1. How is the Romantic notion of the Sublime reflected in the ideological, conceptual and linguistic construction of the texts under consideration in this Romanticism reader? Discuss one or two examples...
2. Go online and see if you can find out anything about what really happened at the Villa Diodati that fateful summer in 1816...
3. How many fictional accounts (film and other narrative media) can you find about that? Provide some useful links, including Youtube clips (hint: for a start try Ken Russel Gothic on Youtube).
4. Discuss the links between the Villa Diodati "brat-pack" and the birth of Gothic as a modern genre with reference to specific texts by the authors who gathered there and subsequent texts (e.g. The Vampire >> Dracula, etc).
3. How many fictional accounts (film and other narrative media) can you find about that? Provide some useful links, including Youtube clips (hint: for a start try Ken Russel Gothic on Youtube).
4. Discuss the links between the Villa Diodati "brat-pack" and the birth of Gothic as a modern genre with reference to specific texts by the authors who gathered there and subsequent texts (e.g. The Vampire >> Dracula, etc).
Go online and see if you can find out anything about what really happened at the Villa Diodati that fateful summer in 1816...
ReplyDeleteAccording to The cabinet (2007), The Villa Diodati is a mansion located by Geneva lake. It is known for as the villa that many writers such as Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, and John Polidori rented as a summer residence in 1816.
The night that The Vampyre and Frankenstein were born was a dark stormy night. The villa guests as mentioned above all sat together near a fireplace in the villa, they wrote about the most terrifying nightmares that they had experienced. That night was the beginning of the gothic genre,
Vitelli (2010) makes the point of Lord Byron attempting to write supernatural stories, adding another element to the gothic genre. The word gothic in relation to literature, refers to a mode of fiction dealing with the supernatural or horrifying events (David, 2011). It also refers to a kind of atmosphere linked to spirits. The gothic genre was popular in England in the late 18th century and the first two decades of the 19th century.
(McNamara, n.d) says that 1816 was also known as the Year without Summer. It seems fitting with what was going on in the mansion that night. Although it was only the weather patterns changing, we do have the weather to thank in a way for the writing of these great classics. It set the scene for the beginning of a significant genre.
References
David,E. (2011).Byron in Geneva that Summer of 1816. Liverpool : Liverpool University Press
McNamara, R. (n.d). The Year Without a summer. Retrieved from http://history1800s.about.com/od/crimesanddisasters/a/The-Year-Without-A-Summer.htm
The cabinet. (2007). The dark destinations: The Villa Diodati. Retrieved from http://www.thecabinet.com/darkdestinations/location.php?sub_id=dark_destinations&letter=v&location_id=the_villa_diodati
Vitelli, R. (2010). Who inspired Frankenstein?. Retrieved from http://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2010/12/inspiring-frankenstein.html.
Well described. your account of 'gothic' is good. Nowdays it's a kind of fashion, but as you say it implied the supernatural.
DeleteHey Gemma,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! The fact that night at Villa Diodati was a stormy night I feel is significant because it’s clearly reflected in the stories that were created. Such as in Frankenstein, the creation of this “monster” was on a very stormy night in a castle, so yes I agree with you, no doubt this influenced the writers in creating these horrors. ‘The weather was terrible that year – so bad they called it ‘the year without a summer’ – and the party spent most of their time indoors, gathered about the fireplace in Lord Byron’s drawing-room’ (Shepherd, 2013).
Mary Shelley recounts the ideas leading up to her story ‘Frankenstein’… She describes herself as a young child who had a very creative imagination and pondered quite often on her dreams. Keeping it to herself as somewhat of an escape pod away from the realities that existed in her day-to-day life ‘They were the eyry of freedom, and the pleasant region where unheeded I could commune with the creatures of my fancy’ (Shelley, 1985: 1818). As she got older her husband, saw the potential in his wife and encouraged her to write ‘He was for ever inciting me to obtain literary reputation’ (Shelley, 1985: 1818). However Shelley did little to pursue her husband’s suggestions, until that night at Villa Diodati, 1816… Amongst many conversations shared between Shelley and then owner of Villa Diodati, a respected writer himself, Lord Byron they discussed a particular physiological issue which would I believe set in motion the story ‘Frankenstein’, ‘the nature of the principle of life, and whether there was any probability of its ever being discovered and communicated’ (Shelley, 1985: 1818. That night Shelley retires to bed, her imagination creating the very vivid scenes of ‘Frankenstein’, ‘I have found it! What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow’ (Shelley, 1985: 1818).
And so that fateful summer, in Vila Diodate, 1816, a group of 6 or so were tasked with creating there own horrors ‘And it was there, during a night of thunderous sturm und drang, that a chain of events took place that began with the telling of ghost stories, and led eventually to Mary Shelley’s ‘hideous progeny’, Frankenstein’ (Shepherd, 2013).
‘I began that day with the words, It was on a dreary night of November, making only a transcript of the grim terrors of my waking dream’ (Shelley, 1985: 1818).
It would’ve been awesome to be right then and there, hearing Shelley tell her now famous story ‘Frankenstein’!
References:
Shelley, Mary. (1985: 1818). Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus, London: Penguin).
Shepherd, L. (2013). Retrieved from http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/books/2013/09/what-if-byron-and-the-shelleys-had-live-tweeted-from-the-villa-diodati/
Another good post. And storms have been a part of horror stories ever since!
DeleteThe Villa Diodati tale is one of great intrigue, it has sparked so much interest that there have been movie based on the happening on the night, Gothic (1986) and Haunted Summer (1988) are just a few examples. Greg Buzwell (N.D.) believes “The circumstances that gave birth to Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein (1818) read like something from a Gothic story in themselves. Mary’s unconventional life up to the summer of 1816 (when she was still only 18), along with the company in which she found herself in June of that year - and even the unusual weather conditions at the time - all contributed to the book’s genesis. The vital spark that gave the novel life however was Lord Byron’s suggestion one evening at the Villa Diodati, as candlelight flickered within the house and lightning flashed across the surface of the lake outside, that those present should turn their hands to the writing of ghost stories. It was a casual ploy to while away a few hours in an atmosphere of delicious fear, but it resulted in two iconic tales: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a story of scientific transgression and a cautionary warning about the need to take responsibility for one’s actions; and John Polidori’s The Vampyre, a tale which influenced Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula.”
DeleteI believe the events of Villa Diodati played the most significant role in the stylistic features of Frankenstein, even the unseasonal bad weather may have played a part in the dark and storminess of the novel.
references:
Buzwell, G. (N.D.). Mary Shelley, Frankenstein and the Villa Diodati. Retrieved from:
http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/mary-shelley-frankenstein-and-the-villa-diodati
Though to be honest, researching for what really happened at the Villa Diodati in 1816 was nearly impossible. Though there were many accounts of what MAY have happened, I could not seem to find any scholar reports or reliable sources that had a definite story for what happened. It is possible the exact events died with all those involved.
DeleteQ. 3. How many fictional accounts (film and other narrative media) can you find about that? Provide some useful links, including Youtube clips.
ReplyDeleteBritish horror film ‘Gothic’1986, directed by Ken Russell - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLyP9-6elh0
American film ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ 1935, directed by James Whale. The following link is a prologue to the film, showing Mary Shelley explaining there is more to the Frankenstein story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2yKqa4VSRE
The following link is a trailer to the drama film ‘Haunted Summer’1988, directed by Ivan Passer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG-rJuyfvxM
A short poem by Claire Woodard ‘Summer on the Lake: Villa Diodati, 1816’ - http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114458/summer-lake-villa-diodati-1816-poem-claire-woodard
The Horror/Fantasy Novel ‘The Stress of Her Regard’ 1989. Author Tim Powers incorporates a few scenes set at Villa Diodati and incorporates real-life writers such as Lord Byron - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stress_of_Her_Regard
References:
Classic Cinema Channel. (2014, May 3). Gothic – Classic Creepy horror from 1986 – Full Movie [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLyP9-6elh0
Dan Hassler-Forest. (2010, Feb 11). Bride of Frankenstein – The Prologue [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2yKqa4VSRE
Cannon Films. (2011, Feb 14). Haunted Summer trailer (Cannon Films) [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG-rJuyfvxM
Woodard, C. (2013). Summer on the Lake: Villa Diodati, 1816. Retrieved from http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114458/summer-lake-villa-diodati-1816-poem-claire-woodard
Wikipedia. (n.d). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stress_of_Her_Regard
There are many fictional stories that were written in 1816 at the Villa Diodati, many of which have influenced works that we see today. However, I find there has been a lack of many fictional accounts of what actually happened on that night.
DeleteYou've come up with a good list of these works, Eden.
One particular fictional piece of work depicting what may have happened on the night, that I could find is:
Haunted Summer (1988, Ivan Passer)
YOUTUBE LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQwwVThTuZM
Haunted summer is a recount on Villa Diodati and depicts a night where authors Lord Byron, Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley join together to hang out, but the night soon turns into one of mind games, drugs and sex (IMDB, ND).
Reference:
IMDB. (N.D.). Haunted summer. Retrieved from:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095280/
Youtube, (N.D.). Haunted Summer 1988 movie. Retrieved from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQwwVThTuZM
Hey Gemma and Eden,
ReplyDeleteI like how you guys have factored in weather to the making of these texts and I feel like it is a great point to bring up, I know when I attempt to write, the weather plays a huge factor in how my story plays out. For example if it is a bright and sunny day (if I'm not outside) I'm writing a happy story where as dark weather (that was present on the night at villa Diodati) will definitely influence my writing.
Anyway, that's just my opinion, I will upload my response with references a little later :)
The sublime is often semantically paired with the beautiful, but that is not entirely correct. For some people calling it ‘sublime’ is the same as calling it ‘divine’. Sublime can be used to describe a work that causes amazement, wonder or awe, which have been created by powerful and inspired emotions combined with technical competence. But this is not the only reason something can be called sublime. The sublime could also be that which produces terror. Things that terrify us, like the fear of pain, vastness, obscurity, the powerful and the infinite, could also create the impression of something being sublime. In addition Burke lists other sources of sublimity such as magnitude, unfinishedness, difficulty, magnificence, and color. The sublime can be characterized through its power to effect loss of control over ourselves, in other words the sublime is characterized in terms of the mind, causing us to be astonished. It is therefore safe to argue that the sublime has more than one interpretation. On one side it can reflect the beautiful, wonderful and magnificent, while on the other side it can reflect the dark, terrifying, painful and obscure. Both sides can be equally sublime depending on how much they affect the emotions of the reader or viewer. (Pateman, 2004)
ReplyDeleteIn the concept of the dark side of the sublime there lies a paradox. Our psychology is supposed to seek pleasure and avoid pain, but in the concept of the sublime we are drawn to things that cause us terror and pain. The paradox may be dissolved by arguing that we fin pleasure in imaginary and fictional pain. (Pateman, 2004)
In Shelly’s text ‘Ode to the West Wind’ one can find examples of both versions of the sublime, namely the beautiful and the terrifying. The text starts out on the dark side of the sublime explaining how autumn kills leaves like a ghost, it goes on describing it like this: “Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red, Pestilence-stricken multitudes!” (Shelly, 1947) This phrase uses sources of sublimity that I already mention like the dark, terrifying and obscure. The writer also uses colours as an instrument in the description of the ugliness. The text switches from the dark to beautiful side in this sentence: “Each like a corpse within its grave, until Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow”. (Shelly, 1947) The sentence starts with terror and end in beauty. When writing about the spring the tone is changed to the bright side of the sublime, and he’s again using color as a tool. He continues in this happy mode: “Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth”. (Shelly, 1947) This is more directed towards the magnificent. In the last sentence of the first verse it states: “Destroyer and preserver; hear, O hear!” (Shelly, 1947) This is referring to autumn, the dark side of the sublime, and spring, the bright side of the sublime, in the same sentence. Thereby, combining the two sides of the sublime and showing their different features.
At last I would just present a couple more quotes that I think are good examples of the vastness, the infinite and the powerful of the sublime. Firstly there is: “Shook from the tangled boughs of heaven and ocean” (Shelly, 1947) where heaven must be considered as an infinite concept and there are few places vaster than the ocean. Secondly there is: “Angels of rain and lightning!” (Shelly, 1947) which expresses the power of either god, nature or both depending on your interpretation.
Reference list:
Pateman, T. (2004, 1991) ‘The Sublime’ in Key Concepts: A Guide to Aesthetics, Criticism and the Arts in Education. London: Falmer Press, pp 169 - 171.
Shelley, P.B. (1947). ‘Ode to the West Wind’ in T. Hutchinson (Ed.), The complete poetic Works of Shelley, pp. 550, 577-579.
SUMMER AT THE LAKE
ReplyDeleteLord Byron farewell England in 1816 in order to depart certain sodomy and incest accusations and basically to go after his sexual activities without anxiety or fear of persecution (MacCarthy, 2002). Byron’s mistress in London – Claire Clairmont organized a meeting between Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley and his love Mary Godwin (Who later became Mary Shelley and Clairmont’s step-sister). A 20year old physician named John Polidori was also there to observe Byron’s tuberculosis (Herriman, 2010).
The Villa Diodest alone is by no means modest. It is a three-story house beside Lake Geneva. It also included a reasonable sized guesthouse where Godwin and Shelley stayed. the events that led up to the creation of Frankenstein’s monster and Polidori’s Vampyre have already been mentioned but another interesting incident that occurred on that night, June 18th 1816.
The following part is mostly paraphrased from John Polidori’s 1816 Journal (Rosetti, 1911). Allegedly, there was bad weather, Polidori was misfortunate and sprained his ankle and the pain had been getting worse as time went on. The group decided to stay indoors at Diodati that night, and at around midnight they started sharing ghost stories. Byron took the ghostly stories to another level and read Colridge’s Christabel, which requires parental guidance and contains sexual themes. Polidori realized the poems were explicit and creepy and the atmosphere became so tense that at one point freaked Shelley right out. All of a sudden, while Byron was reading, Shelley placed his hands on his head and shrieked, quickly grabbed a candle then eagerly ran out of the room. When he returned to the group he explained how he had to splash water on his face to calm him, and that glancing at Godwin had led him to react in such a way. His lover’s face had made him remember a tale he had heard about before of a woman who had eyes for nipples. This memory, which had briefly taken hold of his mind, had haunted him to the point of physical discomfort. This situation leads to some compelling questions about Shelley’s state of mind that night. Mostly, which hallucinogenic substances was he taking, and where did he purchase them?
. References
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. Herriman, R. (2010, March 4). Famous people and the infectious deseases they were afflicted with. Examiner. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/article/famous-people-and-the-infectious-diseases-they-were-afflicted-with
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. MacCarthy, F. (7 November 2002). Byron: Life and Legend. John Murray Publishers Ltd.
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. Rosetti, W. M. (1911). The Diary of John William Polidori: 1816, Relating to Byron, Shelley etc. London: Elkin Mathews. (Retrieved from http://knarf.english.upenn.edu/Polidori/poldiary.html)
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