Northanger Abbey
Northanger Abbey is based on a contrast between two different worlds, the “real” word and the Gothic world. (I use q. marks on “real” because, of course, every thing in the nov... Read More
Wuthering Heights
What are the words used to describe Heathcliff? What metaphors or symbols or other figures are applied to him? What words do other characters use to depict him physically or morally or emotionally? Ho... Read More
Mudlarking (extra credit)
What is it like to be a mudlark for an hour? What did you find? How do you think the experience would have been different in 1850? The brief Wikipedia article on mudlarks is worth checking out.... Read More
Old London
We have looked at ruins of the past. “London Wall,” sometimes called the “Roman Wall,” is almost 2000 years old. All we see now are fragments. St. Dunstan’s in the East, ... Read More
“Goblin Market”
“Goblin Market” was originally intended for children, but many readers discover abundant evidence of “adult” meanings. In general, the Gothic often functions to bring otherwise... Read More
Strawberry Hill
We can be relatively sure that Catherine, the heroine of Northanger Abbey, would not have approved of the name of Hugh Walpole’s estate. Strawberry Hill? Are you kidding me? Could not the owner ... Read More