Examples Of Gothic Literature: "House Taken Over" And "The Fall Of The House Of Usher"

In "Examples Of Gothic Literature: "House Taken Over" And "The Fall Of The House Of Usher" Essay" we will research similarities and differences between these two stories and why they are examples of gothic literature.

“The fall of the House of Usher” and” House Taken Over” are two stories we have read so far. These stories have similar stories with the whole house being taken over by a mysterious entity. Although both stories are technically different genres with “The Fall of the House of Usher” being gothic literature and “House Taken Over” is Magical realism the stories have very similar plots. Both stories end with the main characters leaving the house with nothing because it was completely taken over by these strange entities that the people have no idea who or what they are. Both stories are definitely worth the read, if not to expand your knowledge of the subject, to read them for fun.

'House Taken Over' is a 1946 short story by Julio Cortázar. It recounts to the narrative of a sibling and sister living respectively in their home which is being 'dominated' by obscure substances. It begins in a basic way and it gradually presents a scene where the regular laws are twisted. The question that is presented around what those substances are can be viewed in a few different ways, and this additionally causes the theme of the story to differ. Among the parts that are visited in the story, realistic signs are used to reflect restrictions on the main characters. The author put together the house with respect and great detail to immerse the reader into the plot. The Plot is the storyteller and sister, Irene fear a substance they call 'they' which is slowly taking over there house(The Short Story Project). This story is categorized as Magical Realism (myPerspectives 33).

“The Fall of the House of Usher” is a short story written by Edger Allen Poe. This story is an example of Gothic Literature which has a dull and dark feel to it, it introduces a ghostly aspect into the story that gives it the spooky feeling. As our anonymous narrator arrives at the House of Usher, a family home owned by his friend Roderick. The narrator spends some time admiring the amazing qualities of the Usher house. Roderick has been very sick and he wrote to the anonymous narrator to stay with him before he passes away. Roderick and his sister are the last of the Usher bloodline, and when they die the house dies with them (GradeSaver).

Magical realism is a style of writing that paints a realistic view of the modern world while also adding magical elements into the story line. It is sometimes called fabulism, in reference to the conventions of fables, myths, and allegory. 'Magical realism', perhaps the most common term, often refers to fiction and literature in particular (myPerspectives 33).

Gothic Literature, which is largely known by the subgenre of Gothic horror, is a genre that combines fiction and horror, death, and at times romance. It’s origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled 'A Gothic Story'. The effect of Gothic fiction feeds on a pleasing sort of terror and fear for the adrenaline junkies (myPerspectives 42).