The 'Erl-King' is the most innovative and experimental of the narrative?
The Gothic tale of the 'Erl-king' is innovative and experimental as it uses the normal sweet, innocent woman, in a very masculine way 'his hair falls over my knee' and the dark, brooding, nature loving man in a very feminine way ' he is an excellent housewife' this shows the Gothic element of blurring of the genders. Which is the first time it appears in this collection of texts, making it very experimental and innovative as when the text was written these idea's were not talked about so this text was seen as new and experimental.
Liz, you identify the innovative presentation of the female but could you not also consider the structure of the narrative itself? Look again at the switching narrative perspectives (try and link to the reference to Chinese boxes).
ReplyDeleteI would dispute that female roles are challenged for the first time here as we do have the Mother in TBC who rescues her daughter from the Marquis. Additionally Carter was writing at a time of second wave feminism so many of her ideas were being explored by others. What you may wish to discuss is the 'form' (i.e. gothic, fairy tale, magical realism) is innovative.