The Haunted Room by Madison Cawein

Name: The Haunted Room
Author: Madison Cawein

The narrative unfolds in a desolate, cold setting, characterized by an old, Elizabethan mansion that exudes an eerie atmosphere. The imagery evokes a sense of decay and abandonment, with snow covering the grounds and the wind howling through the structure. The mansion's interior is described with haunting details, including dusty furnishings and a mirror that seems to hold secrets of the past. The protagonist experiences a spectral encounter with a ghostly figure, a woman adorned in green taffeta, whose beauty is juxtaposed with an unsettling presence. She appears before an ancient mirror, expressing sorrow, and vanishes as suddenly as she appears, leaving the protagonist in a state of shock and dread. This encounter is marked by a sense of loss and the haunting nature of memory, as the protagonist reflects on the chilling experience. The poem captures themes of isolation, the passage of time, and the lingering presence of the past. The protagonist's resolve to never return to the haunted room underscores the profound impact of the spectral encounter, suggesting that some experiences are too unsettling to revisit. The work blends elements of gothic literature with a poignant exploration of beauty and melancholy, leaving a lasting impression of the interplay between the living and the spectral.

By Madison Cawein · First published 1908 · Genre: Gothic, Poetry, Romanticism · 754 words

First lines

Its casements' diamond disks of glass Stare myriad on a terrace old, Where urns, unkempt with ragged grass, Foam o'er with frothy cold. The snow rounds o'er each stair of stone; The frozen fount is hooped with pearl; Down desolate walks, like phantoms lone, Thin, powd'ry snow-wreaths whirl.

And to each rose-tree's stem that bends With silver snow-combs, glued with frost, It seems each summer rosebud sends Its airy, scentless ghost. The stiff Elizabethan pile Chatters with cold thro' all its panes, And rumbling down each chimney file The mad wind shakes his reins.

What this Textopian page supports

The Haunted Room is listed on Textopian as a short story by Madison Cawein, dated 1908 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Madison Cawein
Date: 1908 CE
Language: English
Genres: Gothic, Poetry, Romanticism, Horror, Literary Fiction
Length: 754 words
Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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How does this short story by Madison Cawein fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Gothic first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Gothic — The poem features elements typical of Gothic literature, including a haunted setting, supernatural themes, and a focus on the eerie and macabre.
Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices such as imagery, meter, and rhyme.
Romanticism — The poem reflects Romantic themes such as the exploration of emotion, nature, and the supernatural.
Horror — The unsettling atmosphere and ghostly imagery evoke feelings of fear and dread.