Gothic Literature Essay

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Research Paper Genres originate from the Latin word generic, which refers to the type, and is used to define styles in music, art, and literature. Literary genre is a concept distinguished by the composition principle and common characteristics of the story to distinguish different works. Genres play a role in preparing various theories of literature in connection with the problem of how literary works are formed and existed. Besides, the literary genre often divides into the country, era, writer and so on. Author Carolyn Miller says, "What we learn when we learn a genre is not just a pattern of forms or even a method of achieving our own ends. . . . [A]s a recurrent, significant action, a genre embodies an aspect of cultural rationality" …show more content…

First, Poe reveals the protagonist's confused consciousness and dramatic thoughts from the point of view and contrast between the background. According to the author of Poe and Gothic Creativity, the first-person narrator has a dramatic effect because it has a high level of immersion among readers. This point of view persuasively conveys the conflict because the reader can grasp the inner mentality of the main character, but the limited view of the description often expresses psychological instability. In other words, there can be an ironic distance between reader and narrator (Lima 24). The narrator of The Cask of Amontillado mentions that Fortunato was simply insulting him about crimes committed 50 years ago. Since this does not justify the murder, and cheating or murder for Fortunato is described without guilt. This tendency leads readers to distrust the narrator and ultimately forms a crucial ironic distance among readers whose credibility has fallen. On the other hand, in contrast to the splendid Carnival outside, unfolding underground faces a dark crime. The inside is darker than outside, has no vitality and gives a lonely. If this concept compares to the human conscious world, outside is a reason world, and Inside can be an irrational world (Lima 27). As a consequence, the underground shows a section of taboo desires or pleasures that humans should hide by the …show more content…

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