Your second essay in this course should develop either from your first piece, exploring how your cultural connections or theme develop during the course of the next century (using one work as exemplary), or should explore a new topic by thinking about how 19th-Century Gothic is markedly different from gothic roots texts.  Again, as with any literary essay, the strength of your piece will rely not upon the cleverness of your cultural insights but rather upon the detail and specificity of your readings themselves.  Start wtih the text -- always! -- and then let the other things help you comment upon the text.

As always, I'm happy to discuss topics, or review topic paragraphs, as you're working your way into this piece.