Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

The Cask of AmantilladoThe Cask of Amantillado

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe

b. Boston, Mass., 1810

·mom died 1811, taken in by John Allan·some schooling in Britain, U. of Virginia·gambling debts = disowned by Allan

·1827 join army, used common name·published privately while in army·1836 marry 13 yr old cousin·1842 burst blood vessel, invalid·1847 die TB·

Poe turn to alcohol, drugs, affairs

National fame 1845, The Raven

Suicide attempts 1845, depression, madness·Died 1849—Drink or Rabies?

The Perfect Murder: SettingThe Perfect Murder: Setting

The setting: Italy, 16The setting: Italy, 16ththC -18C -18tthC. hC.

Direct Descriptions: the specific house in Direct Descriptions: the specific house in which the action occurs, the season, the which the action occurs, the season, the time of day, & the exact time span the plot time of day, & the exact time span the plot coverscovers

created a mood that is appropriate for the created a mood that is appropriate for the actionaction

Thinking About SettingThinking About Setting

Consider: Consider:

What effect is crated by these chambers of What effect is crated by these chambers of darkness? darkness?

What specific details increase the horror? What specific details increase the horror?

Consider what would have happened to Consider what would have happened to the story and the characters if he setting the story and the characters if he setting was different.was different.

The Perfect Murder: Location, The Perfect Murder: Location, Location, LocationLocation, LocationThe Catacombs of Venice

underground burial chambers used by the 1st and 2nd century Christian and Jewish

communities (mostly at Rome)

Catacomb ConstructionCatacomb Construction like a maze of many, many like a maze of many, many

milesmiles walls had cut rows of walls had cut rows of

rectangular niches, “loculi,” rectangular niches, “loculi,” (designed to contain 1 body, (designed to contain 1 body, often held remains of more.)often held remains of more.)

burials were extremely poor burials were extremely poor and simpleand simple

corpses (imitating Christ) corpses (imitating Christ) wrapped in a sheet or wrapped in a sheet or shroud, placed in loculi shroud, placed in loculi without coffinwithout coffin

loculi closed with slab of marble or tiles loculi closed with slab of marble or tiles tombstone=engraved name of deceased & Xtian tombstone=engraved name of deceased & Xtian symbols symbols structure of tombs (rows one upon another at structure of tombs (rows one upon another at different levels) gave idea of vast dormitory, called different levels) gave idea of vast dormitory, called cemetery, a Greek term meaning “resting placecemetery, a Greek term meaning “resting place.” .”

Catacomb LawsCatacomb Laws

Christian catacombs, Christian catacombs, range from 2range from 2nd nd C to 5C to 5thth CC

Roman law= forbids Roman law= forbids burial of dead within burial of dead within city wallscity walls

all catacombs = all catacombs = outside the city outside the city

History of the CatacombsHistory of the Catacombs 11stst C Rome’s Xtians no have C Rome’s Xtians no have

own cemeteriesown cemeteries

if owned land, buried relatives if owned land, buried relatives therethere

everyone else they use everyone else they use common public cemeteries common public cemeteries ie “necropolis” (“city of the ie “necropolis” (“city of the dead”) dead”)

land = $, above ground tombs land = $, above ground tombs = lots of space, Xtians = poor= lots of space, Xtians = poor

solution = underground tombs: solution = underground tombs: economical, safe and practical; economical, safe and practical; cheaper to dig underground cheaper to dig underground corridors & galleries than buy corridors & galleries than buy large pieces of landlarge pieces of land

Alternatives Uses…Alternatives Uses… used as hiding/worship used as hiding/worship

places during Xtian places during Xtian persecutionspersecutions

abandoned when abandoned when barbarians invade Italy 5barbarians invade Italy 5thth C -6C -6thth C C

religious artifacts removed religious artifacts removed from churches/catacombsfrom churches/catacombs

targets of raids & pillagingtargets of raids & pillaging

Catacombs “Discovered”Catacombs “Discovered” in time, landslides and in time, landslides and

vegetation obstructed and vegetation obstructed and hide the entranceshide the entrances

late middle ages late middle ages (1400s+), entrances (1400s+), entrances forgottenforgotten

Antonio Bosio (1575-Antonio Bosio (1575-1629), “Columbus of 1629), “Columbus of subterranean Rome.” subterranean Rome.”

Giovanni Battista de Rossi Giovanni Battista de Rossi (1822-1894), considered (1822-1894), considered father/founder of Xtian father/founder of Xtian ArchaeologyArchaeology

Venetian Carnival…The Venetian Carnival…The BeginningBeginning

Developed/changed over centuries Developed/changed over centuries some the first relates to a victory of the Venetians won in some the first relates to a victory of the Venetians won in

1162 1162 celebration = lots of dancing, street performing, and celebration = lots of dancing, street performing, and

celebratingcelebrating

Religious CarnvivalReligious Carnvival13th C more religious tones 13th C more religious tones December 26 to the day before Ash December 26 to the day before Ash Wednesday, or Fat Tuesday, (beginning of Lent)Wednesday, or Fat Tuesday, (beginning of Lent)time of extraordinary freedom—moral, social, time of extraordinary freedom—moral, social, romantic, religious—to be enjoyed before the romantic, religious—to be enjoyed before the restrictive season of Lent. restrictive season of Lent. peak = Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras peak = Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras end = the burning of King Carnival end = the burning of King Carnival (representing sin) effigy— represents the (representing sin) effigy— represents the cleansing of the post-celebration soul in cleansing of the post-celebration soul in preparation for Lentpreparation for Lent

Carnival CostumesCarnival Costumes most popular 16most popular 16thth C - 18 C - 18thth

C C masks always a traditionmasks always a tradition

—now much more —now much more extravagant, w/ extravagant, w/ costumes and costumes and decorationsdecorations

masks depict famous masks depict famous characters from local characters from local historyhistory

masks allowed wearers masks allowed wearers freedom to “enjoy the freedom to “enjoy the celebration.”—to be celebration.”—to be anonymous anonymous

Carnival…The RebirthCarnival…The Rebirth

slowly dying off 19slowly dying off 19thth C & 20 C & 20thth C –no longer C –no longer celebrated after World War IIcelebrated after World War II

revived 1980—become cultural icon worldwiderevived 1980—become cultural icon worldwide

Carnival Around the WorldCarnival Around the World variations also occur in Rio de Janiero, & New variations also occur in Rio de Janiero, & New

Orleans, LAOrleans, LA religious concepts are the samereligious concepts are the same styles & celebrations distinct from one anotherstyles & celebrations distinct from one another

Mardi Gras: New Orleans, LAMardi Gras: New Orleans, LA

Traditional Medieval Traditional Medieval CostumesCostumes

1616thth C & 17 C & 17thth C Costumes C Costumes

1616thth C & 17 C & 17thth C Costumes C Costumes

Traditions Continue…Traditions Continue…

New TraditionsNew Traditions