Gothic Literature

Gothic Literature
Romanticism
Transcendentalism

Include definitions, visuals, and examples of stories, including authors, for each.


Gothic Literature- is a type of literature that combines elements from both romance and horror.This genre is believed to have been invented by Horace Walpole. Melodrama and parody were in Gothic literature were also made by Walpole. Gothic literature origins can be traced to historical, cultural, and artistic examples. In Gothic novels you can find figures such as the demon lover, the devil, and other demons. The writers of this genre wrote very much on along with the time. The impact from social and political was very high in that time. One thing that impacted their writing would be the French Revolution. The Gothic worlds were said to illustrate fear about what might happen, what might go wrong, what could be lost if they stayed on the path of what the government wants. This also reflected the want of to return to fantasy and the belief in supernatural things as in the middle ages. This type of work could be seen through the writings of William Shakespeare in stories like Macbeth and Hamlet.

Romanticism- does not necessarily mean romance although occasionally romance is in this type of art. Romanticism is known as an international and philosophical movement that illustrated again the ways people of the Western cultures thought about themselves and the world. Romanticism began in the 1770's and went on into the second half of the nineteenth century. It came later for American literature than European though. After the type of literature had been found we later find that it was put into art and music. A few Romantic writers were Robert Burns and William Blake of England who wrote poetry, Goethe and Schiller had writings in Germany, and Rousseau's writing through out Europe had a big impact for this type of writing. The Romantic period would also be known as the "age of revolutions". This meaning the time was when the American and French Revolutions occurred. (One book written in that time was a Tale of Two Cities about the French Revolution written by Charles Dickens). It was said that a revolutionary energy was found in Romanticism. It transformed not only the ways of writing, but also the way people saw the world.

Transcendentalism- is an American literary, political, and philosphical movement in the early nineteenth century based around Ralph Waldo Emerson. Other Trascendentalists were Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Amos Bronson Alcott, Frederic Henry Hedge, and Theodore Parke. In an essay written called An Essay on Transcendalism by Charles Mayo Ellis he said, "Transcendentalism... maintains that man has ideas, that come not through the five senses, or the powers of reasoning, but are either the result of direct revelation from God, his immediate inspiration, or his immanent presence in the spiritual world, and it asserts that man has something besides the body of flesh, a spiritual body, with senses to perceive what is true, and right and beautiful, and a natural love for these, as the body for its food." They had no doctrine, but Emerson would not accept the term of Christian when speaking of God. He wanted the term "thiest" which they thought applied more to their beliefs.

Act 4.

Since Tituba and Sarah Good confessed to witchcraft saying the Devil made them do it. They were in jail together now and decided that they would leave together and go back to Tituba's home in Barbados. They realize that there are cows all over the place because there were so many people in jail for witchcraft that there animals were getting loose. Then they find that Hale has now started going to the jail and talking to the prisoners to get them to confess. He wanted them to be saved. He even wanted John to confess for his children's ensured safety. Then they find out that Abigail and Mercy have run away. They stole money from Parris and left knowing that it was nearing the end. They knew they would find out soon that they were faking. Later Parris opened the door to his house to find a dagger fall to the ground. Someone seems to be after him and he fears to go outside his house now.Proctor now has also been put in jail along with many others as we have found. They are planning to hang Proctor and anyone else that will not confess. Like Rebecca, she will not confess because she doesn't want to have that on her name. Proctor wanted the the same. He did not want to confess, but then thought about his children and how they needed him. He ended up confessing and signing the paper to confirm it. When he finished signing the paper he realized what he had don and would not give it to the judges. He said why should they need it in writing. He ended up ripping the paper apart so that he would not have that on his name. As you see everything in Salem is falling apart. With John, he ended up being hung for not confessing on paper.

Act 3.

Act 3 consists mainly of court sessions being held against the accused. Judge Hathorne is seen questioning Martha Corey (Giles' wife). She, however, will not confess. She did not do such things as witchcraft and doesn't want it on her name when she dies. Giles is angered by the ruling of the court and questions being pressed on his wife so he lashes out somewhat in anger telling how the girls were frauds. They could not think that such young girls were anything, but innocent though. Giles says that Judge Danforth is against them and means to hang them all. At that Mary burst into tears. John tells her that she must not weep, but be strong. John next stands up to tell the court what Mary has to say. He tells them that Mary told him she lied in her previous testimony. She never saw the Devil and the girls were faking it. So Danforth decides to question Mary to get to the bottom of it. He asks her if she was put up to it by John or if he had threatened her and her answer was no. He says that Mary must have lied right there in court to him. She said that was true. Then he questions her with if she knows lying is a sin and that she will go to jail if it is true. She said yes it was the truth. Then the group of girls (Abigail's group) come into the court room. Danforth questions them too. He asks if there was truth in what Mary said. Abigail says no. He tells of accusation against Abigail with the poppet and Abigail says it was a lie. this goes back and forth and we find that Mary is growing more and more tense. She says that she was so caught up in the lies that she made herself believe these things like seeing the Devil were actually happening. This makes Danforth ask Abigail if these things are just illusions, but her answer was no and she explained all her occurrences with these evil spirited things. Abigail then pretends that there is a cold air that's come about. Then each girl begins to play along with it. They say "I freeze" and act as if they are being forced by the Devil. Then the girls start blaming Mary. Mary screams trying to run, but Proctor catches her and she keeps saying "I cannot, I cannot". At that John calls Abigail a whore, but Abigail gets the side of the court again. John says how Abigail hated Elizabeth because she wanted him. He told of how they had an affair and they decide to bring Elizabeth out to question because John says she would not lie. When they brought her out though, she lied to the court. She said her husband had no part in lechery after he had already confessed. That, in the end, is what ruined John. They took Elizabeth away with John trying to plead with the court saying she only wanted to save him. Hale believed him with that and began to side with him. That brought Abigail into it again. She pretended she was having visions. She saw a bird in the rafters and the other girls played along too. All but the girls do not "see" it. Mary becomes overwhelmed with this and pressured into this so she will not be punished. Mary joined in with them turning against Proctor saying he was the Devil's man. Also, saying John signed the Devil's book, threatened to kill her, and he made her sign too. Proctor could not understand this. Danforth turned completely against him saying he was some sort of anti-Christ and asked if he confessed to this. John said God is dead and that he can see Lucifer. He says his face and Danforth's are seen. This brings fury to Danforth. He yells to Marshal and tells him to take John and Giles to jail.

Act 2.

At the beginning of Act 2 we are introduced to Elizabeth Proctor. The first impression is not exactly seen as a positive one though. We find ourselves wrapped up in an argument between John and Elizabeth. It starts with John's anger over Elizabeth allowing Mary to go to the town for court because she was a member. (She was in with the group of girls that were in court accusing different people from Salem of witchcraft).This turned into Elizabeth not letting go of things of the past. John and Elizabeth get into it about John's affair. He was with Abigail when she worked as his servant and when Elizabeth found out she was furious and kicked her out. This is still haunting her even though it seems to me as if John knows that Elizabeth is the only one he wants. John is tired of Elizabeth bringing it up because he has learned his lesson. He feels horrible about the past and wants nothing more of it. Later when Mary returns from the courts we find that she has made a poppet for Elizabeth. Mary gave this to her as a gift with no bad intentions, but it seems to be turned on her later on. Mary also informs them that Elizabeth was mentioned in the courts that day for doing witchcraft. (As we look back we see that it must be Abigail at fault. She was the one who wants Elizabeth dead.) Hale shows up some time later. Hale tells them that some more people have been charged with witchcraft one being Rebecca Nurse. They are stunned at this and Hale goes on questioning them as if they may be involved in witchcraft too. He asks John why they haven't gone to church lately and why their third son has yet to be baptized. John tells him his dislike towards Parris, but hale presses on. He asks Elizabeth if she knew her ten commandments. Her reply was yes, "...I'm a covenanted Christian woman" (198). He next ask John if is and if so could he tell him the ten commandments. John's answer was yes also, and he started naming off each commandment. He got up to nine, but forgot the last one. Elizabeth cut in and said adultery was the one he forgot. They went on with conversation and Elizabeth asked Hale if he was suspecting her. His reply was he did not judge her, but he was to find wisdom for the court. When Hale went to leave Elizabeth told John she wanted him to tell Hale about Abigail. They tell Hale how they believe somewhat that Abigail is making these things up and that he should question her. This is when Giles rushes in telling them that they have taken his wife. His wife is accused of witchcraft now and Francis Nurse came in to tell his wife, Rebecca, has been accused too. A wagon has come around to pick them up and take the accused away and it soon showed up to the Proctor house too. Mr.Cheever came with the wagon and told them that Elizabeth has been accused by Abigail. John is furious what this. He asks what proof they have on her. Cheever speaks of the poppet Mary had given to Elizabeth. When they got the poppet out they found a needle stuck in it. This would have meant nothing, but Abigail ran into Parris' house that night falling to the floor stabbed in the same spot as the poppet. She said it was because of Elizabeth, she was at fault. That gave them the proof to take her away on the wagon with the rest of the accused. John yelled at Mary to tell the courts it was a poppet she and given her and explain herself. Explain that she was in court when she made it and Abigail knew of it because she was next to her during it. This would take blame off of Elizabeth and show them that Abigail has been doing these things, but Mary says she cannot do that.

Act 1.

The Crucible is a story that takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It is based on the Salem witch trials where many were accused of witchcraft. Witchcraft was a huge sin then due to their great belief in religion. A group of girls in Salem were accused of witchcraft after seen dancing and chanting in the woods. The girls were Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, Mary Warren, Tituba, Mercy Lewis and others. A few things that you see some girls have (that others believed to be results of witchcraft) are convulsions, loss of appetite, cannot wake up, temporary loss of sight and hearing. All of these could easily be faked tricking the towns people into believing it was from the devil upon their souls (and witchcraft). In the beginning of the story you see that Betty Parris may be having these problems. She is in bed very sick leaving many to believe it was witchcraft. Reverend Parris, her father, believes there is no way it would be that. He calls for Reverend Hale, another minister who knows more about witchcraft, to come see his daughter. Abigail Williams, his niece, has been living with the family during all of this and is thought (by Parris) to be of some cause to this witchcraft. She had formerly lived with John and Goody Proctor though. She was kicked out after Goody Proctor became aware of the affair she had been having with her husband. Her husband had been seduced, and even though he had done those things he regretted it, and he wanted only to be faithful to his wife. Not only had Abigail been in the woods doing the so called witchcraft, but also, Tituba the Reverend Parris' slave. Now, they both along with rest of the girls at this time denied having done anything of the sort. They said it was just dancing and singing Tituba's songs from Barbados. We also find out about another girl who has suddenly become sick which is believed to be witchcraft also. This girl is Ruth Putnam. Her parents, Thomas and Ann Putnam, visit Reverend Parris on telling him of their daughters "illness". (Ann Putnam had 8 children, but only one survived and that is Ruth). Both believe it is witchcraft that has brought the sickness on. (Ruth was on of the girls who was dancing in the woods). Abigail also, blames Ruth and Tituba for conjuring spirits in the woods when Parris kept asking. She still says she had nothing to do with it. Parris soon finds himself worried about if this talk of witchcraft in his home would get out to the town and in the end risk his job as a minister. Mary talks to Abigail and Mercy (with Betty in room sick laying on the bed) when Parris is not around. She says of how she wants to tell about what happened in the woods. She said she just watched so nothing would ever happen to her. This made Abigail furious, she says that she had just as much a part in it as the others. They are suddenly started in the midst of their conversation by Betty. All of a sudden Betty gets up darting from Abigail saying she wants her mom. Abigail says, but your mother is dead. With that, Betty says of how she can fly to her then. Abigail warns her that she told Parris of everything they did in the woods. At that Betty became angered and started yelling "You drank blood, Abby! You didn't tell him that!... You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife!" (175). Abigail became angered now too. She smashed Betty across the face. Betty yells for her mother and begins to sob. Abigail then warns the other girls of what will happen if they leak a word. She informs us that Tituba conjured the spirit of Ruth's dead sister. Mary wants this to stop, but finds that Abigail has the upper hand and she dare not do a thing to stop her. We find out all of these little incidents occurring throughout the story. Two others would be when John Proctor comes to visit. Abigail and him find that they are in the room alone with Betty on the bed sick. Abigail curses him for loving her and denying it. John had a time with he, but tells Abigail it is over now and he wants nothing, but his wife. During their talk we hear a psalm being sung. It states "going up to Jesus" and at that Betty clasps her hands over her ears and begins to scream. Parris, Mrs. Putnam, and others run in at the sound. Mrs. Putnam says that it is because her soul is the devil's and she cannot bear to hear the Lord's name. Another incident would be when before Ruth became sick she had an outburst. During her outburst/fit she said pointed to Rebecca Nurse seeming it be that she was her attacker. She soon accused Rebecca's spirit of tempting her with witchcraft. These are just a few incidents that have occurred in Act 1.

Characters according to SparkNotes.com

John Proctor - A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. A stern, harsh-tongued man, John hates hypocrisy. Nevertheless, he has a hidden sin—his affair with Abigail Williams—that proves his downfall. When the hysteria begins, he hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he worries that his secret will be revealed and his good name ruined.

Abigail Williams - Reverend Parris’s niece. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household, but Elizabeth Proctor fired her after she discovered that Abigail was having an affair with her husband, John Proctor. Abigail is smart, wily, a good liar, and vindictive when crossed.

Reverend John Hale - A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. Reverend Hale is called in to Salem to examine Parris’s daughter Betty. Hale is a committed Christian and hater of witchcraft. His critical mind and intelligence save him from falling into blind fervor. His arrival sets the hysteria in motion, although he later regrets his actions and attempts to save the lives of those accused.

Elizabeth Proctor - John Proctor’s wife. Elizabeth fired Abigail when she discovered that her husband was having an affair with Abigail. Elizabeth is supremely virtuous, but often cold.

Reverend Parris - The minister of Salem’s church. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power-hungry, yet oddly self-pitying figure. Many of the townsfolk, especially John Proctor, dislike him, and Parris is very concerned with building his position in the community.

Rebecca Nurse - Francis Nurse’s wife. Rebecca is a wise, sensible, and upright woman, held in tremendous regard by most of the Salem community. However, she falls victim to the hysteria when the Putnams accuse her of witchcraft and she refuses to confess.

Francis Nurse - A wealthy, influential man in Salem. Nurse is well respected by most people in Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife.

Judge Danforth - The deputy governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials. Danforth is convinced that he is doing right in rooting out witchcraft.

Giles Corey - An elderly but feisty farmer in Salem, famous for his tendency to file lawsuits. His wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, and later he himself is eventually held in contempt of court and pressed to death with large stones.

Thomas Putnam - A wealthy, influential citizen of Salem, Putnam holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing Putnam’s brother-in-law from being elected to the office of minister. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth by accusing people of witchcraft and then buying up their land.

Ann Putnam - Thomas Putnam’s wife. Ann Putnam has given birth to eight children, but only Ruth Putnam survived. The other seven died before they were a day old, and Ann is convinced that they were murdered by supernatural means.

Ruth Putnam - The Putnams’ last surviving child out of eight. Like Betty Parris, Ruth falls into a strange stupor after Reverend Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the woods at night.

Tituba - Reverend Parris’s black slave from Barbados. Tituba agrees to perform voodoo at Abigail’s request.

Mary Warren - Thomas Putnam's servant and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. She is a timid girl, easily influenced by those around her, who tried unsuccessfully to expose the hoax and ultimately recanted her confession.

Betty Parris - Reverend Parris’s ten-year-old daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor after Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the forest with Tituba. Her illness and that of Ruth Putnam fuel the first rumors of witchcraft.

Martha Corey - Giles Corey’s third wife. Her reading habits lead to her arrest and conviction for witchcraft.

Ezekiel Cheever - A man from Salem who acts as clerk of the court during the witch trials. He is upright and determined to do his duty for justice.

Judge Hathorne - A judge who presides, along with Danforth, over the witch trials.

Herrick - The marshal.

Mercy Lewis - One of the girls in Abigail’s group. She was caught running around naked by Parris during their acts of witchcraft.

The Crucible: a place or occasion of severe test or trial

Elements of Plot and Drama

• Exposition- the part of a play or work of fiction in which the background to the main conflict is introduced
  
• Rising action- building of suspense up to the climax
  
• Climax- the turning point of action brought about about with great intensity, the plot of the story, also where things begin to resolve
  
• Falling action- shows effect from the climax
  
• Resolution- problems are resolved and story ends
  

*Foil- minor character whose traits contrast sharply with those of the main character (character that contrasts the main character)

*Monologue- long speech spoken by a single character to himself or herself, or to the audience

*Soliloquy- (thinking out loud) a monologue in which a character speaks his or her private thoughts aloud and appears to be unaware of the audience

*Aside- a short speech or comment that is delivered by a character to the audience, but that is beyond the hearing of other characters who are present

*Spectral Evidence- the testimony of a church member who claimed to have seen a person's spirit performing witchcraft- was enough to sentence the accused to death

Salem Witchcraft Trials and Puritans.

Puritans were unhappy with the ways of the Church of England. They basically went away from it so they could practice their own beliefs and ways. They were led by John Calvin and known as Clavinists. They did, however, believe that the bible was "God's true law".

(The picture shown on the left is of John Calvin). Google images: http://www.wabashunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/john-calvin.jpg

They were a very religious group of people as shown in the picture as they are in prayer. Google Images: http://endtimepilgrim.org/puritans.jpg

In Salem, Massachusetts in 1962 the Salem Witchcraft Trials were held. Back then if those who believed in witchcraft were to be hung. Also, I do believe that any one who is accused is to be "killed". They would tie the accused up and go out on a boat. There they would throw them over. If the accused came back up they were a witch, and if not, they were dead. If they were to be a witch then they would be hung anyway. So either way if one was to be accused that would be the end for them. Google images: http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4571041/66434-main_Full.jpgThe trials were actually a series of trials to find out if the accused were rightfully accused. Those who were accused were puritans and one Indian slave. Over 150 were arrested and put in prison. And with that also, 29 more were convicted of witchcraft. 19 of those 29 were hung. Another person who was involved in these trials was Giles Corey. He was crushed to death with stones laid on his chest. Stones were laid on his chest for two days until he finally died. One really significant fact would be that any man, woman, or child could accuse any one of witchcraft (this would in the end obviously lead to their death). This could have resulted in many murders without that accuser having killed him by his own hand even.Google Images: http://www.moonbattery.com/salem-witch-hanging.jpg
http://www.salemweb.com/guide/images/cemetery.jpg
http://ushistoryimages.com/images/salem-witch-trials/fullsize/salem-witch-trials-5.jpg

Heritage

My great great grandfather, Thomas Lanigan, came over from County Cork, Ireland. Also, my great grandmother's, Jean Hill's (maiden name), father (name: George Hill) came over from England when he was eight years old with his two brothers and parents. He came over on the USS Denmark. My great grandma Kathleen Lanigan (maiden name: Thoma) family came over from Luxembourg. Another thing I have found would be that my great great grandmother was polish.

Google images- search Ellis Island: http://www.archives.gov/press/press-kits/picturing-the-century-photos/images/immigrant-children-ellis-island.jpg

All stories so far...

The history of the Indians is definitely one of many struggles. Especially struggles with their ways of religion. In the first story we read called "The Man to Send Rain Clouds" by Leslie Marmon Silko we learned of one kind of Indians known as the Pueblos. They are portrayed as very religious in their own way. Their way for funeral rituals is an example of their beliefs. When Teofilo died Leon and and Ken found him and put white paint across his forehead, blue across cheek bones, yellow under nose, and green across his chin. Also, they threw pinches of cornmeal on his body. The last thing they wanted was for the priest to drop holy water on him so he was assured plenty to drink. This would also make sure that rain would come which was a necessity in their culture. When Leon went to ask the priest to drop holy water on his grandfather the priest was very hesitant. It was against his religion to do this, but he compromised with Leon because they both wanted his soul to be at rest. (The picture above shows a Pueblo Indian tribes home.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO2g9tgWjbU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideosearch%3Fhl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial%26um%3D1%26q%3Dreligion%2520%2520pilgrims%26ie%3DUTF-8&feature=player_embedded#t=17
(Pueblo Indians doing their cultural Eagle Dance)

In the second story we read called "The Way to Rainy Mountain" by N. Scott Momaday we were introduced to another tribe of Indians called the Kiowas. Momaday writes this story through telling of his grandmothers involvement with the Kiowas and previous history of the Kiowas. A big part in the Indians history was also the never ending attempts at converting them. They believed that the beliefs of Indians were wrong and they were to stop them from their beliefs. The Kiowas were driven to staked plains due to the nonstop advancement of U.S. cavalry. They had their own religion and for the Kiowas they believed in the Sun Dance which was known to them as the divinity of the sun. Momaday's grandmother was at the last Sun Dance ritual. During this ritual soldiers from Fort Sill came to disperse them. They not only did this, but they also slaughtered their herds and left them to rot. The Kiowas left forever and never returned to their medicine tree because of this. (The picture above shows the place where the Kiowas held their Sun Dance ritual.)

http://www.strimoo.com/video/16318636/kiowa-celebration-dance-par-31de88ie30-MySpaceVideos.html
(Kiowa Celebration Dance)


In the third story we read called "Pilgrim Plantation" we learned about the pilgrims. They had to leave their home so that they were able to express their own views on religion. They thought the ways of the church of England were not completely right so they chose to create their own. They were considered a separatist group which was illegal. So they decided to leave England. They ended up in America landing some time later on Plymouth Rock. There they went through struggles like all do, but they received seeds and other things from Indians they met that kept them alive through the harsh winter. Although almost half died even more would have without those things from the Indians. Sometime later they befriended the Indians and met Squanto who taught them how to plant more crops and other things. They also later held the first Thanksgiving amongst one another. (In the picture in the top right it shows the first landing of the pilgrims and shows there religion through the man kneeling looking up at the sky. Top left shows pilgrims and Indians befriending one another. Below the first Thanksgiving is shown.) As you can see each one of these stories shows some struggles that the characters have come across when it comes to having their own religion. They were all forced to give one thing or another up due to their own beliefs. They also, all have their own ways of showing their religion. For example, the pueblos with their funeral ritual, the Kiowas with their Sun Dance, and the pilgrims with their separation from the church of England (along with separation of beliefs from the church).