Poe and Hawthorne
A. Write a well thought out, but concise essay to answer one of the following prompts. Your essay should be at least two pages.
1. In “Rappaccini’s Daughter” and “The Birth-mark,” Hawthorne seems to be pointing the finger at science. What is he saying about science and how is this illustrated in the stories?
2. Both Poe and Hawthorne focus on the darker side of man’s psyche. Discuss the differences between Poe’s and Hawthorne’s examinations of human psychology. Use examples from the stories you have read to back up your thoughts.
B. How does the work of Poe and Hawthorne illustrate the main tenets of American Gothic-ism?
