During the course of this semester we will be reading a number of "historical" texts in Gothic literature and looking at a variety of interdisciplinary materials that bear on our understanding of "The Gothic." We will not be able to cover everything – nor has it been my intention to do so. But this is not to say that you cannot look "further afield" for evidence of The Gothic in the arts after the historical period with which we usually associate the High Gothic.

To this end, I will ask each of you to read independently from The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales, edited by Chris Baldick and assigned for this course. I would like this independent reading to result in three "products," one of which will be a written one.

Beginning on Thursday, 13 October, I would like you to give me a brief paper in which you discuss any six stories and/or tales from The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales. You may choose any stories you wish, with one condition: at least one of the stories must be from the first section of the book ("Beginnings"). The others may be drawn from any period (and nation or culture) that strikes your fancy. You may give me this paper at any time between 13 October and the beginning of Thanksgiving break (i.e., no later than Tuesday, 22 November). You should probably plan on a paper of about 6 pages.

In the paper, I'd like you to assess the six stories you have chosen in terms of how they reflect, expand upon, differ from, or somehow add to what you understand to be the nature and substance of The Gothic, both in fiction and in the wider culture. Each of you will likely approach this assignment in a different fashion, depending on your own interests and expertise, and I have no "formula" for you, nor do I have any clear expectation about what it is I want you to write. Rather, this is an exercise in creative syncretic thinking on your part. I will be interested in seeing what you make of The Gothic as you have come to understand it, and how you apply that understanding to the examination of six varied stories.

You do not need to treat each story at the same length, nor do I want you simply to summarize plots. Rather, compose an essay that reflects your sense of how the tales you choose connect to your evolving ideas about the nature, scope, and substance of The Gothic.

The other two "products" of this exercise will relate to our class discussions. I would like you to tell one another, at our class meetings, about stories and tales that have particularly caught your interest. That is product number 2, and it consists of informational discussion. Product number 3 is directly related, and it also feeds into classroom discussion: I'd like you to be ready to offer your classmates a brief oral synopsis of one or more of the stories that interested you, briefly tracing the plot and explaining what aspects of the story particularly intrigued you, and why.

I will ask you to begin contributing to the discussion as soon as you have begun to read and think about these stories; you do not need to wait until 13 October, since much of what you will read will be immediately relevant.