Considered as one of the first American writers to produce American national literature, Charles Brockden Brown belongs to the forefathers of the American Gothic Fiction and embodies the pioneer spirit of the American Short Story. Although throughout the last decades, intense and prolific research has been conducted about his life and works, respectively Wieland and Edgar Huntly, Brown’s Somnambulism yet remains a relatively obscure and unexplored narrative. The goal of this paper is to bring fourth its literary relevance within the context of the American Gothic Fiction by analyzing the occurrence, narrative usage and effect of Gothic elements in Brown’s fragment Somnambulism. By doing so, I will firstly give a short overview about its publishing history, followed by a brief excursion to the definition of short story to underline that Brown’s account is both short and Gothic story. The definition of the Gothic Fiction describes the historical development of the Gothic story, explaining its relevance in the American context and broaching Brown’s political use of the Gothic mode. Finally, the main body of this paper will demonstrate the comprised gothic elements of the story, exemplifying the constantly rising construction of horror through the lovelorn protagonist’s sick double mental existence and the sinister description of his counterpart Nick Handyside.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Publishing History
- Short Story about the Short Story
- Definition of Gothic Fiction
- Analysis of Gothic Elements in Somnambulism
- The Double Mental Existence in Richard Althorpe
- Nick Handyside: The Incorporation of Human Evil?
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to establish the literary significance of Charles Brockden Brown's "Somnambulism" within the context of American Gothic Fiction. The paper analyzes the presence, narrative usage, and effect of Gothic elements in Brown's fragment, highlighting its relevance within the development of the American short story. Key themes and objectives include:- Examining the publishing history of "Somnambulism" and its place in the emerging American literary landscape.
- Defining the genre of Gothic Fiction and its influence on early American literature.
- Analyzing the Gothic elements present in "Somnambulism," focusing on the protagonist's "double mental existence" and the sinister character of Nick Handyside.
- Exploring the ways in which Brown's "Somnambulism" embodies key features of the short story genre.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter provides a brief overview of Charles Brockden Brown's position as a pioneer of American Gothic Fiction and the relative obscurity of "Somnambulism." The paper's objectives are outlined, focusing on analyzing Gothic elements within the story and situating it within the context of American Gothic and the emerging American short story genre.
- Publishing History: This chapter details the publication of "Somnambulism" in *The Literary Magazine and American Register* in 1805. The chapter examines Brown's role as editor-in-chief and his use of his own work to fill gaps in content. It also explores the possible origins of the story and its relationship to other works by Brown.
- Short Story about the Short Story: This chapter explores the development of the American short story genre and situates "Somnambulism" as a pioneering example. The chapter addresses criticisms that early American short stories were lacking in literary significance and argues for their importance in shaping the genre.
- Definition of Gothic Fiction: This chapter provides a historical overview of Gothic Fiction, tracing its origins to Horace Walpole's *The Castle of Otranto*. The chapter discusses the core elements of the Gothic genre, including elements of horror and romance, and explores the genre's relationship to the French Revolution and its influence on American Gothic literature.
- Analysis of Gothic Elements in Somnambulism: This chapter delves into the Gothic elements within "Somnambulism," focusing on the protagonist's internal struggles and the portrayal of the antagonist, Nick Handyside. The chapter examines how these elements contribute to the overall atmosphere of horror and suspense within the story.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper delves into the early American Gothic fiction, focusing on Charles Brockden Brown's "Somnambulism." The keywords that encompass this work are: American Gothic Fiction, early American short story, Gothic elements, somnambulism, double mental existence, horror, suspense, Nick Handyside, "Sky-Walk," Edgar Huntly, and "Zoomonia."- Quote paper
- Mario Nsonga (Author), 2012, Between Madness and Sanity: Gothic Elements in Charles Brockden Brown’s “Somnambulism”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/207836
