Gothic stories Essay Example for Free

Gothic stories Essay Gothic is a word used in the twelfth century to denote certain types of architecture connected to the settings used by writers. Gothic fiction initiated as a genre in 1765 with Horace Walpoles novel Castle of Otranto. The majority of Gothic writers would take drugs which inspired them to put pen to paper and write about numerous Gothic features and produce their story. Normally characters are associated with odd or ritualistic behaviour often involving the supernatural. The Gothic Golden Age occurred between 1765 and 1844. Boundaries and limits are both established and challenged by both writers and characters. Tensions between the scientific and the supernatural are often made apparent. Examples of these Gothic features can be found in The Signalman, The Hand and The Dream Woman. Traditionally Gothic stories are set in castles, churches, darkness or other locations with a sense of evil. Gothic stories are mainly set at night to add an extra illusion of fear. Should a Gothic story be read in a dark room extra fear, tension, anxiety and anticipation would be inflicted upon the reader. This is because when a gothic tale is read in the dark there is a sense of someone or something watching you. Readers expectations when reading a Gothic tale are to read about elements of the supernatural, skeletal or ghostly images and pathetic fallacy. In The Signalman Dickens writes he was a dark sallow man, with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows. This quotation consists of an example of a ghostly, corpse like image. Dickens is Describing a ghostly figure. The Signalman written by Charles Dickens is a perfect example of a gothic setting. The story has many examples of unusual events. Dickens writes so steeped in the glow of an angry sunset. This quotation informs the reader that the sunset has a violent glow which is unusual for a sunset, the skyline is a deep blood red. The Signalman is set at the Signalmans hut where the cutting through the tunnel by the hut is unusually deep and gives a sense of foreboding to the reader. The tunnel is made through clammy stone, which became oozier and wetter as you walked to the tunnel and made anybody petrified to enter it. The Hand written by Guy De Maupassant uses great examples of death, a main gothic feature. De Maupassant writes I bent down close to the corpse and between his clenched teeth I found one of the fingers from that vanished hand. This quotation informs the reader that a finger from the missing hand has been found, but in what mysterious circumstances. Also in The Hand the hand itself is described with much detail. The writer states The fingers were abnormally long and were attached by enormous tendons to which fragments of skin adhered. In this quotation the writer is describing the hand in such ghoulish detail the reader has an image of a gruesome hand projected onto their minds which they will find hard to forget. A feature of gothic tradition is the use of dark colours to emphasize the evilness of gothic characters and buildings. In the novel The Dream Woman the writer says The flame diminished to a blue point and the room grew dark The effect of this quotation on the reader is that it adds extra fear and suspense due to the darkness. A main aspect of gothic tradition is elements of the supernatural. In The Hand the writer states I thought I saw the hand running like a spider. This is an example of elements of the supernatural because a hand running like a spider is beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature and not something any human would have seen. In conclusion gothic tradition is a fascinating subject because the use of dark descriptive language is effective in giving the reader a terrifying experience. Short stories are effective because the action is condensed and it all happens in a short space of time. There is less background information; all the descriptive paragraphs are there to give atmosphere, the spooky dark events. Short sentences have greater impact than longer ones, particularly when exclamation marks complete them.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Theology of C.S. Lewis Essay -- Literary

What child could know while watching The Chronicles of Narnia in theaters they were also getting a bible lesson? These tales unearth the theology of writer C.S. Lewis through the heart-felt emotions of joy and sorrow, terror and triumph in this fantasy world better known as Narnia. This is the work of renowned writer C.S. Lewis. C.S. Lewis is remembered and recognized by more people as a Christian apologist of the early and middle 20th-century because of the way his writing thrives with biblical images which present Christian theological ideas in a friendlier way for younger audiences. â€Å"One can almost hear the start of the adventure and feels compelled to follow in the footsteps of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, in The Lion, The Witch, And the Wardrobe, siblings who run from the inevitable horrors of the London Blitz†, to the outskirts of the area where they stumble upon a house of an old Professor. An empty room with nothing but an old, dusty wardrobe sparks the curiosity of young Lucy. After the other three children leave, Lucy decides to scope out the inside of the wardrobe. â€Å"As Lucy steps inside she finds herself in the middle of a wood[s] in [the] winter in the magical world of Narnia.† (Ford. www.uctv.ucsb.edu) The Chronicles of Narnia are, without a doubt, the most recognized works of the writer C.S. Lewis. Although they are recognized by a lot of people as just simply children’s fantasy novels, a lot of adults, students, and theologians see so much more in these mere childish novels. In the Narnia Chronicles, Lewis wants his audience to envision Jesus Christ himself through the character of Aslan the lion and through the use of the symbolic lion, Lewis is able to tell his tale of certain memorable events in the lifetim... ...in the Biblical Scripture quotes contained throughout my essay. Books of the Bible that were referenced or quoted include: Genesis, Job, Romans, Gospel of Luke, Proverbs, Hosea, and Revelation. "Notes on Essays and Books of C. S. Lewis." C.S. Lewis. Ed. Paul F. Ford. St. John Seminary, 2006. Web. 9 Dec. 2010. . This website is composed of many files in .pdf format which better discuss specific details of C.S. Lewis' life, works, and theological beliefs. "Why Bother with C.S. Lewis?, Spiritual Life, Christian Living, Page 0." Jesus Christ, Bible Study Tools, Online Christian Living Resources. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. . I used this article to better formulate an understanding of C.S. Lewis' works and how they relate to theology. This is an online forum article.

Charles Dickens Great Expectations Essay

The themes that are introduced and emphasised in Chapter 8 of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations are a near complete summary of the themes of the novel as a whole and of the conditions in which the English people had to live with in the 1800’s. This chapter epitomises the circumstances in which English people lived and the situations that they faced, and it looks at many different perspectives and takes into account many different factors. The Industrial Revolution was a period in time when everything in England changed rapidly, and Dickens made sure that he captured England’s huge transition in every light he could. Dickens himself lived in poverty for a number of years, and his main motive for writing books (such as Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby) was his desire to see change. These books are based around injustice and the divide between wealth and poverty. Chapter 8 of Great Expectations clearly defines the issues that Dickens sought to deal with through writing. The very first thing that happens in Chapter 8 Pip’s uncomfortable breakfast with Mr Pumblechook. Pip states in his narrative that ‘on politely bidding him Good morning’, Pumblechook immediately asked him a mathematics question. The breakfast then proceeds to continues in this manner (‘before I had swallowed a morsel, he began a running sum that lasted throughout breakfast. ‘) This is a prime example of control. This is one of the themes that come to the fore as the novel progresses. Pip finds that he very rarely has a choice in matters, he is either forced to do something or it would be very foolish or insulting to decline making certain choices. His life his almost completely influenced by others, and he often has no control over it at all. In Chapter 8, he is controlled by Pumblechook (as afore mentioned), Estella (‘†You are to wait here, boy. â€Å"‘) and Miss Havisham (‘†Play! â€Å"‘). In particular, Miss Havisham manipulates the lives of Estella and Pip to suit her own twisted, selfish needs to the point where she is remorseful of her actions. Dickens stresses the point that, in this era, the wealthy people dictate the actions of the poorer people. The fact that Pip is sitting back and enjoying the ride, so to speak, is a result of the people around him ordering and demanding things of him. Pip rarely has a choice to make, and is manipulated and used by many people, some with good intentions (Magwitch), some with evil intentions (Miss Havisham and Compeyson). Control and the gulf between inferiority and superiority are perpetual forces in the novel.

The Black Power Movement And The Civil Rights Movement

The Black Power movement began towards to the of the Civil Rights Era. The Black Power Movement began in the 1950s and 1960s, many African Americans grew tired of the ineffective, peaceful protests so they turned to violence. Although it was not a formal movement and it contributed to a big turning point in history. The goal of the Black Power movement was to gain equal rights with whites. Even though it was violent many people thought it was necessary to the equal rights African Americans deserved. The Black Power movement was a form of protest people had not yet seen in the Civil Rights Movement. The term â€Å"Black Power† was introduced in a speech by Stokely Carmichael in 1966 who was the head of the Student Nonviolent Coordination†¦show more content†¦He wanted American Americans to make a change for themselves and after his death there were many people waiting to pick up where he left off. On April 4 Martin Luther KingJr., killed by a white assassin and riots spread through cities. At the time of King’s assassination the Black Power movement was already in motion but his death forwarded the movement into full gear. â€Å"Though blacks and whites alike mourned King’s passing, the killing in some ways served to widen the rift between black and white American’s, as many blacks saw kings assassination as a rejecting of their vigorous pursuit of equality through nonviolent resistance he had championed† (history.com staff, 2010) Black Power advocates saw the murder as a sign and that they must use similar force. Martin Luther Kings death also lead to way to an equal housing bill that would be the last significant legislative achievement of the civil rights era. King’s death, like the assassination of Malcolm, motivated many African American activist, fueling the Black Power movement and the Black Panther Party. The Black Panther Party was formed in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. It way one of the more remember activist groups of the Black Power movement, due to their violent protests, gun-toting, and headline-catching tactics. Unlike the Civil Rights movement, which was mostly a southern-based movement, the Black Power movement dispersed though out the united states and even into other countries.Show MoreRelatedBlack Power And The Civil Rights Movement1675 Words   |  7 Pagesthe growth of Black Power was the most important factor in the weakening of the civil rights movement in the 1960s? Black power is a political slogan that was aimed to promote the ideas of the black racial group. There have been mixed views on weather it weakened the civil rights movement or strengthened it, this involved many factors. Some of the thing’s that weakened the movement was the use violence, organisation and leadership and the CORE ideas and the message of the black power. However someRead MoreBlack Power And Civil Rights Movement1580 Words   |  7 PagesThe nuanced historical debate over the concept of black power divides Civil Rights movement historians into two distinct categories. One grouping of historians interpret the issue of black power as a vague top-down strategy utilized to incite controversy. The other group of historians promote a bottom-up approach to black power, arguing that the statement reflected the already present ideals of the black community and best encompasses the path to their liberation. The former group likewise criticizesRead MoreThe Civil Right s And Black Power Movement2608 Words   |  11 Pagesparticular movies reflected the views and progress of the Civil Rights/Black Power movement of the 60s. The two films that are being examined are Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) and Nothing But A Man (1964). Both films feature African-American characters as more than subservient supporting cast members such as maids, and servants. It reflects America’s progressing social attitudes as a result of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Throughout this paper, I will argue that films like theRead MoreDid the black power movement help or hinder the civil rights movement?1753 Words   |  8 Pageslonger need to rely on men or marriage for support. The increase in never married single mother now accounts for about 40% of all lone parents. Although Britain has become more diverse single parenthood is still not accepted by everyone. The new right thinker Charles Murray (1984) argues that the increase in lone-parents is due to the over generosity of the welfare state as they have provide for both the parent and their children. Murray argue that this creates ‘perverse incentive’, that is rewardingRead MoreCivil Rights Movement and Black Nationalism Essay1210 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish 1302.044 March 3, 2000 Militant and Violent Acts of the Civil Rights Movement and Black Nationalism The rights of African-Americans have been violated since they were brought over to America as slaves in the late 1600s to the land of the free. Great political gains for African-Americans were made in the 1960s such as the right to vote without paying. Still, many African Americans were dissatisfied with their economic situation, so they reacted with violence in the form of riots. OtherRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement : Martin Luther King, Jr. And Rosa Parks1546 Words   |  7 PagesThe Civil Rights Movement is often remembered in American history as an era of unity and struggle. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks are often the figures that get the most recognition from this period. However, there are many leaders from the Civil Rights Movement that get overlooked. Even MLK toward the end of his life is glossed over for the â€Å"version† that gave the famous â€Å"I have a dream† speech. In truth, there was a fair amount of division between the Black Power Mo vement and the IntegrationRead More The Civil Rights Movement and the Kerner Commission Essays1423 Words   |  6 Pages The civil rights movement was a period of time when blacks attempted to gain their constitutional rights of which they were being deprived. The movement has occurred from the 1950s to the present, with programs like Affirmative Action. Many were upset with the way the civil rights movement was being carried out in the 1960s. As a result, someone assassinated the leader of the movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many blacks were infuriated at this death so there were serious riots inRead MoreAfrican Americans Need To Understand â€Å"The Necessity, As1562 Words   |  7 Pagesamong civil rights historians, which creates and reinforces a lack of detachment that has characterized the civil rights scholarship since its inception. While Eagles acknowledges that the activist standpoint is not likely to disappear in the near future, his call for more objectivity in how historians of the civil rights movement conduct their research has not received the attention it deserves. In the article, which was released five years before Jacqueline Dowd Hall’s call for a long civil rightsRead More African- American Civil Rights Movement of 1955-1968 Essay1437 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Civil Rights movements, which stretched from 1955 to 1968, aimed at restoring the rights of the African – American people and liberating them from the social and racial discrimination. This movement changed the social and political structure of the United States . The main catch was that the movement accomplished successful results following the ‘nonviolent resistance’, establishing the fact that the Christian religion believed in peace and equality. Birth of the Civil Rights Movements: UnitedRead MoreEssay on Nonviolence or Violence: Which Was More Effective?1425 Words   |  6 PagesThe Civil Rights Movement brought many accomplishments to African Americans such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The key issues that African Americans fought for were voting rights, integration and racial equality. They were tired of the discrimination and humiliation they received as a result of the segregation laws imposed on them. â€Å"State laws mandated racial separation in schools, parks, playgrounds, restaurants, hotels, public transportation