From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
This week’s column will be part of a three-part series looking at the American Gothic Literary Genre.
In general, the Gothic genre “is a sub-category of the Romantic genre including poetry, short stories, or novels designed to thrill readers by providing mystery and blood-curdling accounts of villainy, murder, and the supernatural.”
Despite being a subgenre of the Gothic, the American Gothic genre has several key differences. Indeed, while “the Gothic genre [was] … a form of escapist literature, with a ‘long ago and far away’ atmosphere, the American Gothic focuses on important elements of daily life that, when framed in a Gothic nature, brings a new light to social issues that may be at first too ‘ordinary’ to notice.”
What
Notable examples in this genre include “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Where
These novels and short stories are set throughout the United States, with particular focus on the east coast and Boston, Massachusetts.
When
These works take place in the 19th century.
Why
These particular works may be of interest to AU learners who enjoy novels and short stories with moody atmospheres, suspenseful plots, and thoughtful critiques of social issues.
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to American Gothic are available in a variety of disciplines, including one’s that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in ENGL 344: American Literature I, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “introduces students to American literature, its history and development, and its rich variety of forms and techniques.” (Please note that ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays are required as prerequisites).
Students may also be interested in ENGL 345: American Literature II, another senior-level, three-credit course, which “follows the introduction to American literature begun in ENGL 344 . . . [and] continues the exploration of the history and development of American literature and its rich variety of forms and techniques.” (This course also requires ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays as prerequisites). Happy reading!
