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The Windigo By Louise Erdrich

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Recommended: An analytical note on gothic fiction

Gothic Literature Essay Gothic literature and the concept of horror in general have only continued to grow in popularity over the years and have become especially provident in the last few decades. Whether it's the feeling of confidence achieved after a haunted house, the human craving to be able to explain complex ideas; things like death, or the chilling feeling from reading a spooky story, this attraction to fear can be associated with common gothic themes and elements. This is especially shown through gothic literature. Because of the commonalities among interests the basis of gothic literature is held together by common elements, such as the addition of mystery, the use of fantasy monster-like characters, and the use of old gloomy settings …show more content…

Part of gothic literature's main allure comes from the sense of mystery it holds and the way it pulls a reader into the story by having them solve a puzzle. Sometimes the reader's questions never get answered and they are left wondering what the true outcome is, confusion is another thing that keeps readers interested. In the Poem ¨The Windigo”, written by Louise Erdrich, the reader is immediately pulled into a mystery as the main character of the poem is never even truly identified. The narrator seems to be talking directly to someone but the readers are left to wonder who, ¨You knew I was coming for you little one¨Erdrich(108). This quote is the very first line in the poem, and it greatly contributes the mystery element to the poem because the readers are instantly wondering who the narrator is and who they are talking …show more content…

In the short story ¨The Fall of the House of Usher¨ this element is clearly exhibited through the characteristic of not only the house itself but also the atmosphere around it, ¨I know not what it was-but with the first glimpse of the building a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit¨Poe(13). This quote from the narrator clearly sets the tone for the story by setting up the scenes to take place in this overall gloomy and spirit dampening environment which easily incites the reader to want to explain this darkness set up so early

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Gothic Literature is known to incorporate many gothic elements into it’s stories. Authors such as Ransom Riggs, Horacio Quiroga, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edward Poe have done a great job by proving this using elements like monsters, grotesqueness, and fascination with the past. In both the novel Mrs. Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Riggs and the short story “Feather Pillow” by Quiroga two main characters died suddenly by a monster. In Mrs. Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children Jacob finds his Grandpa Abe dead by a “tentacle-mouth horror in the woods” (Riggs 39).

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Gothic Lit Essay The mysterious magical and majestic Gothic Literature leads you on a page turning journey you never would expect. The Devil and Tom Walker by Washington Irving, The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern all use the Gothic Elements of revenge, violence and mystery. Gothic Literature can provide a heart thumping scare just by adding a Gothic Element like revenge. In The Devil and Tom Walker and The Night Circus both authors depend on the element of revenge.

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In gothic literature, such as “The Devil & Tom Walker” by Washington Irving and “The Fall of The House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe, certain elements are used to create some sort of effect on the reader. No matter what the author may be writing about when creating gothic literature, they will use things such as the supernatural, women being in distress, mystery, tension, personification, and/or suspense with the intent to scare the reader. In these two writings, the suspense is made clear, everything being written about prior to the main point is to build up to the situation. In “The Fall of The House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe, there are many moments where the narrator describes things, such as the house, or Rodrick Usher, to create a sense

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Justice has a connotation that no matter what, uplifts the actions that could be taken to achieve what’s desired. In Louise Erdrich’s The Round House, we explore native American lifestyles and witness the quest to find justice for a woman’s rape. Her portrayal of justice illustrates how the need for justice can negatively persuade our decisions.

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The unjustified legal system failing the Native American women by allowing the white men to take advantage of these women without any punishment results in silencing them. This affects the women heavily, which affects the people around them. The Round house, by Louise Erdrich shows a woman, Geraldine; that was taken advantage of by a white man, resulting in her to shut down and be silenced by the legal system that won't do any justice for her. Her son, Joe; notices the unusual behavior and wants revenge for his mom. By the system being corrupt, it allows the ugly acts to be done over and over again, hurting more and more Native Americans.

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Introduction Gothic fiction has fascinated and unnerved readers for more than two centuries. It features distant landscapes, sensual fantasies, and uncanny incidents. Gothic literature evoked strong emotional responses within readers, as well as tapped into their deepest fears and anxieties. Relating to the statement, Gothic literature presents new ideas about the self, society, and the connection between them. It concerns itself with the treatment of marginalised individuals within society and presents new concepts of understanding these individuals.

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In my opinion, I think that gentrification has a more positive effect on urban communities. Gentrification seems to uproot poor communities, which are traditionally non-white, to make certain areas more suitable for wealthy people (theperspective.com). It seems that gentrification can boost the local economy in low-income areas. The money given to the community will positively increase business and community investments and this will create jobs for those unemployed. Gentrification will increase tax revenue, the population, and property values.

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The crack in the house and the dead trees imply that the house and its surroundings are not sturdy or promising. These elements indicate that a positive outcome is not expected. The thunder,strange light, and mist create a spooky feeling for the reader. In "The Fall of the house of Usher," Edgar Allan Poe creates suspense and fear in the reader. He also tries to convince the reader not to let fear overcome him.

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Have you ever read a story that causes chills or your emotionally invested in a character. The story’s Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The mysteries of udolpho by Ann Radcliffe are literature that are centered in fear. These story’s cause suspense or has ghost or some type of monster. A gothic is a great example of fear in literature. The settings, characters, and story line has a way of making the reader invested by hooking to their emotions.

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The Gothic Influence Although the word “Gothic” is often associated with supernatural creatures or haunted, abandoned places, the word actually originates from an elaborate style of architecture. The reason that the word “Gothic” has become associated with these ideas of horror and death is because the architecture was thought of the ideal place for mysterious, suspenseful, and dark stories to occur. These types of stories became known as the Gothic genre. The Gothic literary genre often includes elements of fear, death, and strong emotions, and is set in set in a dark or mysterious place.

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Gothic literature is a style of literature that takes place in the past, most of the time it has someone who dies and it has a creepy vibe/tone behind it . Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” is a good example of Gothic literature because it shows how a man goes to visit an old friend and see how his friend and his friends twin sister die. “The whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day. ”(13)

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Gothic Literature is a genre that was popular between 18th to 19th centuries in North Germany. It is always being associated with Dark Romanticism which the emphasize was more on nature, terror and death, horror and many more. It involves dark and gloomy setting and also unexplainable things that are beyond human senses and reason such as ghosts and monsters. The main characters, on the other hand, are always ineffectual which they do not give much effect on the story plot. This can be seen through Washington Irving’s “Rip van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” which can be considered as American gothic work in terms of its description of setting, the involvement of supernatural element in the story and also the characteristics of the main character.

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A classic element of gothic fiction typically involves a threatening atmosphere and it is very important that this is not just part of the background, but forms a crucial part

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Gothic Literature Gothic writing was a development that concentrated on demolish, rot, demise, dread, and disarray, and special mindlessness and energy over discernment and reason, developed in light of the chronicled,

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In the early 18th century a new genre of fiction prose, named "Gothic Novel" was introduced. The term ”Gothic” used to refer to the German tribe of the Goths. The Gothic novel spread over the 19th century and had the popular theme of haunted places such as castles, crypts, gloomy monasteries; supernatural elements having the role to intensify the atmosphere. The characteristic motifs of the gothic genre were the strange places, the supernatural, magic objects, monsters, demons, science used for bad purposes. And many of them appear also in "The Picture of Dorian Gray".

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