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Gothic Novel & Horror Fiction English 113 Fall 2006 Professor Katherine D. Harris T/R 1:30-2:45pm Wanted: TA needing 298 credit - see below. Course Description: (see reading list) Slasher films used to be a great way to spend "date night." However, we've become so jaded about horror films (and the girl who always falls during the chase scene) that we are amused by them instead of genuinely terrified and awe-struck. These movies were inspired by horror fiction, including Stephen King's The Shining and multiple incarnations of Frankenstein and Dracula. All of these literary texts originate from the Gothic novel tradition, where psychological disintegration is quelled by sweeping landscapes. In this course, we'll establish the definition of "gothic" by reading Matthew Lewis' The Monk and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Moving through the nineteenth century, we'll explore monsters, landscapes and female victims as they appear in Gothic novels. In the twentieth century, we'll discover that "gothic" becomes synonymous with "horror," very similar to King's The Shining and Stanley Kubrick's film version. You may want a nightlight when reading these novels. Prepare to be scared! Reading List Stephen King, The Shining Simon & Schuster 2001 (ISBN: 0743424425) Stoker, Dracula & movie Ed. Nina Auerbach, Norton Critical Edition (ISBN 0-393-97012-4) Austen, Northanger Abbey, Ed. Marilyn Gaull Longman Cultural Edition (ISBN 0321202082) Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde World’s Classics (ISBN: 019281740x) Bronte, Wuthering Heights (1847), 4th ed., Ed. Richard J. Dunn, Norton ISBN (0393978893) Matthew Lewis, The Monk (Oxford World Classic) Ed. Howard Anderson (ISBN:019282435x) Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (1818) Ed. J. Paul Hunter, Norton Critical Edition (ISBN: 0393964582) Gothic Tales, Ed. Chris Baldick, Oxford (ISBN 0192862197) American Gothic Tales, Ed. Joyce Carrol Oates, Plume (ISBN 0452274893)
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The TA for this course will be responsible for commenting on some
writing assignments, especially the nightmare assignment in which
students create a word version of their nightmarish images.
In addition, this TA will also be asked to create & oversee at least
one assignment for the later Horror Fiction section. (This aspect
is in anticipation of collaboration prior to the semester's
beginning so the assignment can be listed on the syllabus.) When
working on this section, I expect to bring in pop culture references
to horror in line with the Gothic definitions that we set up early
in the semester (attention to landscape, psychological degeneration
of a character, dark & stormy nights, etc.). The TA should
be knowledgeable of horror films and fiction in order to
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