American Gothic

About this course

The course examines American Gothic as a tradition shaped by themes including religious hypocrisy, psychological unease, sexual oppression, racial anxiety and fear of the unknown. Teaching combines tutor exposition with class discussion, supported by videos and clips for group analysis. Texts by writers including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe, Ambrose Bierce, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Shirley Jackson, Flannery O’Connor and Toni Morrison are considered, with attention to the social and cultural conditions behind their work.

What you'll learn

• Recognise recurring themes in American fiction
• Relate American Gothic themes to the wider context of Western culture
• Identify related fiction for further independent study

Is this course right for you?

This introductory course is intended for learners with an enthusiasm for reading and discussion. It uses an interactive format combining tutor input, class discussion and analysis of audiovisual material, with preparation through reading texts before class.

• Requires reading the set texts before class
• Includes participation in class discussion

Before you go

• Many texts will be provided in advance.
• Learners should buy or borrow Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find and Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle, specifically the Penguin Modern Classics edition with an afterword by Joyce Carol Oates.
• Learners should bring pens, notepaper and a file for handouts and other course materials.