Harry Potter News and Commentary
by Travis
This Week’s Lovecraft Story: The Shunned House
In all the Dumbledore discussion, we’ve gotten a touch off track on Lovecraft! This the last week we’re dedicating specifically to him, and the final story is a good Halloween one: a haunted house story. I’m still working through it, but tonight after class, I will finish it up and write a list of discussion questions.
Previous post: The Dumbledore Dialogue
Next post: Discussion: The Shunned House
Red Rocker on Percy Jackson and Harry Potter
revgeorge on Percy Jackson and Harry PotterRed Rocker on March 20th is World Storytelling Day
Ally on March 20th is World Storytelling Day
PotterMom05 on March 20th is World Storytelling DayRed Rocker on Percy Jackson and Harry Potter
Joivre on Chapter 20: Xenophilius Lovegoodrevgeorge on Chapter 20: Xenophilius LovegoodJoivre on Chapter 20: Xenophilius Lovegood
Arabella Figg on March 20th is World Storytelling Day
Loading ...
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
While waiting for the questions, I looked up the term “carboy”.
From Wikipedia:
‘A carboy or demijohn is a glass or plastic vessel that is often used in fermenting beverages… Carboys come in various volumes ranging from 1 gallon to 6.5 gallons (4 to 25 litres). The term carboy used on its own will generally refer to a 5 gallon carboy, unless otherwise noted. A one gallon carboy is usually called a jug. A 15 gallon carboy is often called a demijohn (in the Philippines, “dama juana”).[ such as wine, mead, and beer.’
I’m guessing he used the demijohns.
The story reminds me of William Hope Hodgson’s Carnacki tale: “The Whistling Room”, which in turn reminds me of the fate of Michael Servetus, but with singing.
HERE BE SPOILERS!
.
.
.
Hmmm … this seems unusual for a lovecraft tale, in that the protagonist is an opponent of evil throughout the story, rather than a convert to it at the end.
It’s also unusual in that it has a slightly more upbeat ending than the other work we have read. It seems more an adventure story than a horror story, since a large part of the fear … for me … in the other stories is the fact that the enemies are immortal and ultimately invincible. Eternal darkness outside a small flicker of a civilized fire, which must one day run out of fuel. Then the darkness sweeps in.
But this one literally ends with birds nesting in the branches of a tree. The evil is totally and completely eradicated, never to return. Unusual for him.
********** More spoilers ********
I thought it was vintage Lovecraft because of the use of one word to express the inexpressible horror: elbow.
But for me, the real horror came in when the uncle was possessed by the demon. There, if you wish, is the “convert” to evil.
It was kind of unusual that the evil was totally eradicated and the apple tree grew some leaves. My thought was that it would take more than six demijohns of sulphuric acid.