Choose Your Own Short Story

Close-ended question: Why was the cat important?

Because it showed love and compassion towards the narrator even when nothing else would. It was a mediator throughout a long period and made settling a more attainable task.

Open-ended question: Why was the cat named Pluto?

Because of the drastic similarities that were found between the cat and the planet. Although it could be debated that Pluto got his name as a possible sign that shows just how much of an impact he has and how significant his role truly is.

World-Connection Question: Would Pluto have had as much of an impact upon the narrator if they were living in today's society?

Yes, because there was more than anything built up rage that was just seeming out to lung and kill the cat. No matter if you have a hatred or anger problem, the consequences will anyways be the same in the end.

Universal theme question: One could say that The Narrator "Let what he loved destroy him". Do you agree with this?

I both agree and disagree, because he did once have a love for Pluto but at the moment that he let it finally get to him and to make a calamity out of it, it was more of a disgust than anything else. So, the love that could be considered the destructive factor was merely molded into something that would eventually implode onto itself and result in a horrific ending,

Literary Analysis Question: Are the feelings and Emotions that we are told distorted?

Yes, because it would seem that the narrator is suffering from and anger management problem or something a similar sort. Due to that it is clear that the emotions that we are being subjected to are ones that are urged out by his mind going into an autopilot like state and feeding what hes always known,  

Southern Gothic Romanticism: "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" and "A Rose for Emily"

Southern Gothic Romanticism: "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" and "A Rose for Emily"

What is Southern Gothic Romanticism? How do the two stories and their authors exhibit Southern Gothic traits? How do these stories and their literature compare to Romanticism and Gothic or Dark Romanticism?

It is like regular Gothic Romanticism, ,but usually involves a deformity or a lessening factor in some way. The two stories and their authors exhibit Southern Gothic traits because in both stories there are 'limps' to the characters that make them more wondrous. These stories are more interesting that those of regular or dark romanticism because it gives more of an oppression to get over, and symbolizes how regressed some points can be.

  In “A Rose from Emily”, why do you think Miss Emily’s crime goes undetected until her death? Identify at least three contributing factors and support them with reference to the story.

 

Emily's crime goes undetected because she became unattached to everything, much like that of someone suffering from a broken heart. So, it brought up no immediate concern to worry over. Also, her closing off of the portion of the house of which his body was held in made it impossible for anyone to see while she was alive. One wore thing is that they thought he left to set up his house for the marriage that was imagined to have.

 Flannery O’Connor, the author of “The Life You Save May Be Your Own”, said that the hitchhiker Shiftlet picks up at the end ‘makes the story work.’ How do you think the episode with the hitchhiker does this?

The hitchhiker Shiftlet  picks up makes the story work because it shows that no matter how Shiftlet seemed and sees things, he'll always have a soft spot for those "free spirit" like him.

 

Gothic Romanticism: Hawthorne, Poe and Baudelaire

Gothic Romanticism: Hawthorne, Poe and Baudelaire 

 

There are many interpretations of “The Fall of the House of Usher”. One interpretation suggests that Usher’s nervousness and weakness are the results of Madeline Usher’s being a vampire. Using details from the story, write an analysis of the story that supports this interpretation

Throughout the story there are many aspects that can be used to determine that Madeline is a vampire. One could clearly make that connection from where it says that she is living in the grave. To the best of Ushers knowledge, Madeline was dead, so seeing he standing right outside the door gives the impression that she has risen from the dead; not unlike that of which a vampire would do. Another factor is when she falls on her brother rendering him a corpse. Now, usually mere body contact does not induce such drastic outcomes, definitely not death. Going alongside that we know that they screwed the casket shut. So, having an abundance of physical strength would be needed in order to even imagine an idea of breaking through a locked and sealed tomb.  Not to mention that she was dead, meaning that even if that was a possibility, she would be weak, not strong enough to break through her tomb. When given the evidence to look at it isnt questionable as to why so many people consider Madeline from "The Fall of the House of Usher" a vampire.

How do the Gothic fiction writers express—either directly or indirectly—a criticism of human nature. Explain what the writers criticize about human nature, and how they communicate this criticism to the reader. Do the writers have similar attitudes toward human nature? Explain.

Gothic fiction writers express a criticism of human nature by making it seem implausible to even think as if that of which our minds are forced to wander is what we must be seeing in the world that is around us. The ideas that they express are usually indirectly stated, in that we see little tid-bits of how the author prefers to see things through different eyes. Giving off the feeling that what everyone else considers as the normal to be incompetent and distasteful. The over all attitude is similar in the since that it seems as if they all want to move away from the world to make a save heaven that they could call their own and to wash away the brands that they have been given.

Romanticism: What Is It?

How does this story capture the imagination of readers today?

The story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" Captures the imaginations of readers by providing many interesting twists and turns and also leaving it vague enough for the readers visualization skills to really need to take effect. There is just the right amount of wistful emotional values and denial that sets a great feel for the Romanticism title to take full swing.

 How is this song about escaping the physical conditions of slavery? How is this song about religious hope and faith? How is this song reflective of its time period? How does it relate to today?

The song "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" is relating to the physical conditions of slavery, by that its about a worker that sees a chariot coming and is hopeful that its coming to take her back to where she belongs. It shows religious hope and faith when it says that the band of angles are coming to take her home, making it seem as if she knew all along that no matter what occurred, the angled would come to the rescue and save her. This song is a reactant of that time period because it shows the sheer wonder that would fill the hearts of those around when they saw that the wondrous band of angles where coming for them. It relates to today as in when we are in a situation that we wish to be saved from, we see the simplest things as a gift from above. 

Essential Questions

How are the Romantics' beliefs of optimism and individualism reflected in their writing?


Romantics belief of optimism and individualism is reflected in their writing by how it usually focuses on the teller of the story and how they describe, in great detail, the feelings that are portrayed through everyday objects.

What is Romanticism, Gothic Romanticism, and Southern Romanticism? How are they Similar and how are they different?

Romanticism is the emotionally attached version of how one would see the world. Gothic Romanticism is more death originated and appeals to the more supernatural side. Southern Gothic Romanticism is the same ideas as Gothic, but more into the southern regions.
They are similar in that they all wish to see things at a deeper level that just the obvious meaning. They differ in that the areas are different and that the level of intensity is varied.

How is the Southern Gothic movement a response to literary movements that have preceded it as well as a manipulation of Romantic literary conventions?

The Southern Gothic movement is a response to the literary movements that have proceeded it as well as a manipulation of Romantic literary conventions because it set up the stage that most wanted to be a part of. Also, making a relate-able surface for there to be established connections.

How did the American culture prompt the dark sides of Romanticism?

the American culture prompted the dark sides of Romanticism by creating other forms of ideas that Romanticism cam compete with. Since so much has been given to us to be accepting of death and dark, this is a major component that lets us realize that it must be seen as a part of life that isn't going to change in the near future.

How do the writings of these times periods influence the writings of today?

The writings of that time period set up the writings of today by creating a common ground that the Authors of Today's works could see as a hint of when to stop and just how far they can go before its too much. Along with that we could infer that the dark times that have been given to us form the past writings help inspire us to imagine a better, or maybe, just as demented future that we'd wish to see or obtain.