Next Week: The Others (film) and Critical Paper #1

We'll be watching The Others next Monday-Wednesday (and possibly a bit on Friday), with a general discussion on Friday.  Instead of questions for this week, since you have a paper due, we'll do some in-class writing based on the film and its 'reading' of The Turn of the Screw.

Critical Paper #1 is below (for some reason it didn't post when I submitted it on Monday--my apologies!)

Critical Paper #1: Theories of the Gothic

For your first longer, critical paper, I want you to use Short Paper #2 as a bridge into a theoretical, analytical discussion of both Poe and James.  Paper #2 should be absorbed into the paper--with my comments, if you wish--and expanded or contracted as you see fit.  However, you must discuss both authors in your paper, focusing on at least one of Poe's stories and James' The Turn of the Screw. 

THE ASSIGNMENT

The assignment is simple: find a theoretical perspective that allows you to analyze and connect each author’s work in a useful and interesting way.  You don't have to say anything shocking or new, but I want you to find ideas that are new to you and change the way you initially read the stories.  Consider the approaches of poetics (author, intended reader, immediate culture) and hermeneutics (the text, reader response, outside culture and theoretical ideas) as you begin to formulate your ideas.  Above all be consistent: if you wrote about ‘poetics’ in your Paper #2, continue the same approach for the entire paper (don't switch mid-stream).  Also, be sure to ground your discussion in close readings of specific passages in the text.  Don't rely on plot summary or vague generalizations.  Be specific and point your reader to ideas in the text that you want them to see/read/interpret. 

SOURCES

For your sources, I want you to exploit the treasure-trove of theoretical ideas you have at your fingertips: Culler's Literary Theory and the Bedford/St. Martin's edition of The Turn of the Screw.  You do not have to find sources outside of these two works (and the articles printed within them), but you are certainly allowed to hunt for more articles on Poe, James, or your own theoretical suspicions.  However, you must use the following in your paper:

·         At least one chapter Culler's Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction (stick to the chapters we've read and discussed: 1, 2, 4 and 6).  Culler offers numerous jumping-off points for a meaningful analysis of any work, and I've tried to make connections between his text and our books throughout class.   

·         At least two sources in our edition of The Turn of the Screw: these can be contextual documents (such as "The Victorian Governess in Fact and Fiction") or James' Revisions to the two editions, or the theoretical approaches in the back (such as Bruce Robbins' essay or others). 

·         Also consider Freud's essay, "The Uncanny" which I passed out in class, or other articles on Poe, James, individual works, Marxism, Psychoanalysis, Reader Response Theory, Feminism, Gender/Queer Theory, etc. 

REQUIREMENTS

·         At least 5-6 pages double spaced

·         The sources listed above, cited according to MLA format

·         DUE BY FRIDAY, MARCH 9th BY MIDNIGHT (in true Gothic fashion)