Jharol F. Aguirre

May 8th, 2018

Glossary Entry

Gothic in relation to “Christabel”

As defined by the Merriam dictionary, the word gothic is a style of architecture that is prevalent in Western Europe. But it can also be defined as the state of Europe during the dark ages (19th century), the whole continent felt gloomy and looked horrifying. Today we often connect the word gothic to literature by referring to the gothic fiction genre that includes works of literature that possess gothic characteristics, a good example would be “Christabel” by Samuel T. Coleridge. But before we dive into the gothic analysis of the poem “Christabel” we need to understand what gothic literature is.

Gothic Literature uses specific settings, these settings commonly include dark and desolate areas such as haunted castles, unknown regions, and the innermost parts of the human mind. The settings are then accompanied by menacing and sinister sounds such as the screeching of animals, ticking noises (Clocks and Heartbeats), and whispers. The poem “Christabel” is a prime example of gothic literature because it contains the quintessential gothic characteristics that were mentioned before like dark scenery, hint of the supernatural, the sounds of howling dogs and ticking clocks. The Gothic nature of “Christabel” is evident throughout the poem,  Gothic undertones are first noted as the poem begins with “Tis the middle of night by the castle clock” and “the owls have awakened the crowing cock” (part 1, 1-2), these lines prepare the reader for the negative things that are to come. The menacing tone of the poem continues while Coleridge writes of dark clouds, a full moon, and chilly air. The negative connotation of these descriptions makes the reader feel uneasy. The feeling of dread increases while Coleridge describes Christabel’s reaction to the noise she heard. He writes, “Hush, beating heart of Christabel! Jesu, Maria, shield her well!”(54-53). At this point, the reader expects the worst.

The events of “Christabel” are tragic and scary, but they are even more horrifying because Coleridge does not explain them. There is no way to determine if Geraldine is an evil being, or if she is only influenced by an evil being. As Coleridge never finished his poem, there is no way to be certain. Supernatural powers are certainly involved, but there is no way to know their full extent. It is this element of the unknown that makes “Christabel,” and Gothic literature in general, so horrifying.

Work Cited

“Gothic.” Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Gothic

“Gothic Fiction” Study.com, https://study.com/academy/lesson/gothic-fiction-definition-characteristics-authors.html

The Merriam Webster definition of Darwinian, is a noun describing a competitive environment or situation in which only the fittest persons or organizations prosper (1). An example of the word used in a sentence, “The competition of among manufacturers is very Darwinian” (1). This concept comes from the scientist Charles Darwin himself. His popular evolutionary discovery was that in order for species be deemed the most fit, they had to reproduce and survive over time. The term Darwinian is a form of literary criticism that studies literature in the context of evolution by means of natural selection (2).

Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake (3), her ideas about the fusion of new species, human extinction, and survival all are Darwinian concepts. Snowman is threatened by various genetic splices of animals thriving in this environment. The new fused species outlived humans. Nevertheless Jimmy learns to adapt, though his situation is still sorely uncomfortable. Crake acts the role of god and eliminates humanity to create a new species. Crake has created a self-sustaining population of what he believes to be superior versions of “humanity.” The ideal human is one focuses solely on survival, but does not even have the capacity to think about the “bigger” things of love, death, religion, etc. Crakers eventually survive due to genetic modification and become fit. Jimmy is one of the last humans.

Works Cited

1.)Darwinian | Definition of Darwinian by Merriam-Webster

Sigmund Freud was published late 20th century.The uncanny” refers to something fearful and frightening, but has been neglected in the history of aesthetics. The uncanny is the subject of aesthetics and has to do with a certain kind of feeling or sensation involving emotional impulses. Freud’s example to this definition was a mannequin.

One example Freud used was the mannequin. When we first glance at a mannequin, we dont know if its real or fake. But if that mannequin started to move or shake our hand, we would feel discomfort or feel uncomfortable despite the fact that looks like a human. We would feel uncomfortable because of the simple fact that it is not human and is not suppose to move if it is plastic. Oryx and crake, include characters that are are not humans but have some characteristics that humans have. This character is known as the “Crakers” in this story. They are human like creations that can speak and reason, but they are not human, just like a mannequin is not human despite of how it looks and the features that it has.

The uncanny is revealed to be something that is not real, but has a lot of its qualities to be. Just like a mannequin appears to be real but it is not. Just like the crakers in Oryx and crake. They also feel and have emotional impulses, and appear to speak and reason, but they are not human.

http://web.mit.edu/allanmc/www/freud1.pdf

“Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake. – PDF Drive.” Free PDF Drive to Download Ebooks.,

Imagery is visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work. There are also visual symbolism, “Film’s religious imagery” 2. Visual images collectively. Imagery is associated with mental pictures, but is actually more complex than pictures. Even if we read the word “Shout,” and though that is a verbal act, we still imagine someone yelling and can predict what it would someone sound like.

Margaret Atwood makes good metaphors when she mentions describing snowman at the beginning of this book. Snowman was described to be ” a creature of darkness, of the dusk”(Atwood 6). This quote left it in our hands to predict the appearance of snowman, and image what he looked like. This quote then made me ask myself if the direct experience of living within an apocalypse made him to become this creature or if it was a past trait he had living within the shadows. Also a few small children gave us a description of snowman to unravel the mystery of his facial hair.  This brings very powerful imagery. When confronted by the children that are literally lacking common knowledge they predict that “Snowman was once a bird but had forgotten how to fly and the rest of the feathers fell out…” (Atwood 8)

“Imagery | Definition of Imagery in US English by Oxford Dictionaries.” Oxford Dictionaries | English, Oxford Dictionaries, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/imagery.

https://www.pdfdrive.net/margaret-atwoods-oryx-and-crake-e8408950.html

Allusions are used to engage the reader and also provoke a message to run through the reader’s head to make the connection. Allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to a person place or event. Using allusions convey long statements into short ones.

1: an implied or indirect reference especially in literature

a poem that makes allusions to classical literature

;  also  : the use of such references

2: the act of making an indirect reference to something : the act of alluding to something

Example:

“We are not here to play, to drift”(Atwood, p156). This example from Oryx and Crake is when Snowman parents wanted him to be tough and nonchalant so he wouldn’t have to worry about anything. He heard this quote in his younger days when he was in school.

Common mistake with Allusion and Illusion:

Allusion and illusion may share some portion of their ancestry (both words come in part from the Latin word ludere, meaning “to play”), and sound quite similar, but they are distinct words with very different meanings. An allusion is an indirect reference, whereas an illusion is something that is unreal or incorrect

Allusion.Merriam-Webster.com2017. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allusion. ( 21 April 2018)

Atwood, Margaret, 1939-. Oryx And Crake : a Novel. New York :Nan A. Talese, 2003. E-book.

Examples of Allusion.2018 http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-allusion.html. (21 April 2018)

A motif is a clear element, them, or idea that goes throughout a work. Whether its art or literature, it’s something that can be consistently seen in the work. It often helps the creator of the work drive the point they are trying to make. Although, you may often find unintended motifs, whether it comes from the authors subconscious or a difference in thought from a historic piece.

A clear motif in Frankenstein is the idea of what it means to be human. It focuses greatly on attributes of Frankenstein’s creation and whether or not he can be considered a human being. He is originally portrayed to seem inhuman by the fact he is a creation of Dr. Frankenstein. They also further this by portraying him as quite ugly and grotesque. This continues as you find he is responsible for a brutal murder and build this idea that he is some monster with animalistic qualities. The question of his humanity come when you hear his side of the story. First of all, you find he is a sentient being, capable of speech and self-reflection. He has been able to teach himself language and has complex emotions. For the most part these are traits only found in humans. This leads you to question whether or not Frankenstein’s creation an be labeled as a human or not. The use of this motif leads you to wonder on a larger scale what we label other living beings as and whether those labels really have any worth.

Work Cited:

“Motif.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motif.

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, 1797-1851. Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus : the 1818 Text. Oxford ; New York :Oxford University Press, 1998. Print.

The term abject has three separate meanings according to  Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. I find all these definitions fitting as they seem to each describe a different character in The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The first definition being “sunk to or existing in a low state or condition : very bad or severe”, this referring to Mr. Hyde. This transformation allowing actions that Dr. Jekyll would deem immoral or unrefined. Mr. Hyde is a state in which Dr. Jekyll can release all of his desires that he considers bad or below him.

The second definition states “showing hopelessness or resignation”. This definition applies to Dr. Lanyon. After he learns the truth about Jekyll and Hyde he quite literally gives up on life all together. His life is so intertwined with his work that the resignation from his work that this calls for, forces him to also quit life. The death of Lanyon is truly the embodiment of hopelessness.

The third definition “expressing or offered in a humble and often ingratiating spirit”, which seems to relate to Dr. Jekyll and how he is when he represses Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll is known as a kind man who everyone seems to like. He does not seem to think too much of himself and often acts for the betterment of others. During the period he decides to stop drinking the potion they discuss the fact that Dr. Jekyll has gone back to his charity work, which he used to be more involved in before Hyde.

Work Cited:

“Motif.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motif.

Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. London :New English Library, 1974. Print.

Metaphor is a figure of speech and usually compared with similes. A simile uses the word “like” or “as” but a metaphor emphasizes and brings together different concepts. Many writers use metaphors to give us a vivid picture by comparing to something else.

Authors use metaphors to help convey and help us understand what they are trying to say. It makes reading more interesting for the reader and stimulates them while reading to make it more enjoyable to them. Its used to add color to many literature works.

Metaphor:

1: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly: figurative language — compare simile

2: an object, activity, or idea treated as a metaphor:

For example:

“His green eyes were gleaming the color of pure jade.”

An example in Oryx and Crake snowman says, “I was telling him,” says Snowman, “that you ask too many questions.” He holds his watch to his ear. “And he’s telling me that if you don’t stop doing that, you’ll be toast.” The quote you’ll be toast is like saying they will be in trouble because they are bothering him.

Another from Oryx and Crake Snowman is said to be “a creature of darkness, of the dusk” (Atwood 6). This makes us question and we saw how he was living in the shadows.

Metaphor.Merriam-Webster.com.2017.https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphor(20 April 2018)

Metaphor. Grammarly Blog.2018. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/metaphor. (20 April 2018)

Atwood, Margaret, 1939-. Oryx And Crake : a Novel. New York :Nan A. Talese, 2003. E-book.

Jonathan Fayzakov

English 151W

Professor Leila Walker

Glossary Entry

Supernatural and its Relation to Christabel

As defined by the Meriam Dictionary, the supernatural is defined as “that which exists, yet cannot be explained by the laws of nature (Supernatural).” The term pertains to an order of existence beyond the visible and observable universe. Often in works of literature, film, and art, the supernatural is depicted as god like. Examples often include qualities portrayed in spirits, ghosts, demons, angels, along with numerous others that are not identified as a common and known being. As opposed to naturalism or the idea that natural laws and forces govern the world, supernaturalism is the belief that the supernatural is interpreting or controlling the world. All religions include elements of the supernatural and it is believed by many that supernaturalism originated from religious concepts. In literature, the use of supernatural themes allows readers to vicariously envision the creative expression and imagination of authors. Throughout generations, supernaturalism has gained popularity across the world and has been incorporated into numerous works of literature (Dalby).

On work of literature that incorporates the idea of supernaturalism is “Christabel” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In the poem, the character Geraldine plays as the supernatural being that takes over the castle. Throughout the poem there are numerous references towards Geraldine’s supernatural abilities. One of the most significant moments in the play that clearly suggest supernaturalism occurs when Geraldine and Christabel are in Christabel’s room. Geraldine takes Christabel in to her arms and mentions that the spell is working on her: ‘In the touch of this bosom there worketh a spell, Which is lord of thy utterance, Christabel! Thou knowest to-night, and wilt know to-morrow, This mark of my shame, this seal of my sorrow.” Christabel wakes up from the dreaming “trance” that following morning and we get a hint that the two ladies engaged in sexual activities. This portion of the poem portrays supernaturalism because through a certain spell, Geraldine was able to manipulate Christabel’s mind and body and was able to enforce what she desired. Later in the text we witness Christabel under the spell once more. When Christabel awakens she begs to send Geraldine away and in turn is yelled at for disrespecting Geraldine: “That thou this woman send away!’ She said: and more she could not say: For what she knew she could not tell, O’er-mastered by the mighty spell (Coleridge).” Despite controlling Christabel physically and mentally, Geraldine was able to take control over the actions of Christabel’s father, Sir Leoline. Geraldine’s character demonstrates how super naturalistic abilities lead to complete control over the castle. It is ambiguous as to what type of supernatural being Geraldine’s character classified as, but her role in the poem clearly demonstrated the supernatural.

Work Cited

Dalby, Daesha. “Literature and the Supernatural.” Teen Ink, www.teenink.com/nonfiction/academic/article/587126/Literature-and-the-Supernatural/.

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. “Christabel by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43971/christabel.

“Supernatural.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supernatural.