be a short paragraph. Post your responses in the comments section bellow.