This work focuses on the question how and why nature can be seen as the Sublime in
Canadian Gothic fiction of the 19th century. This will be shown on the poem “Death in the
Arctic” by Robert W. Service. A short summary will be given at the beginning and will be
followed by a sketchy interpretation. The concept of the Sublime in Gothic fiction in general
will be explained briefly. The next paragraph will deal with general Gothic elements that
appear in Canadian Gothic fiction and that all together form the basis for the statement that
nature is the source for the Sublime.
A detailed analysis of the primary source will be given in the then-following section,
showing how the Sublime is created in this particular piece, using the elements that were
stated in the previous section.
At the end, a conclusion will be drawn.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Introduction to the primary source: “Death in the Arctic” by Robert W. Service
3. The Sublime in Gothic Literature
4. “The haunted wilderness” – Harmful nature in Canadian Gothic
5. “Death in the Arctic” – a structural analysis
6. Conclusion
Research Objective and Scope
This academic paper examines how and why the natural environment in 19th-century Canadian Gothic fiction functions as a representation of the Sublime. By analyzing the poem "Death in the Arctic" by Robert W. Service, the study explores the intersection of wilderness settings, existential dread, and psychological disorientation.
- The conceptualization of the Sublime within Gothic literary traditions.
- The distinct role of the "haunted wilderness" in Canadian Gothic fiction.
- Structural and thematic analysis of Robert W. Service's "Death in the Arctic".
- The depiction of nature as an indifferent, hostile, and oppressive force.
- The connection between physical survival and the protagonist's mental state.
Excerpt from the Book
4. “The haunted wilderness” – Harmful nature in Canadian Gothic
19th century Canadian Gothic is wilderness Gothic. Therefore, as opposed to US American Gothic, the setting of a Canadian Gothic story is very much more distinctive and stringent. To understand the specific role nature has in Canada, it is helpful to take a short look at Canadian history. Until the 16th century, Canada was populated by so called Indian native people and inuits. Then the settlement of European immigrants, mostly of English and French origin, started. They colonized the country and it was not until 1867 that the four main colonies joined together under the terms of the British North America Act to become the Dominion of Canada. Thus it was still a very young nation when the first Gothic novels were written. With these historic background information in mind, paired with the geographic conditions, it is more explicable why nature played such a big role. At that time, Canada still was a place far from British civilisation. Therefore, one of the most common and probably most effective environments to place such a Gothic story is the Canadian wilderness, especially the North.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on nature as the Sublime in Canadian Gothic fiction and provides a roadmap for the analysis of the poem "Death in the Arctic".
2. Introduction to the primary source: “Death in the Arctic” by Robert W. Service: Introduces the poem’s historical context, its narrative structure involving flashbacks, and the existential dilemma of its protagonist.
3. The Sublime in Gothic Literature: Discusses the theoretical foundations of the Sublime, emphasizing Burke's notion of terror and how Canadian Gothic repurposes these concepts through the lens of a hostile natural environment.
4. “The haunted wilderness” – Harmful nature in Canadian Gothic: Analyzes the historical and geographical factors that establish the Canadian North as a landscape of oppression and mental dislocation.
5. “Death in the Arctic” – a structural analysis: Examines how the poem utilizes binary oppositions such as "death-in-life" and "life-in-death" to mirror the protagonist’s psychological collapse and isolation.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes how Canadian Gothic in the 19th and early 20th century was defined by the dread of an unsettled wilderness before the emergence of urbanized literary themes.
Keywords
Canadian Gothic, The Sublime, Edmund Burke, Robert W. Service, Death in the Arctic, Wilderness, Nature, North, Survival, Isolation, Psychological Dislocation, Death-in-life, Binary Oppositions, 19th Century Literature, Narrative Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
This paper investigates how the natural landscape in 19th-century Canadian Gothic literature acts as a source of the Sublime, creating terror rather than wonder.
What are the central thematic fields?
The work focuses on the intersection of Canadian geography, historical identity, the psychological impact of wilderness, and the literary representation of death.
What is the primary research question?
The paper seeks to answer how and why the natural environment, particularly in the Canadian North, is portrayed as the Sublime in the context of Gothic fiction.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author utilizes literary and structural analysis to dissect the poem "Death in the Arctic," comparing its narrative patterns and imagery against established Gothic theories.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the theoretical definition of the Sublime, the historical and cultural context of Canadian wilderness, and a detailed breakdown of Robert W. Service’s poem.
How would you describe the main keywords?
The keywords include Canadian Gothic, The Sublime, Wilderness, Survival, and Psychological Dislocation, reflecting the existential struggle portrayed in the literature.
How does the "North" function in the analyzed text?
In the poem, the North functions as a "state of mind" and a physical manifestation of hell, trapping the protagonist in a condition of isolation and madness.
What is the significance of the rhyme scheme in the poem?
The variation in rhyme patterns is interpreted as a reflection of the protagonist's mental confusion and the despair resulting from his unbearable situation.
Why does the author associate Canadian Gothic with an "oppressive" rather than "impressive" landscape?
Unlike American Gothic, which often deals with internal, psychological threats, Canadian Gothic presents the environment as a real, physical threat that leads to genuine existential dread.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Daniela Schröder (Autor:in), 2009, The haunted wilderness as the Sublime in Canadian Gothic fiction in the 19th century, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/132601
