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Southern Gothic

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	Topics Southern Gothic Topic Home Southern Gothic is a subgenre of the Gothic writing style, unique to American literatureAmerican literature American literature refers to written or literary work produced in the area of the United States and Colonial America.... . Like its parent genre, it relies on supernatural, ironic, or unusual events to guide the plot. Unlike its predecessor, it uses these tools not for the sake of suspense, but to explore social issues and reveal the cultural character of the American SouthSouthern United States The Southern United States or the South constitutes a distinctive region covering a large portion of the United States... . The Southern Gothic author usually avoids perpetuating antebellumAntebellum *Antebellum* is a Latin word meaning "before the war".... stereotypes like the contented slaveSlavery Slavery is the social and legal designation of specific persons as property or chattel, for the purpose of providing labor a... , the demure Southern belleSouthern belle A southern belle was an archetypal young woman of the American South's antebellum period upper class, known for her gracious... , the chivalrous gentleman, or the righteous Christian preacher. Instead, the writer takes classic Gothic archetypes, such as the damsel in distressDamsel in distress The damsel in distress is a stock character of fiction, particularly of melodrama.... or the heroic knightKnight Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages.... , and portrays them in a more modern and realistic manner — transforming them into, for example, a spiteful and reclusive spinsterSpinster A spinster is a woman who has never been married, though it is usually applied only to women who are regarded as beyond the ... , or a white-suited, fan-brandishing lawyer with ulterior motives. One of the most notable features of the Southern Gothic is "the grotesqueGrotesque When commonly used in conversation, grotesque means strange, fantastic, ugly or bizarre, and thus is often used to describe ... " — this includes situations, places, or stock characterStock character A stock character is a fictional character that relies heavily on cultural types or stereotypes for its personality,... s that often possess some cringe-inducing qualities, typically racial bigotryRacism Racism is a belief in the moral or biological superiority of one race or ethnic group over another or others.... and egotisticalEgotism Egotism is a state of human action in which a person acts to gain values in an amount greater than that of the values he... self-righteousness — but enough good traits that readers find themselves interested nevertheless. While often disturbing, Southern Gothic authors commonly use deeply flawed, grotesque characters for greater narrative range and more opportunities to highlight unpleasant aspects of Southern cultureCulture of the Southern United States The Culture of the Southern United States or Southern Culture is a subculture of the United States.... , without being too literal or appearing to be overly moralisticMorality Overview Morality refers to the concept of human ethics which pertains to matters of good and evil —also referred to as "right ... . This genre of writing is seen in the work of such famous Southern writers as William FaulknerFacts About William Faulkner William Cuthbert Faulkner was a Nobel Prize-winning novelist from Mississippi.... , Erskine CaldwellErskine Caldwell Erskine Preston Caldwell was an American author born in a house in the woods outside Moreland, Georgia in Coweta County.... , Flannery O'ConnorFlannery O'Connor Mary Flannery O'Connor was an American author.... , Carson McCullersFacts About Carson McCullers Carson McCullers was an American writer.... , Eudora WeltyEudora Welty Summary Eudora Welty was an award-winning author and photographer who lived in, and wrote about, the American South.... , Tennessee WilliamsTennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III , better known by the pen name Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright and one ... , Truman CapoteTruman Capote Truman Garca Capote was an American writer whose non-fiction, stories, novels and plays are recognized literary classics.... , Harry CrewsHarry Crews Harry Crews is an American novelist, short story writer and essayist.... , Lee SmithLee Smith (author) Lee Smith is an American fiction author who typically incorporates much of her home roots in the Southeastern United States ... , John Kennedy TooleJohn Kennedy Toole John Kennedy Toole was an American novelist from New Orleans, Louisiana, best known for his novel A Confederacy of Dunces'... , Cormac McCarthyCormac McCarthy For the musician Cormac McCarthy, see Cormac McCarthy.... , Davis GrubbDavis Grubb Davis Grubb was an American novelist and short story writer.... , Barry HannahBarry Hannah Barry Hannah, author of novels and short stories, was born in 1942 in Clinton, Mississippi.... , Katherine Ann Porter, Lewis NordanLewis Nordan Lewis Nordan is a novelist and short-story writer.... , and William GayWilliam Gay (author) Overview William Gay is an American writer of novels and short stories.... among others. Tennessee Williams described Southern Gothic as a style that captured "an intuition, of an underlying dreadfulness in modern experience." Notable works The Little FriendThe Little Friend *The Little Friend* is Donna Tartt's second novel.... by Donna TarttDonna Tartt Donna Tartt is an American novelist. ... Absalom, Absalom!Absalom, Absalom! Overview ... , As I Lay DyingAs I Lay Dying Overview Southern literature"The Grotesque" ... , and "A Rose for EmilyA Rose for Emily *A Rose for Emily, a short story by William Faulkner first published on April 30, 1930, is distinctive for its unusual us... " by William FaulknerWilliam Faulkner William Cuthbert Faulkner* was a Nobel Prize-winning novelist from Mississippi.... , as well as most of Faulkner's works. Wise BloodWise Blood *Wise Blood* was the first novel written by U.S. Southern author Flannery O'Connor. ... and "A Good Man Is Hard To FindA Good Man Is Hard To Find *A Good Man Is Hard To Find* is a collection of short stories by American author Flannery O'Connor.... " by Flannery O'ConnorFlannery O'Connor Mary Flannery O'Connor was an American author.... Orpheus DescendingOrpheus Descending *Orpheus Descending* is a play by Tennessee Williams.... by Tennessee WilliamsTennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III , better known by the pen name Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright and one ... And The Ass Saw The AngelAnd the Ass Saw the Angel *And the Ass Saw the Angel* is the first and only novel by the rock musician Nick Cave, originally published in 1989 by Bl... , by Nick CaveNick Cave Nicholas Edward Cave is an Australian rock musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter and occasional actor, best known for h... Child of GodChild of God *Child of God* is the third published novel of American novelist Cormac McCarthy, first published in 1973.... , SuttreeSuttree *Suttree* is a semi-autobiographical novel by Cormac McCarthy, published in 1979.... , The Orchard KeeperFacts About The Orchard Keeper The Orchard Keeper is the first novel by the American novelist Cormac McCarthy.... and No Country for Old MenNo Country for Old Men *No Country for Old Men, published in 2005 by Knopf is a novel by prize-winning American author Cormac McCarthy.... by Cormac McCarthyCormac McCarthy For the musician Cormac McCarthy, see Cormac McCarthy.... Bastard Out of CarolinaBastard Out of Carolina (novel) Bastard Out of Carolina* was the first novel published by author Dorothy Allison.... by Dorothy AllisonDorothy Allison Dorothy Allison is an American writer and speaker.... The Member of the WeddingFacts About The Member of the Wedding *The Member of the Wedding* is a novel by Carson McCullers.... and The Heart Is a Lonely HunterThe Heart Is a Lonely Hunter *The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter* is a novel by Carson McCullers.... by Carson McCullersCarson McCullers Carson McCullers was an American writer.... TidelandFacts About Tideland *Tideland* is the third published book by author Mitch Cullin.... by Mitch CullinMitch Cullin Mitch Cullin was born in 1968 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is the author of seven novels. ... Other Voices, Other RoomsOther Voices, Other Rooms (novel) *Other Voices, Other Rooms* is a novel written by Truman Capote published in January 1948.... and In Cold BloodIn Cold Blood *In Cold Blood* may refer to:*In Cold Blood, the 1966 book by Truman Capote... by Truman CapoteTruman Capote Truman Garca Capote was an American writer whose non-fiction, stories, novels and plays are recognized literary classics.... Midnight in the Garden of Good and EvilMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Overview *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* is a book by John Berendt.... by John BerendtJohn Berendt John Berendt is an American author, known for writing the best-selling non-fiction book Midnight in the Garden of Good and... To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird *To Kill a Mockingbird* is a 1960 novel by Harper Lee, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961.... by Harper LeeHarper Lee Nelle Harper Lee is an American novelist, best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird.... The Night of the HunterThe Night of the Hunter Overview *The Night of the Hunter* is a 1953 novel by American author Davis Grubb.... by Davis GrubbDavis Grubb Davis Grubb was an American novelist and short story writer.... Films DeliveranceDeliverance *Deliverance* is a 1972 Warner Bros.... Sling BladeSling Blade *Sling Blade* is a 1996 film drama set in rural Arkansas.... Angel HeartAngel Heart *Angel Heart* is a 1987 horror movie written and directed by Alan Parker, starring Mickey Rourke, Lisa Bonet and Robert De... Cookie's FortuneCookie's Fortune Cookie's Fortune is a 1999 feature film, directed by Robert Altman.... Frailty The Defiant OnesThe Defiant Ones Overview *The Defiant Ones* is a 1958 film which tells about two escaped prisoners who are shackled together, one white and one bla... O Brother, Where Art Thou?O Brother, Where Art Thou? *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* is a comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, set in Mississippi during the G... The Green MileThe Green Mile (film) *The Green Mile* is a 1999 movie, directed by Frank Darabont, based on the Stephen King novel The Green Mile.... A Streetcar Named DesireA Streetcar Named Desire (film) A Streetcar Named Desire is an Academy Award-winning 1951 film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Streetcar N... Eye of God A Love Song for Bobby LongA Love Song for Bobby Long *A Love Song for Bobby Long* is a 2004 independent film based on the novel by Ronald Everett Capps .... Cat on a Hot Tin RoofCat on a Hot Tin Roof *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* is a play by Tennessee Williams.... Eve's BayouEve's Bayou *Eve's Bayou* is a 1997 drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons who makes her directorial debut.... The GiftThe Gift The Gift may refer to:* The Gift, an American movie directed by Sam Raimi in 2000... The Skeleton KeyThe Skeleton Key *The Skeleton Key* is a 2005 horror-suspense film released in the UK on 22 July and in the USA on August 12.... Black Snake Moan Wise BloodWise Blood (film) *Wise Blood* is a 1979 drama film directed by John Huston and based on the novel by Flannery O'Connor.... The Night of the HunterThe Night of the Hunter (film) *The Night of the Hunter* is a 1955 film noir based on the novel by Davis Grubb.... The BeguiledThe Beguiled *The Beguiled* is a 1971 film directed by Don Siegel.... Cape FearCape Fear (film) *Cape Fear* is the title of two films:... UndertowUndertow (film) *Undertow* is the third film by young American filmmaker David Gordon Green.... George WashingtonGeorge Washington (film) *George Washington* is a film about a group of children in a depressed small town in the U.S.... Wild At HeartWild at Heart (film) *Wild at Heart* is a 1990 English-language film directed by David Lynch.... The Sugarland ExpressThe Sugarland Express *The Sugarland Express* is a 1974 feature film starring Goldie Hawn and William Atherton.... Television TrilogyList of Quantum Leap episodes This is a list of Quantum Leap episodes in the order in which they were released.... , Quantum Leap Comics and graphic novels PreacherPreacher (comics) Preacher was an American comic book series, created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, published by the Vertigo ... by Garth EnnisGarth Ennis Garth Ennis is a Northern Irish comics writer, best known for the DC/Vertigo series Preacher, co-created with artist Steve D... and Steve DillonFacts About Steve Dillon Steve Dillon is a British comic book artist.... See also Gothic fictionGothic fiction Gothic fiction began in the United Kingdom with The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole.... Southern Ontario GothicSouthern Ontario Gothic Southern Ontario Gothic is a sub-genre of the Gothic novel genre and a feature of Canadian literature that comes from Southe... African American literatureAfrican American literature African American literature is literature written by, about, and sometimes specifically for African Americans.... Southern literatureSouthern literature , and the use of [[Southern... Southern RenaissanceSouthern Renaissance The Southern Renaissance was the reinvigoration of American Southern literature that began in the 1920s and 1930s with the a... "The GrotesqueGrotesque When commonly used in conversation, grotesque means strange, fantastic, ugly or bizarre, and thus is often used to describe ... "