Calling all English people...

ravenray

I am writing an essay for a scholarship.  I am trying to do some research on staircase motifs in literature....  I can't find anything, which really surprises me.   I was wondering if you awesome girls knew of anything I could use.  Databases or any old stuff you have? I am writing about Dickens and the 19th century so anything in that era is the best.  If not, oh well I will just have to write a paper with no evidence. Thanks!

Blue & White

This is not going to be any (good) help, but the only staircase I can think of is the one in Sound of Music (the movie).  Or maybe in Cinderella?  Cause she lives in the attic.

This is why I'm not an English major.

Good luck with the scholarship!!

imJacksPGbelly

I just googled a few different things.. when I googled "Stair symbolism in literature" the first hit was something to do with Masonic symbolism and jacob's ladder.  Might be a place to start.

Anyway, Try searching different things.  I think that what you're looking for is the use of "running bits" where stairs would run as a subtle theme.. almost a kind of foreshadowing to thematic elements in stories.. unfortunately "running bit" is not a frequently searched term on google, and I'm having a hard time pulling up hits with that.  Stair symbolism in literature will be a good starting spot for searching.  Good luck.  Sometimes it's all about knowing what terms to search, so just try different things and follow where your search leads. 

I'll keep browsing and let you know if you I find anything else.  That is interesting that there's so little to be found.  Nice job picking something obscure.    hehe

SeaTea02

I can't think of anything specifically, but what about Jane Austin? I did a paper on her in high school and my library had all kinds of books about very small small parts of her literature and for some reason stair cases are sticking out in my memory as a theme or symbol in her work. 

desertsun

Call or email your school library? This is what librarians are for!

ravenray

Desert- sadly it is spring break so no Librarian around. 

Liv-  Thank you!  Funny thing is your second link is what I am writing about, Dickens’ novel Hard Times!  I will be able to use this!  You guys rock!