1.2. Statement of Problem
Reading a gothic story can make people feel the atmosphere of fear, mystery, thrilling and etc. As cited in An Introduction to Fiction:
The term of Gothic is sometimes applied to stories that are without either castles or haunted houses, but are heavy with
sinister, brooding atmosphere or portrays violence and insanity to stress horror.
[X.J. Kennedy, 1976: 196]
I am analysing these three short stories, I focus on how the characteristics of mystery, horror and madness of the character potrayed as gothic elements in
Edgar Allan Poe’s three short stories are.
1.3. Objective of Analysis
In accordance with the title of the thesis, I will analyse the gothic elements of Edgar Allan Poe’s three short stories entitled The Oval Portrait, The Black Cat,
and Berenice and the main purpose is to find out the characteristics of mystery, horror and madness of the character as gothic elements in Edgar Allan Poe’s three
short stories.
1.4. Scope of Analysis
I limit my analysis only to analyse three elements of gothic such as mystery, horror and madness of character. Mystery as gothic element will be
analysed based on point of view of the narrator in the stories. Horror as gothic element will be analysed based on the setting of the stories. While madness of
character will be analysed based on the characterization of the character himself.
1.5. Method of Analysis
According to Rene Wellek 1956, there are two basic elements of a literary work are intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic method deals with elements
inside the story itself such as plot, setting, character, etc. Extrinsic method deals with elements outside the story but still closely related and support the story, for
example the approaches through biography, psychology, society, etc.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
In analysing the short stories, I am using intrinsic method, which I read the stories again and again to understand the stories. Then I continue with selecting
data or taking some notes and quotations from statements of the short stories. After that, I analyse the data by interpretating. The interpretation is described in
order to find out the truth offered by the data. I am also collecting data from books, journals, some information from the Internet,which relates to Edgar Allan
Poe, and other written sources as the library research.
1.6. Significance of Analysis
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