LIT 2010 Fall 2024 - Sutter

A genre so named “Southern Gothic” seems simple enough to understand, as the words evoke both a region and mode. And one might typically associate the genre as inclusive of grotesque figures, remembrances of the past, semi-fantastic situations, and a hyperbolic depiction of setting. However, this course will attempt to further explore, question, and potentially deconstruct this categorization by studying several seminal novels and short stories of the genre. How does place actually affect the narrative construction of fiction? Does prose style play a role in shaping a work of fiction in the Southern Gothic tradition? What about characterization and conflict? We will search to answer these questions and many, many more through close readings, lively discussion, comparative research, and creative exercises. We will also spend time on story mechanics such as tension, POV, voice, choice of detail, stakes, and causality—all in the hope of understanding a bit more about the Southern Gothic than we did before.