Lesson 8: Overview And To-Do List

Lesson 8: Overview and To Do List Overview Lesson 8 covers the Annotated Bibliography and the Supernatural and Strange in literature.

Lesson 8: Overview and To Do List Overview Lesson 8 covers the Annotated Bibliography and the Supernatural and Strange in literature. Learning Outcomes At the end of this unit the learner will be able to: · Demonstrate an understanding of literature that addresses the supernatural and strange. · Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence. · Respond to literature with rational judgments supported by evidence. To Do List In order to successfully complete Lesson 8, please do the following: Readings · Read Module 8: Lessons and Notes · Read "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (textbook) · Read Oedipus Rex/Oedipus the King by Sophocles (textbook) · Read "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves" by Karen Russell (textbook) · Review/Reread "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe (in your textbook) · Complete discussion: "Supernatural and Strange" · Complete assignment: "Annotated Bibliography Practice" Presentation: What is the Supernatural, or Strange, in Fiction? What is the supernatural, or strange, in fiction? Supernatural fiction is as old as storytelling itself. Beowulf is the oldest story written in the English language and the epic hero spends most of his time grappling with supernatural creatures. However, supernatural fiction didn't make its debut as its own subgenre until the mid-18th century, when the idea of the novel was emerging.

Monsters, gargoyles, dimly lit corridors, and bleak settings decorate the history of the literary supernatural. Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, and Baskerville's hounds are a few character examples that emerged during this time. Elements of Supernatural or strange fiction include heavy gothic elements, horror (which doesn't always require supernatural components), fantasy or mythical elements, and the representation of human fears or societal issues. For example, Edgar Allan Poe's stories like "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Black Cat," and "The Tell-Tale Heart" showcase human monsters and psychological horror without necessarily including supernatural elements.

The story "Young Goodman Brown" exemplifies supernatural themes with the presence of the devil symbolizing internal fears and doubts, gothic setting in a dark forest, spiritual conflict, and symbolic elements such as Faith's pink ribbons representing innocence amidst Zk bleakness. This highlights how supernatural and strange elements can serve as metaphors for human fears, societal struggles, and internal conflicts in literature.

This lesson emphasizes the importance of analyzing how supernatural elements function within stories to reveal deeper meanings, explore human psychology, and reflect cultural fears. Understanding these elements helps readers interpret a wide range of texts that utilize the supernatural or strange to evoke suspense, horror, or social commentary.

Paper For Above instruction

The supernatural and the strange have been central to storytelling across cultures and eras, serving as powerful devices to evoke emotion, convey moral lessons, and explore the depths of human psyche. From ancient myths to contemporary fiction, these elements challenge the boundaries of reality and open windows into worlds governed by mysterious, often inexplicable forces. Literature’s fascination with the supernatural stems from its ability to embody human fears, societal anxieties, and moral dilemmas through fantastical and eerie phenomena.

Historical roots of supernatural fiction can be traced back to oral storytelling traditions and ancient epics. For instance, Beowulf features encounters with supernatural monsters, establishing early narratives that grapple with heroism against otherworldly foes. However, the formalization of supernatural fiction as a literary genre emerged prominently in the 18th century, coinciding with the rise of the novel. The Gothic genre, epitomized by works like Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein" and Bram Stoker’s "Dracula," popularized themes of monsters, decay, and the uncanny, often set within dark, atmospheric settings that evoke fear and fascination.

Supernatural fiction often incorporates gothic elements such as bleak landscapes, haunted settings, and an overarching sense of dread. These elements serve to create mood and symbolically reflect characters’ internal struggles. Horror fiction, while sometimes lacking supernatural components, frequently overlaps with the supernatural genre by exploring human monstrosity and psychological terror. Poe’s stories, like "The Cask of Amontillado," exemplify horror rooted in human madness and revenge, illustrating how human monsters can evoke similar feelings of fear and awe as supernatural creatures.

The stories like "Young Goodman Brown" demonstrate how supernatural symbols serve as allegories for internal human conflicts. In this story, the devil embodies Brown’s doubts and fears about his faith and morality. The dark forest setting amplifies the Gothic tone, representing the subconscious and moral wilderness within individuals. The symbolic elements such as Faith’s pink ribbon juxtapose innocence with the corruptions of doubt, illustrating how supernatural themes underpin psychological and moral exploration.

Furthermore, supernatural elements frequently function as metaphors for societal issues. For example, mythical beings or supernatural events can symbolize power, injustice, or societal fears. This allegorical function fosters a deeper understanding of cultural anxieties and moral questions. In contemporary literature, authors continue to utilize supernatural components to explore issues like identity, fear of the unknown, and social injustice, making the genre relevant and dynamic.

Analyzing supernatural literature requires understanding both its thematic implications and its narrative functions. Elements like ghostly apparitions, demonic figures, or mythical beings are not merely for shock but often serve to symbolize psychological states, societal fears, or moral conflicts. For instance, Poe’s use of the human monster illustrates that horror can be rooted in human nature as much as in supernatural forces. Similarly, "Young Goodman Brown" employs supernatural imagery as a reflection of internal moral crises, emphasizing how external symbols mirror internal struggles.

In conclusion, supernatural and strange fiction forms a vital part of literary history because of its ability to challenge perceptions of reality and illuminate human fears and societal issues. These elements evoke suspense and horror, but they also serve as sophisticated allegories for exploring human behavior, morality, and social dynamics. As storytelling continues to evolve, the supernatural remains a compelling tool for writers to challenge readers’ understanding of the known and the unknown, making literature richer and more complex.

References

• Barber, Charles. Voyage of the Damned: The Literary and Cultural History of Gothic Fiction. Oxford University Press, 2017.
• Cotorino, Carmelo. The Gothic Tradition: From the Dark Side of the Mind. Routledge, 2014.
• Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar. The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Yale University Press, 1979.
• Jancovich, Mark. Horror, The Film Reader. Routledge, 2002.
• Kelly, J. Mays. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Norton, 2018.
• Lovecraft, H. P. Supernatural Horror in Literature. Dover Publications, 2014.
• Stoker, Bram. Dracula. Wordsworth Editions, 1993.
• Sutherland, John. The Blood Countess: A Gothic Tale. Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.
• Walsh, Sylvia. The Gothic World of Mary Shelley. Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
• Williams, Linda. Gothic Literature. Oxford University Press, 2015.