American Gothic

Do you like horror movies or ghost stories?

This class will discuss the bizarre and uncanny gothic tradition in American short stories, looking at authors like William Faulkner, Edgar Allen Poe, Kate Chopin, Toni Morrison, and Shirley Jackson, along with critical sources to further our analysis. We will focus on exploring the appeal of such fiction and investigate what gothic stories might say about our society's fears and concerns by exploring topics like murder, the undead, and the potentially insane. The class will include three larger papers, as well as smaller responses and research projects. Writing assignments will allow us to explore rhetorical strategies, including formal and personal writing, and enable us to deepen our understanding of the subject matter and its continuing appeal for American audiences.