The Call of Cthulhu

In your opinion, did Cthulhu Cult members kill Angell and Johansen? If so, what evidence can you find in the text? If not, what is an alternative explanation?

From the descriptions in the text, draw the city of R’lyeh. Can you produce a coherent picture? Why is the city’s geometry important?

From the descriptions in the text, draw Cthulhu. Compare drawings with your classmates. Is it possible to understand the descriptions in more than one way?

Analyze the theme of “queerness” in the narrative as it relates to horror and otherness. Cite examples from the text.

How does Lovecraft use the conventions of gothic horror in the narrative? Cite three literary techniques of the genre and discuss their application in the text.

Is Thurston a reliable narrator? Provide textual evidence for your response.

Lovecraft’s writing is full of colorful descriptions that employ sensory detail. In most cases, the details are meant to invoke revulsion and disgust. Cite a passage, and discuss how Lovecraft’s word choice, rhythm, and syntax contribute to the story’s horror aesthetic.

Critics differ on the extent to which race and racism are central features in Lovecraft’s work. Based on your reading, how important are racial themes in the story? Could the story be told without reference to any racial or cultural categories?