The following collection of writing ideas are from a LATE/NWP writing workshop at the British Library, 9 October 2014. The workshop was part of a conference for teachers exploring the British Library's exhibition, 'Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination', 3 October - 20 January 2015.
3. Gothic investigation
a) Read and discuss extracts from
http://io9.com/5826220/over-700-weird-twisting-passages-discovered-underground-in-bavaria
http://www.sott.net/article/232403-Germany-Bavaria-Experts-Baffled-by-Mysterious-Underground-Chambers
Churchyards and private farmlands throughout the German state of Bavaria are perforated from below by "more than 700 curious tunnel networks" whose "purpose remains a mystery."
As Der Spiegel reports (30.7.2011), "The tunnel entrances are sometimes located in the kitchens of old farmhouses, near churches and cemeteries or in the middle of a forest. The atmosphere inside is dark and oppressive, much as it would be inside an animal den."
Although the subterranean networks are considered an "extremely unusual ancient phenomenon," other "small underground labyrinths have been found across Europe, from Hungary to Spain, but no one knows why they were built."
At least 700 of these chambers have been found in Bavaria alone, along with about 500 in Austria. In the local vernacular, they have fanciful names such as "Schrazelloch" ("goblin hole") or "Alraunenhöhle" ("mandrake cave"). They were supposedly built by elves, and legend has it that gnomes lived inside. According to some sagas, they were parts of long escape tunnels from castles.
In reality, the tunnels are often only 20 to 50 meters long. The larger passageways are big enough so that people can walk through them in a hunched position, but some tunnels are so small that explorers have to get down on all fours. The tiniest passageways, known as "Schlupfe" ("slips"), are barely 40 centimeters (16 inches) in diameter.
The ground beneath the southern German state of Bavaria is literally perforated with these underground mazes -- and no one knows why. ...
Many galleries are connected to the sites of former settlements. The tunnel entrances are sometimes located in the kitchens of old farmhouses, near churches and cemeteries or in the middle of a forest. The atmosphere inside is dark and oppressive, much as it would be inside an animal den.
© Ben Behnke/ Der Spiegel
There is an Erdstall tunnel complex under the 13th century fortified church of St Jacob the Elder, in Kleinzwettl, Austria. Around the church is a cemetery, which is bounded by a medieval ring wall. At the eastern end of the wall there is a gate tower (17th century.) Inside the church is a Gothic Betbänke, a tabernacle made of granite with a Gothic iron door and a Gothic figure of Mary (the late 15th century.).
Wasmeier, a farmer landowner, once took a group of female healers down into his cave. The women slid headlong through the tunnel, in complete darkness, as if passing through a birth canal.
The farmer sometimes feels a sense of reverence when he goes into his tunnel. "You feel like a Hopi Indian inside," he says. "They too used to sit in caves in the hope of finding answers."
Perhaps the tunnels were also prisons for demons, evil dwarves and the undead. Some galleries contain traces of building stones and remnants of doors or locks. A sandstone relief was found in an Erdstall at Bösenreutin near the town of Lindau on Lake Constance. It depicts a goblin with a tail attached to its rump.
For now, the mystery must remain unsolved. "We could use the help of physicists with radiocarbon dating expertise, theologists and specialists in prehistoric mining," says Ahlborn. Not a single doctoral thesis has been written on the subject to date. The dark tunnels are still virtually unknown among academics.
This doesn't trouble farmer Josef Wasmeier. He loves his Erdstall, particularly because of its mysterious aura. Sometimes he crawls into his sandy private cave for half an hour in the evening and meditates. It's "completely quiet" inside, he says, dark and distant like a womb.
"And when I climb back up again, the stars seem so bright you feel you could almost touch them."
LATE/ British Library/NWP writing workshop: Subterranean Passages. Simon Wrigley 09.10.2014
b) Now ask writers to get ready in role to be investigators of the Erdstall tunnels, and to note down quick reactions to the following prompts (select from prompts or keep this noting stage to no more than 5-10 minutes):
1. You are a fearless investigator of things supernatural. Indicate one area of experience/expertise.
The priest of St Jacob’s, father Heinrich, asks you to come and spend a night in the Erdstall tunnels.
2. He tells you that there have been unexplained sightings/sounds/occurrences. What are they?
3. Before you set off you decide to take something with you. What?
4. On your journey something odd happens. What is it?
5. As you approach the fortified church what do you notice on the outside?
6. Where is father Heinrich when he greets you, and what is peculiar about him?
7. You descend into the tunnel – what sounds do you hear? Where are they coming from?
8. You come to a place where the tunnel divides. The wider passage to the left leads downwards, the narrower to the right leads upwards. Which do you take?
9. You arrive at an old wooden door. Something is carved on it – what does it remind you of?
10. How do you open the door? And what do you find beyond the door?
11. When you return to the surface the next morning, what finding do you bring with you?
12. You notice that something has changed – what is it?
13. Later, you sleep and dream. What do you dream about? What is the colour of your dream?
Here are the headlines of the prompts:
Gothic investigation 13 prompts:
1 Your experience
2 Unexplained sightings
3 What you take with you
4 Something odd on your journey
5 Outside the church
6 The priest’s peculiarity
7 Sounds in the tunnel
8 The turning in the tunnel
9 The carving on the door
10 Opening the door
11 What you bring back
12 Something that’s altered
13 Your dream
c) Writers should choose any aspect of their notes to develop into a narrative of their choice (10-20 minutes)
d) ... and share, respond and discuss
http://io9.com/5826220/over-700-weird-twisting-passages-discovered-underground-in-bavaria
http://www.sott.net/article/232403-Germany-Bavaria-Experts-Baffled-by-Mysterious-Underground-Chambers
Churchyards and private farmlands throughout the German state of Bavaria are perforated from below by "more than 700 curious tunnel networks" whose "purpose remains a mystery."
As Der Spiegel reports (30.7.2011), "The tunnel entrances are sometimes located in the kitchens of old farmhouses, near churches and cemeteries or in the middle of a forest. The atmosphere inside is dark and oppressive, much as it would be inside an animal den."
Although the subterranean networks are considered an "extremely unusual ancient phenomenon," other "small underground labyrinths have been found across Europe, from Hungary to Spain, but no one knows why they were built."
At least 700 of these chambers have been found in Bavaria alone, along with about 500 in Austria. In the local vernacular, they have fanciful names such as "Schrazelloch" ("goblin hole") or "Alraunenhöhle" ("mandrake cave"). They were supposedly built by elves, and legend has it that gnomes lived inside. According to some sagas, they were parts of long escape tunnels from castles.
In reality, the tunnels are often only 20 to 50 meters long. The larger passageways are big enough so that people can walk through them in a hunched position, but some tunnels are so small that explorers have to get down on all fours. The tiniest passageways, known as "Schlupfe" ("slips"), are barely 40 centimeters (16 inches) in diameter.
The ground beneath the southern German state of Bavaria is literally perforated with these underground mazes -- and no one knows why. ...
Many galleries are connected to the sites of former settlements. The tunnel entrances are sometimes located in the kitchens of old farmhouses, near churches and cemeteries or in the middle of a forest. The atmosphere inside is dark and oppressive, much as it would be inside an animal den.
© Ben Behnke/ Der Spiegel
There is an Erdstall tunnel complex under the 13th century fortified church of St Jacob the Elder, in Kleinzwettl, Austria. Around the church is a cemetery, which is bounded by a medieval ring wall. At the eastern end of the wall there is a gate tower (17th century.) Inside the church is a Gothic Betbänke, a tabernacle made of granite with a Gothic iron door and a Gothic figure of Mary (the late 15th century.).
Wasmeier, a farmer landowner, once took a group of female healers down into his cave. The women slid headlong through the tunnel, in complete darkness, as if passing through a birth canal.
The farmer sometimes feels a sense of reverence when he goes into his tunnel. "You feel like a Hopi Indian inside," he says. "They too used to sit in caves in the hope of finding answers."
Perhaps the tunnels were also prisons for demons, evil dwarves and the undead. Some galleries contain traces of building stones and remnants of doors or locks. A sandstone relief was found in an Erdstall at Bösenreutin near the town of Lindau on Lake Constance. It depicts a goblin with a tail attached to its rump.
For now, the mystery must remain unsolved. "We could use the help of physicists with radiocarbon dating expertise, theologists and specialists in prehistoric mining," says Ahlborn. Not a single doctoral thesis has been written on the subject to date. The dark tunnels are still virtually unknown among academics.
This doesn't trouble farmer Josef Wasmeier. He loves his Erdstall, particularly because of its mysterious aura. Sometimes he crawls into his sandy private cave for half an hour in the evening and meditates. It's "completely quiet" inside, he says, dark and distant like a womb.
"And when I climb back up again, the stars seem so bright you feel you could almost touch them."
LATE/ British Library/NWP writing workshop: Subterranean Passages. Simon Wrigley 09.10.2014
b) Now ask writers to get ready in role to be investigators of the Erdstall tunnels, and to note down quick reactions to the following prompts (select from prompts or keep this noting stage to no more than 5-10 minutes):
1. You are a fearless investigator of things supernatural. Indicate one area of experience/expertise.
The priest of St Jacob’s, father Heinrich, asks you to come and spend a night in the Erdstall tunnels.
2. He tells you that there have been unexplained sightings/sounds/occurrences. What are they?
3. Before you set off you decide to take something with you. What?
4. On your journey something odd happens. What is it?
5. As you approach the fortified church what do you notice on the outside?
6. Where is father Heinrich when he greets you, and what is peculiar about him?
7. You descend into the tunnel – what sounds do you hear? Where are they coming from?
8. You come to a place where the tunnel divides. The wider passage to the left leads downwards, the narrower to the right leads upwards. Which do you take?
9. You arrive at an old wooden door. Something is carved on it – what does it remind you of?
10. How do you open the door? And what do you find beyond the door?
11. When you return to the surface the next morning, what finding do you bring with you?
12. You notice that something has changed – what is it?
13. Later, you sleep and dream. What do you dream about? What is the colour of your dream?
Here are the headlines of the prompts:
Gothic investigation 13 prompts:
1 Your experience
2 Unexplained sightings
3 What you take with you
4 Something odd on your journey
5 Outside the church
6 The priest’s peculiarity
7 Sounds in the tunnel
8 The turning in the tunnel
9 The carving on the door
10 Opening the door
11 What you bring back
12 Something that’s altered
13 Your dream
c) Writers should choose any aspect of their notes to develop into a narrative of their choice (10-20 minutes)
d) ... and share, respond and discuss