At Christmastime in Victorian England, families would gather around the fire, telling spooky stories to pass the cold, dark winter nights. Students in Dr. Laura Kremmel’s “Terror and Horror: The Gothic Tradition” class recreated this tradition by reading their own terrifying tales on Dec. 4 in the Gallagher Center’s Multipurpose Room amid the sights and sounds of a roaring fire.
English education major Marten Linnan’s story of a holiday party in a house that holds dark secrets was inspired by “The Haunting of Hill House.” The Lancaster, N.Y., senior said he thought it was fun to write a Victorian story with a modern-day setting.
Raelyn Stranc’s story, “Why the Grinch Stole Christmas,” was a retelling of the classic Christmas tale involving a haunted cave at the top of Mount Crumpit and its effect on the Grinch. Stranc, also an English education major from Lancaster, explained that she wanted to put a twist on a familiar holiday story by incorporating Gothic literature elements.
Both students noted that the theme of isolation that they read in the 1872 novella “Carmilla,” a vampire story by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu, was incorporated into their stories.
Niagara Falls native Vincenzo Velasco presented his story, “Rooted In, Branching Out,” as a YouTube video. As the snow fell on branches in a hazy, gray winter backdrop, the English major told the story of a village whose residents had a peculiar reason for decorating, and naming, the evergreen trees there. Velasco, who will graduate in May 2025, said that toxicity in family traditions and how difficult it can be to get together over the holidays gave him the idea for his story.
In the story written by Allie Everett, an education senior from Buffalo, N.Y., a journalist reunites the spirits of a mother and her two daughters. The happy ending was intentional, she said.
“I was trying to do more with the Christmas spirit, because things are typically more joyous around this time,” she said.
Alaina Buckenroth’s tale about a mysterious little girl at a Thanksgiving party and a story about a strange visitor at a soup kitchen by Owen Timian were also presented during the session.
To prepare for the assignment, the students read ghost stories such as “The Old Nurse’s Story” by Elizabeth Gaskell, “The Signalman,” by Charles Dickens, and “The Landlady,” by Roald Dahl, to learn more about the literary devices they used and the historical context in which they were written.
Dr. Kremmel noted that Gothic stories are important for a number of reasons, including allowing readers to explore the anxieties of their times in a way that builds resiliency, and giving voice to marginalized populations. They also offer a different way of learning about a specific time period. Despite the death and darkness these stories typically feature, they can also include humor. Perhaps most importantly, throughout the years, they have encouraged people to read for entertainment.
“I never underestimate the value of teaching students to enjoy reading, because then they’re going to read forever,” she said.