The Dark The Dark RomanticsRomantics Valued Valued intuitionintuition over over

logiclogic and and reasonreason They saw signs and They saw signs and

symbols in all eventssymbols in all events They Explored They Explored

Conflict between Conflict between good and evilgood and evil

Psychological Psychological effects of guilt and effects of guilt and sinsin

Madness in the Madness in the human psychehuman psyche

Behind social Behind social respectability, they respectability, they saw the horror of saw the horror of evilevil

AuthorsAuthors Nathaniel Nathaniel

HawthorneHawthorne Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

EDGAR ALLEN POE’SEDGAR ALLEN POE’S REOCCURINGREOCCURING

THEMES, SYMBOLS, THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFSMOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFSTHEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFSTHEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYM

BOLS, M

OTIFS

THEMES, SYM

BOLS, M

OTIFS

THEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFSTHEMES, SYMBOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYM

BOLS, MOTIFS

THEMES, SYM

BOLS, MOTIFS

EyesEyes One of his most common motifs.One of his most common motifs. Can be referred to as “orb”Can be referred to as “orb” Eyes considered to be window to Eyes considered to be window to

the soulthe soul

HeartHeart Heart is important as both the Heart is important as both the

Physical “pump” of the body Physical “pump” of the body Center of all feeling and Center of all feeling and

experienceexperience As Romantic (literary movement)As Romantic (literary movement)

Greater emphasis on the Greater emphasis on the HEART (representing emotion HEART (representing emotion and experience) and experience)

than on HEAD (representing than on HEAD (representing intellect, rational thought, intellect, rational thought, and scientific reasoning)and scientific reasoning)

Unnamed NarratorUnnamed Narrator Unnamed narrator Unnamed narrator

frequently tells frequently tells stories (narrator not stories (narrator not meant to represent meant to represent Poe)Poe)

Lack of specific Lack of specific identity gives him identity gives him an EVERYMAN an EVERYMAN qualityquality

?

Premature Premature Burial/SuffocationBurial/Suffocation 2 concepts linked2 concepts linked

““Life-in-death” Life-in-death” themetheme

the idea of being the idea of being enclosed with the dead enclosed with the dead while still part of the while still part of the livingliving

VortexVortex Image and action of a Image and action of a

spinning, swirling spinning, swirling whirlpool that cycles whirlpool that cycles like water down a drainlike water down a drain

Ex. When a character is Ex. When a character is walking down a spiral or walking down a spiral or circular staircase, or circular staircase, or being swallowed up by being swallowed up by an angry, swirling seaan angry, swirling sea

Dreams/DreamingDreams/Dreaming Dreams are the porthole into the Dreams are the porthole into the

inner workings of the mindinner workings of the mind Poe’s narrator’s and characters Poe’s narrator’s and characters

often talk about the subconscious often talk about the subconscious dream statedream state

Do they dream to remember or Do they dream to remember or dream to forget?dream to forget?

They may awaken from dreams and They may awaken from dreams and question whether they are awake or question whether they are awake or notnot

They may even seem to exist in an They may even seem to exist in an eternal dream-like stateeternal dream-like state

Rarely are dreams soothing or Rarely are dreams soothing or pleasantpleasant

Two Sides of OneselfTwo Sides of Oneself Duality of man: man is both good Duality of man: man is both good

and evil, light and dark can be and evil, light and dark can be contained in same personcontained in same person

““Mirror” Image: the double or look-Mirror” Image: the double or look-alike strangeralike stranger

““Twin” characters: separate yet Twin” characters: separate yet inseparableinseparable

Doppleganger: the motif of the Doppleganger: the motif of the double or fractured image fairly double or fractured image fairly common to literaturecommon to literature

Time/ClocksTime/Clocks Many of his stories are set in Many of his stories are set in

ambiguous times and places, ambiguous times and places, making them universal and making them universal and contemporary to the reader of any contemporary to the reader of any eraera

HOURS and times of day HOURS and times of day especially 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 and especially 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 and

12:0012:00 Uses direct and subtle references Uses direct and subtle references

to TIME or CLOCKSto TIME or CLOCKS Events often begin at dusk and Events often begin at dusk and

end with daybreakend with daybreak ““The witching hour” of 12 midnightThe witching hour” of 12 midnight

AnimalsAnimals Repetition of certain types of Repetition of certain types of

characters—black cats, black characters—black cats, black ravens, and apes (orangutans)ravens, and apes (orangutans)

Narrator may “lead” the reader Narrator may “lead” the reader into thinking such an animal is into thinking such an animal is innately evil or has magical powersinnately evil or has magical powers

Reader has to determine based on Reader has to determine based on behavior of the animal whether behavior of the animal whether this is true or if narrator is just this is true or if narrator is just projecting his own beliefs onto the projecting his own beliefs onto the animal.animal.