This work focuses on the question how and why nature can be seen as the Sublime in
Canadian Gothic fiction of the 19th century. This will be shown on the poem “Death in the
Arctic” by Robert W. Service. A short summary will be given at the beginning and will be
followed by a sketchy interpretation. The concept of the Sublime in Gothic fiction in general
will be explained briefly. The next paragraph will deal with general Gothic elements that
appear in Canadian Gothic fiction and that all together form the basis for the statement that
nature is the source for the Sublime.
A detailed analysis of the primary source will be given in the then-following section,
showing how the Sublime is created in this particular piece, using the elements that were
stated in the previous section.
At the end, a conclusion will be drawn.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Introduction to the primary source: "Death in the Arctic" by Robert W. Service
- The Sublime in Gothic Literature
- "The haunted wilderness" – Harmful nature in Canadian Gothic
- "Death in the Arctic" - a structural analysis
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work explores the concept of the Sublime in Canadian Gothic fiction of the 19th century, focusing specifically on the poem "Death in the Arctic" by Robert W. Service. It examines how and why nature is portrayed as the Sublime in this genre.- The concept of the Sublime in Gothic fiction
- The role of nature in Canadian Gothic literature
- The impact of the Canadian wilderness on the themes of fear and terror
- The relationship between nature and human psychology in Canadian Gothic fiction
- A structural analysis of the poem "Death in the Arctic"
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction outlines the focus of the paper, which is to investigate the portrayal of nature as the Sublime in 19th-century Canadian Gothic fiction. The paper utilizes Robert W. Service's poem "Death in the Arctic" as its primary source. The chapter then provides a brief summary of the poem and its themes, followed by an explanation of the concept of the Sublime in Gothic literature.
The chapter titled "The haunted wilderness" explores the specific elements of Canadian Gothic fiction that contribute to the portrayal of nature as the Sublime. It delves into the historical context of Canada, the role of the wilderness as a setting, and the common themes of fear, desolation, and solitude that are often linked to the Canadian North. The chapter also discusses the historical impact of European colonization on the Canadian wilderness and the perception of nature as hostile and indifferent to human life.
The chapter on "Death in the Arctic" - a structural analysis, focuses on a detailed analysis of the primary source poem. It examines the poem's structure, rhyme patterns, and narrative techniques to illustrate how the Sublime is created through the depiction of the Arctic environment and its impact on the protagonist.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work focuses on key concepts such as the Sublime, Canadian Gothic, wilderness Gothic, nature, terror, fear, desolation, solitude, the Arctic, and "Death in the Arctic" by Robert W. Service. It examines the role of the Canadian wilderness in creating a sense of the Sublime and its impact on the themes of fear and human psychology in 19th-century Canadian Gothic fiction.- Quote paper
- Daniela Schröder (Author), 2009, The haunted wilderness as the Sublime in Canadian Gothic fiction in the 19th century, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/132601