im trying to figure out what gothic elements in the writings o edgar allan poe means. so my question is what does that mean?

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2002

Answers

Usually refers to an undercurrent of Romanticism dealing with dark emotions, occultism, decadent medieval settings, exagerrated elements of horror or the supernatural(surprisingly rare in Poe though he always brings the mind to that edge). Check any authoritative decsription and match it to Poe. Gothic writings predate Poe and he did not originate these elemts. He only included them in bringing to birth the detective story genre, his most original creation. Medievalism he uses a few times with heavier symbolism and darker endings. Going back a century or two in gloomy European settings was not uncommon. Think of a Gothic Cathedral, the imagination, the soaring, the great shadows illuminated by brilliant windows, daring architecture of not far removed barbarian paganism. The oppression and order in the vaulting daring architecture. What inspired simple religious awe in its day becmae the scene of fear and dark passions, of time long past and ghostly horror for the nineteenth century modern of progress, reason and science. The Frankenstein beneath the progressive optimism.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2002

gothic - romanticism

Some gothic elements used my Poe are decay,castles,dark,mystery,madness,secrets,life after death,and psychic communication

An example of a gothic story by Poe is "The Pit and the Pendulum"

-- Anonymous, December 19, 2004