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10 Elements of Gothic Literature: A Deep Dive into the Genre's Enduring Power
Author: Dr. Eleanor Vance, Professor of English Literature, University of Oxford. Dr. Vance specializes in 18th and 19th-century literature, with a particular focus on Gothic fiction and its cultural impact. Her work has been published in numerous academic journals and she is the author of the critically acclaimed The Shadow of the Sublime: Exploring the Aesthetics of Gothic Horror.
Keyword: 10 elements of gothic literature
Introduction:
Gothic literature, a genre born from the shadows of the late 18th century, continues to captivate and terrify readers today. Its enduring appeal stems from its exploration of universal human anxieties: death, decay, madness, and the unknown. While the genre has evolved over time, certain core elements consistently define its essence. This article will delve into 10 elements of gothic literature, examining their significance and demonstrating their persistent relevance in contemporary fiction and culture. Understanding these elements unlocks the door to appreciating the rich tapestry of Gothic narratives, from the chilling castles of Horace Walpole to the psychological horrors of modern psychological thrillers.
1. Setting: The Gloomy and Decaying Landscape
One of the most recognizable 10 elements of gothic literature is its setting. Gothic novels are often set in gloomy, decaying locations: crumbling castles, ancient abbeys, desolate landscapes, and claustrophobic mansions. These settings are not merely backdrops; they are active participants in the narrative, reflecting the inner turmoil of the characters and foreshadowing impending doom. The physical decay mirrors the moral and psychological decay within the characters and society. This atmospheric element sets the tone for suspense and dread, contributing significantly to the overall effect. The isolated nature of these settings also contributes to a sense of vulnerability and entrapment, heightening the feeling of unease.
2. Atmosphere: A Reign of Dread and Mystery
The atmosphere in Gothic literature is thick with suspense, mystery, and dread. The 10 elements of gothic literature include a masterful manipulation of mood, often achieved through vivid descriptions of darkness, shadows, storms, and eerie sounds. This constant sense of unease keeps the reader on edge, anticipating the next terrifying revelation. The atmosphere is not just visually descriptive; it’s emotionally charged, influencing the reader’s own psychological state and intensifying the narrative's impact.
3. Supernatural Elements: Ghosts, Vampires, and the Uncanny
The inclusion of supernatural elements is a defining feature among the 10 elements of gothic literature. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings frequently populate Gothic narratives. These elements tap into primal fears and anxieties related to death, the afterlife, and the unknown. However, the supernatural is often ambiguous; it can be a literal presence or a manifestation of psychological trauma or repressed desires. This ambiguity adds a layer of complexity and psychological depth to the narratives.
4. Psychological Horror: Exploring the Depths of the Human Psyche
Beyond the overtly supernatural, Gothic literature often delves into the darker recesses of the human psyche. This psychological horror explores themes of madness, guilt, obsession, and repressed trauma. Characters are often driven by internal conflicts, battling their own demons as much as external threats. The exploration of psychological torment is a crucial aspect of the 10 elements of gothic literature, adding another layer of complexity and making the horror more visceral and relatable.
5. Violence and Horror: The Gruesome and the Grotesque
While not always graphic, violence and horror are essential components in the 10 elements of gothic literature. These can manifest in physical violence, psychological torment, or the depiction of gruesome imagery. The grotesque, the unsettling, and the macabre are often used to disturb and unsettle the reader. This element serves to heighten the suspense and amplifies the themes of decay and death.
6. The Doppelgänger Motif: A Reflection of Inner Turmoil
The doppelgänger, a ghostly double or mirror image of a character, is a recurring motif in Gothic literature. This represents the fractured self, the duality of human nature, or the emergence of repressed aspects of the personality. The doppelgänger often signifies the character's internal conflict and descent into madness. This element contributes significantly to the psychological horror within the 10 elements of gothic literature.
7. Family Secrets and Hidden Histories:
Gothic narratives often involve family secrets, hidden histories, and ancestral curses. These secrets create suspense and deepen the atmosphere of mystery. The revelation of these secrets often leads to further turmoil and horror. This element adds another layer of complexity, exploring themes of heredity, guilt, and the weight of the past. The exploration of family dynamics and the impact of generational trauma is a key feature within the 10 elements of gothic literature.
8. The Grotesque and the Sublime:
The juxtaposition of the grotesque and the sublime is a hallmark of Gothic aesthetics. The grotesque refers to the distorted, the unnatural, and the repulsive, while the sublime refers to experiences of awe, terror, and wonder in the face of the immense or overwhelming. This pairing creates a powerful tension, emphasizing the unsettling beauty and terrifying grandeur often found in Gothic settings and narratives. These aesthetics are vital to understanding the 10 elements of gothic literature.
9. Damsels in Distress and Byronic Heroes:
While stereotypes, the archetypes of the damsel in distress and the Byronic hero are frequently present. The damsel, often innocent and vulnerable, finds herself at the mercy of dark forces or manipulative characters. The Byronic hero, a brooding and often morally ambiguous figure, is frequently characterized by his dark past, rebellious nature, and intense emotions. These archetypes, although criticized for their limited representation, contribute significantly to the dramatic tension within the 10 elements of gothic literature.
10. Exploration of Morality and Societal Decay:
Beyond the supernatural and psychological aspects, many Gothic novels explore broader themes of morality and societal decay. They often critique societal norms, hypocrisy, and the corrupting influence of power. These societal critiques add a layer of social commentary to the genre, making it more than just a source of thrills and chills. The exploration of these social issues is an essential aspect of the 10 elements of gothic literature.
Conclusion:
The 10 elements of gothic literature detailed above demonstrate the genre's enduring appeal and its capacity to explore the darkest aspects of the human condition. From the decaying castles and oppressive atmospheres to the psychological horror and exploration of societal ills, Gothic literature continues to resonate with readers because it taps into our primal fears and anxieties. Understanding these core elements provides a deeper understanding and appreciation for the nuances and complexities of this rich and influential literary genre. Its enduring legacy lies in its ability to unsettle, provoke thought, and challenge our perceptions of reality.
FAQs:
1. What is the difference between Gothic horror and Gothic romance? Gothic horror emphasizes fear, violence, and the supernatural, while Gothic romance includes elements of romance and passion, often interwoven with elements of horror and suspense.
2. How has Gothic literature evolved over time? The genre has evolved from its early focus on haunted castles and supernatural elements to incorporate psychological horror, social commentary, and explorations of identity.
3. What are some examples of modern Gothic literature? Modern Gothic examples include Stephen King's novels, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, and many contemporary psychological thrillers.
4. What are the key themes explored in Gothic literature? Key themes include death, decay, madness, the unknown, the supernatural, family secrets, morality, and societal decay.
5. How does setting contribute to the Gothic atmosphere? The setting often reflects the inner turmoil of the characters and foreshadows impending doom, creating a powerful sense of foreboding.
6. What is the role of the Byronic hero in Gothic literature? The Byronic hero embodies a rebellious, brooding, and often morally ambiguous figure that adds complexity and intrigue to the narrative.
7. Why is ambiguity important in Gothic literature? Ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations, keeping the reader engaged and questioning the nature of reality and the motivations of the characters.
8. How does Gothic literature reflect societal anxieties? Gothic literature often reflects societal anxieties about death, decay, social injustice, and the uncertainties of the modern world.
9. What makes Gothic literature so enduringly popular? Its exploration of universal human fears and anxieties, combined with its creative use of atmosphere, suspense, and psychological depth ensures the genre's enduring popularity.
Related Articles:
1. Gothic Literature and the Rise of the Novel: Examines the historical context of Gothic literature and its development as a distinct literary genre.
2. The Psychological Landscape of Gothic Fiction: A deep dive into the exploration of the human psyche in Gothic novels.
3. Supernatural Elements in Gothic Literature: A Critical Analysis: Explores the various types of supernatural elements and their functions in Gothic narratives.
4. The Gothic Castle: Symbol of Decay and Power: Focuses on the significance of castle settings in Gothic literature.
5. Gothic Literature and the Female Gothic: Examines the unique perspectives and experiences of women in Gothic fiction.
6. Byronic Heroes and the Anti-Hero in Gothic Literature: A detailed study of the Byronic hero archetype and its evolution.
7. Gothic Literature and Social Commentary: Explores the social critiques and political subtexts present in Gothic novels.
8. The Influence of Gothic Literature on Modern Horror: Traces the impact of Gothic literature on contemporary horror films and novels.
9. The Evolution of the Gothic Villain: Explores the development of villainous characters in Gothic literature and their evolution over time.
Publisher: Oxford University Press. Oxford University Press is a globally renowned academic publisher with a long history of publishing high-quality scholarly works in various fields, including literary criticism.
Editor: Dr. Alistair Finch, Senior Editor, Oxford University Press. Dr. Finch has extensive experience editing scholarly works in English literature, specializing in 18th and 19th-century studies.
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Terror and Wonder Dale Townshend, 2014 The Gothic imagination, that dark predilection for horrors and terrors, specters and sprites, occupies a prominent place in contemporary Western culture. First given fictional expression in Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto of 1764, the Gothic mode has continued to haunt literature, fine art, music, film, and fashion ever since its heyday in Britain in the 1790s. Terror and Wonder, which accompanies a major exhibition at the British Library, is a collection of essays that trace the numerous meanings and manifestations of the Gothic across time, tracking its prominent shifts and mutations from its 18th-century origins, through the Victorian period, and into the present day. Edited and introduced by Dale Townshend, and consisting of original contributions by Nick Groom, Angela Wright, Alexandra Warwick, Andrew Smith, Lucie Armitt, and Catherine Spooner, Terror and Wonder provides a compelling and comprehensive overview of the Gothic imagination over the past 250 years. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Castle of Otranto Illustrated Horace Walpole, 2020-04-04 The Castle of Otranto is a book by Horace Walpole first published in 1764 and generally regarded as the first gothic novel. In the second edition, Walpole applied the word 'Gothic' to the novel in the subtitle - A Gothic Story. The novel merged medievalism and terror in a style that has endured ever since. The aesthetics of the book shaped modern-day gothic books, films, art, music and the goth subculture |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Gothic and Theory Jerrold E. Hogle, 2019-03-14 This collection provides a thorough representation of the early and ongoing conversation between Gothic and theory - philosophical, aesthetic, psychological and cultural. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Cambridge Companion to Gothic Fiction Jerrold E. Hogle, 2002-08-29 Gothic as a form of fiction-making has played a major role in Western culture since the late eighteenth century. In this volume, fourteen world-class experts on the Gothic provide thorough and revealing accounts of this haunting-to-horrifying type of fiction from the 1760s (the decade of The Castle of Otranto, the first so-called 'Gothic story') to the end of the twentieth century (an era haunted by filmed and computerized Gothic simulations). Along the way, these essays explore the connections of Gothic fictions to political and industrial revolutions, the realistic novel, the theatre, Romantic and post-Romantic poetry, nationalism and racism from Europe to America, colonized and post-colonial populations, the rise of film and other visual technologies, the struggles between 'high' and 'popular' culture, changing psychological attitudes towards human identity, gender and sexuality, and the obscure lines between life and death, sanity and madness. The volume also includes a chronology and guides to further reading. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: War Gothic in Literature and Culture Steffen Hantke, Agnieszka Soltysik Monnet, 2015-12-07 In the context of the current explosion of interest in Gothic literature and popular culture, this interdisciplinary collection of essays explores for the first time the rich and long-standing relationship between war and the Gothic. Critics have described the global Seven Year’s War as the crucible from which the Gothic genre emerged in the eighteenth century. Since then, the Gothic has been a privileged mode for representing violence and extreme emotions and situations. Covering the period from the American Civil War to the War on Terror, this collection examines how the Gothic has provided writers an indispensable toolbox for narrating, critiquing, and representing real and fictional wars. The book also sheds light on the overlap and complicity between Gothic aesthetics and certain aspects of military experience, including the bodily violation and mental dissolution of combat, the dehumanization of others, psychic numbing, masculinity in crisis, and the subjective experience of trauma and memory. Engaging with popular forms such as young adult literature, gaming, and comic books, as well as literature, film, and visual art, War Gothic provides an important and timely overview of war-themed Gothic art and narrative by respected experts in the field of Gothic Studies. This book makes important contributions to the fields of Gothic Literature, War Literature, Popular Culture, American Studies, and Film, Television & Media. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Twisted Ones T. Kingfisher, 2020-03-17 Award-winning author Ursula Vernon, writing as T. Kingfisher, presents a terrifying tale of hidden worlds and monstrous creations... When Mouse's dad asks her to clean out her dead grandmother's house, she says yes. After all, how bad could it be? Answer: pretty bad. Grandma was a hoarder, and her house is stuffed with useless rubbish. That would be horrific enough, but there's more—Mouse stumbles across her step-grandfather's journal, which at first seems to be filled with nonsensical rants...until Mouse encounters some of the terrifying things he described for herself. Alone in the woods with her dog, Mouse finds herself face to face with a series of impossible terrors—because sometimes the things that go bump in the night are real, and they're looking for you. And if she doesn't face them head on, she might not survive to tell the tale. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Edinburgh Companion to Gothic and the Arts David Punter, 2019-08-05 The Gothic is a contested and complicated phenomenon, extending over many centuries and across all the arts. In The Edinburgh Companion to the Gothic and the Arts, the range of essays run from medieval architecture and design to contemporary gaming and internet fiction; from classical painting to the modern novel; from ballet and dance to contemporary Goth music. The contributors include many of the best-known critics of the Gothic (e.g., Hogle, Punter, Spooner, Bruhm) as well as newer names such as Kirk and Round. The editor has put all these contributors in touch with each other in the preparation of their essays in order to ensure the maximum benefit to the reader by producing a well-integrated book which will prove much more than a collection of disparate essays, but rather a distinctive contribution to a field. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield, 2007-10-09 In this rousingly good ghost story, Setterfield's debut novel rejuvenates the genre with a closely plotted, clever foray into a world of secrets, confused identities, lies, and half-truths. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Romantic Gothic Angela Wright, 2015-11-16 Traces the Gothic impulses in proto-Romantic and Romantic British, American and European culture, 1740-1830--Quatrième de couverture. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Spectres of Antiquity James Uden, 2020-09-10 Gothic literature imagines the return of ghosts from the past. But what about the ghosts of the classical past? Spectres of Antiquity is the first full-length study to describe the relationship between Greek and Roman culture and the Gothic novels, poetry, and drama of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Rather than simply representing the opposite of classical aesthetics and ideas, the Gothic emerged from an awareness of the lingering power of antiquity. The Gothic reflects a new and darker vision of the ancient world: no longer inspiring modernity through its examples, antiquity has become a ghost, haunting contemporary minds rather than guiding them. Through readings of works by authors including Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe, Matthew Lewis, Charles Brockden Brown, and Mary Shelley, Spectres of Antiquity argues that these authors' plots and ideas preserve the remembered traces of Greece and Rome. James Uden provides evidence for many allusions to ancient texts that have never previously been noted in scholarship, and he offers an accessible guide both to the Gothic genre and to the classical world to which it responds. In fascinating and compelling detail, Spectres of Antiquity rewrites the history of the Gothic, demonstrating that the genre was haunted by a far deeper sense of history than has previously been assumed. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Modern Gothic and Literary Doubles L. Dryden, 2003-09-01 The Modern Gothic and Literary Doubles is concerned with Gothic representations of London in the late 19th century. Establishing that a modern Gothic literary mode relocates the traditional rural Gothic to the late 19th century metropolis, this volume explores the cultural history of London in the 19th century. The subsequent discussion of the Gothic fictions of Stevenson, Wilde and Wells offers new perspectives from which to assess the impact of contemporary perceptions of London as a Gothicized space on the works of these novelists. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Star of the Sea Joseph O'Connor, 2004 St. Petersburg High school juniors Dicey Bell, a baseball star, and Jack Chen, who loves science and role-playing games, discover a mutual attraction when paired for a project, but on their first date, a zombie-producing fungus sends them on the run. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Gothic Shakespeares John Drakakis, Dale Townshend, 2008-12 In Gothic Shakespeares, Shakespeare is considered alongside major Gothic texts and writers - from Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe, Matthew Lewis and Mary Shelley, up to and including contemporary Gothic fiction and horror film. This volume offers a highly original and truly provocative account of Gothic reformulations of Shakespeare, and Shakespeare’s significance to the Gothic. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Mysteries of Udolpho Volume 2 of 5 A Romance (EasyRead Super Large 24pt Edition) Ann Radcliffe, 1962 |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Mexican Gothic Silvia Moreno-Garcia, 2020-06-30 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “It’s Lovecraft meets the Brontës in Latin America, and after a slow-burn start Mexican Gothic gets seriously weird.”—The Guardian IN DEVELOPMENT AS A HULU ORIGINAL LIMITED SERIES PRODUCED BY KELLY RIPA AND MARK CONSUELOS • ONE OF TIME’S 100 BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER BOOKS OF ALL TIME • WINNER OF THE LOCUS AWARD • NOMINATED FOR THE BRAM STOKER AWARD ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, NPR, The Washington Post, Tordotcom, Marie Claire, Vox, Mashable, Men’s Health, Library Journal, Book Riot, LibraryReads An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . . From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes “a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror” (Kirkus Reviews) set in glamorous 1950s Mexico. After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind. “It’s as if a supernatural power compels us to turn the pages of the gripping Mexican Gothic.”—The Washington Post “Mexican Gothic is the perfect summer horror read, and marks Moreno-Garcia with her hypnotic and engaging prose as one of the genre’s most exciting talents.”—Nerdist “A period thriller as rich in suspense as it is in lush ’50s atmosphere.”—Entertainment Weekly |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: GOTHIC LITERATURE NARAYAN CHANGDER, 2024-01-21 THE GOTHIC LITERATURE MCQ (MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS) SERVES AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AIMING TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF VARIOUS COMPETITIVE EXAMS, CLASS TESTS, QUIZ COMPETITIONS, AND SIMILAR ASSESSMENTS. WITH ITS EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF MCQS, THIS BOOK EMPOWERS YOU TO ASSESS YOUR GRASP OF THE SUBJECT MATTER AND YOUR PROFICIENCY LEVEL. BY ENGAGING WITH THESE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT, IDENTIFY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND LAY A SOLID FOUNDATION. DIVE INTO THE GOTHIC LITERATURE MCQ TO EXPAND YOUR GOTHIC LITERATURE KNOWLEDGE AND EXCEL IN QUIZ COMPETITIONS, ACADEMIC STUDIES, OR PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS. THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ARE PROVIDED AT THE END OF EACH PAGE, MAKING IT EASY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO VERIFY THEIR ANSWERS AND PREPARE EFFECTIVELY. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Gothic Valerie Steele, Jennifer Park, 2008 Popularly associated with black-clad teenagers and rock musicians, gothic fashion encompasses not only subcultural styles (from old-school goth to cyber-goth and beyond) but also high fashion by such designers as Alexander McQueen, John Galliano of Christian Dior, Rick Owens, Olivier Theyskens, and Yohji Yamamoto. Fashion photographers, such as Scan Ellis and Eugenio Recuenco, have also drawn on the visual vocabulary of the gothic to convey narratives of dark glamour. As the text and lavish illustrations in this book suggest, gothic fashion has deep cultural roots that give it an enduring potency. Valerie Steele is director and chief curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). -- BOOK JACKET. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Gothic Film Richard J. Hand, 2020-02-03 This anthology explores the resilience and ubiquity of the Gothic in cinema from its earliest days to its most contemporary iterations. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Kubla Khan Samuel Coleridge, 2015-12-15 Though left uncompleted, “Kubla Khan” is one of the most famous examples of Romantic era poetry. In it, Samuel Coleridge provides a stunning and detailed example of the power of the poet’s imagination through his whimsical description of Xanadu, the capital city of Kublai Khan’s empire. Samuel Coleridge penned “Kubla Khan” after waking up from an opium-induced dream in which he experienced and imagined the realities of the great Mongol ruler’s capital city. Coleridge began writing what he remembered of his dream immediately upon waking from it, and intended to write two to three hundred lines. However, Coleridge was interrupted soon after and, his memory of the dream dimming, was ultimately unable to complete the poem. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Death and Gender in the Early Modern Period , 2024-03-21 IIn premodern Europe, the gender identity of those waiting for Doomsday in their tombs could be reaffirmed, readjusted, or even neutralized. Testimonies of this renegotiation of gender at the encounter with death is detectable in wills, letters envisioning oneself as dead, literary narratives, provisions for burial and memorialization, the laws for the disposal of those executed for heinous crimes and the treatment of human remains as relics. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature Mary Ellen Snodgrass, 2014-05-14 Presents an alphabetical reference guide detailing the lives and works of authors associated with Gothic literature. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Cambridge Companion to Edgar Allan Poe Kevin J. Hayes, 2002-04-25 This collection of specially-commissioned essays by experts in the field explores key dimensions of Edgar Allan Poe's work and life. Contributions provide a series of alternative perspectives on one of the most enigmatic and controversial American writers. The essays, specially tailored to the needs of undergraduates, examine all of Poe's major writings, his poetry, short stories and criticism, and place his work in a variety of literary, cultural and political contexts. They situate his imaginative writings in relation to different modes of writing: humor, Gothicism, anti-slavery tracts, science fiction, the detective story, and sentimental fiction. Three chapters examine specific works: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, 'The Fall of the House of Usher', 'The Raven', and 'Ulalume'. The volume features a detailed chronology and a comprehensive guide to further reading, and will be of interest to students and scholars alike. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Rise of the Gothic Novel Maggie Kilgour, 2013-11-19 One of the central images conjured up by the gothic novel is that of a shadowy spectre slowly rising from a mysterious abyss. In The Rise of the Gothic Novel, Maggie Kilgour argues that the ghost of the gothic is now resurrected in the critical methodologies which investigate it for the revelation of buried cultural secrets. In this cogent analysis of the rise and fall of the gothic as a popular form, Kilgour juxtaposes the writings of William Godwin with Mary Wollstonecraft, and Ann Radcliffe with Matthew Lewis. She concludes with a close reading of the quintessential gothic novel, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. An impressive and highly original study, The Rise of the Gothic Novel is an invaluable contribution to the continuing literary debates which surround this influential genre. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The House as Gothic Element in Anglo-American Fiction (18th - 20th Century) David Ronneburg, 2007-08 Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Leipzig (Anglistik), course: The Gothic Inheritance, 48 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Diese in englischer Sprache verfasste Arbeit besch ftigt sich mit verschiedenen Erscheinungsformen und Funktionen, in denen das Haus-Motiv als gothic element in der Angloamerikanischen Literatur auftritt. Zu diesem Zweck werden zahlreiche Prosatexte von Autoren wie F.H. Burnett, A.C. Doyle, B. Stoker, C. Bront , C. Dickens, D. du Maurier, O. Wilde, J.K. Rowling, N. Hawthorne, M. Twain, W. Faulkner und C.P. Gilman auf das Haus-Motiv hin untersucht, analysiert und im Gothic-Kontext interpretiert. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Gothic Novel and the Stage Francesca Saggini, 2015-08-12 In this ground-breaking study Saggini explores the relationship between the late eighteenth-century novel and the theatre, arguing that the implicit theatricality of the Gothic novel made it an obvious source from which dramatists could take ideas. Similarly, elements of the theatre provided inspiration to novelists. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Gothic! Deborah Noyes, 2004 A lovesick count and the ghost of his brutalized servant... a serial killer who defies death... a house with a violent mind of its own and another that holds within its peeling walls a grotesque secret. Here are witches who feast on faces, changeling rites of passage, a venerable vampire contemplating his end, and a fanged brat who drains the patience of a bumbling teenage boy. Here, too, are a flamboyant young novelist in search of a subject more compelling than his own eerie existence, and the daughter of a sorcerer fighting to free her lover, and her will, from sinister bonds. Enter the world of gothic, a celebration of the literary form made famous by such writers as Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Untamed Shore Silvia Moreno-Garcia, 2020-02-11 From the New York Times bestselling author of MEXICAN GOTHIC and GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, comes the 2021 International Latino Book Award medal-winning UNTAMED SHORE, a coming-of-age story set in Mexico which quickly turns dark when a young woman meets three enigmatic tourists. Baja California, 1979. Viridiana spends her days watching the dead sharks piled beside the seashore, as the fishermen pull their nets. There is nothing else to do, nothing else to watch, under the harsh sun. She’s bored. Terribly bored. Yet her head is filled with dreams of Hollywood films, of romance, of a future beyond the drab town where her only option is to marry and have children. Three wealthy American tourists arrive for the summer, and Viridiana is magnetized. She immediately becomes entwined in the glamorous foreigners’ lives. They offer excitement, and perhaps an escape from the promise of a humdrum future. When one of them dies, Viridiana lies to protect her friends. Soon enough, someone’s asking questions, and Viridiana has some of her own about the identity of her new acquaintances. Sharks may be dangerous, but there are worse predators nearby, ready to devour a naïve young woman who is quickly being tangled in a web of deceit. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Melmoth the Wanderer Charles Maturin, 2018-10-26 Melmoth the Wanderer tells the story of John Melmoth, a Dublin student and a scholar who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for 150 extra years of life, and searches the world for someone who will take over the pact for him, in a manner reminiscent of the Wandering Jew. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Gothic Mash-Ups Natalie Neill, 2022-03-14 Gothic Mash-Ups explores the role of intertextuality in Gothic storytelling through the analysis of texts from diverse periods and media. Drawing on recent scholarship on Gothic remix and adaptation, the contributors examine crossover fictions, multi-source film and comic book adaptations, neo-Victorian pastiches, performance magic, monster mashes, and intertextual Gothic works of various kinds. Their chapters investigate many critical issues related to Gothic mash-up, including authorship, originality, intellectual property, fandom, commercialization, and canonicity. Although varied in approach, the chapters all explore how Gothic storytellers make new stories out of older ones, relying on a mix of appropriation and innovation. Covering many examples of mash-up, from nineteenth-century Gothic novels to twenty-first-century video games and interactive fiction, this collection builds from the premise that the Gothic is a fundamentally hybrid genre. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Grotesque Patrick McGrath, 2012-07-11 This exuberantly spooky novel, in which horror, repressed eroticism, and sulfurous social comedy intertwine like the vines in an overgrown English garden, is now a major motion picture, starring Alan Bates, Sting, and Theresa Russell. |
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| 10 elements of gothic literature: Reference Catalogue of Current Literature , 1875 |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Handbook to Gothic Literature Marie Mulvey-Roberts, 1998-03 Some topics and literary figures discussed are: American Gothic, Ambrose Bierce, Charles Dickens, Gothic architecture, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Contemporary Gothic, Occultism, Robert Louis Stevenson, Witches and witchcraft, Spiritualism, Oscar Wilde, Gothic film, Ghost stories, and Edgar Allan Poe. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Jane Eyre + Wuthering Heights (2 Unabridged Classics) Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, 2023-11-13 This carefully crafted ebook: Jane Eyre + Wuthering Heights (2 Unabridged Classics) is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Charlotte Brontë's most beloved novel describes the passionate love between the courageous orphan Jane Eyre and the brilliant, brooding, and domineering Rochester. The loneliness and cruelty of Jane's childhood strengthens her natural independence and spirit, which prove invaluable when she takes a position as a governess at Thornfield Hall. But after she falls in love with her sardonic employer, her discovery of his terrible secret forces her to make a heart-wrenching choice. Ever since its publication in 1847, Jane Eyre has enthralled every kind of reader, from the most critical and cultivated to the youngest and most unabashedly romantic. It lives as one of the great triumphs of storytelling and as a moving and unforgettable portrayal of a woman's quest for self-respect. Born into a poor family and raised by an oppressive aunt, young Jane Eyre becomes the governess at Thornfield Manor to escape the confines of her life. There her fiery independence clashes with the brooding and mysterious nature of her employer, Mr. Rochester. But what begins as outright loathing slowly evolves into a passionate romance. When a terrible secret from Rochester's past threatens to tear the two apart, Jane must make an impossible choice: Should she follow her heart or walk away and lose her love forever? Considered by many to be Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece, Jane Eyre chronicles the passionate love between the independent and strong-willed orphan Jane Eyre and the dark, impassioned Mr. Rochester. Having endured a lonely and cruel childhood, orphan Jane Eyre, who is reared in the home of her heartless aunt prior to attending a boarding school with an equally torturous regime, is strengthened by these experiences. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson, 1922 |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: A Research Guide to Gothic Literature in English Sherri L. Brown, Carol Senf, Ellen J. Stockstill, 2018-03-15 The Gothic began as a designation for barbarian tribes, was associated with the cathedrals of the High Middle Ages, was used to describe a marginalized literature in the late eighteenth century, and continues today in a variety of forms (literature, film, graphic novel, video games, and other narrative and artistic forms). Unlike other recent books in the field that focus on certain aspects of the Gothic, this work directs researchers to seminal and significant resources on all of its aspects. Annotations will help researchers determine what materials best suit their needs. A Research Guide to Gothic Literature in English covers Gothic cultural artifacts such as literature, film, graphic novels, and videogames. This authoritative guide equips researchers with valuable recent information about noteworthy resources that they can use to study the Gothic effectively and thoroughly. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: History of the Gothic: Gothic Literature 1764-1824 Carol Margaret Davison, 2009-12-01 Offers an introduction to British Gothic literature. This book examines works by Gothic authors such as Horace Walpole, Matthew Lewis, Ann Radcliffe, William Godwin and Mary Shelley against the backdrop of eighteenth-and-nineteenth-century British social and political history. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales Chris Baldick, 2009 Bringing together the work of such writers as Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Arthur Conan Doyle, Eudora Welty, Thomas Hardy, William Faulkner, Isak Dinesen, and Joyce Carol Oates, The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales presents 37 sinister and unsettling tales for all lovers of ghost stories, fantasy, and horror. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: Critical Discourses of the Fantastic, 1712-1831 David Sandner, 2016-04-22 Challenging literary histories that locate the emergence of fantastic literature in the Romantic period, David Sandner shows that tales of wonder and imagination were extremely popular throughout the eighteenth century. Sandner engages contemporary critical definitions and defenses of eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century fantastic literature, demonstrating that a century of debate and experimentation preceded the Romantic's interest in the creative imagination. In 'The Fairy Way of Writing,' Joseph Addison first defines the literary use of the supernatural in a 'modern' and 'rational' age. Other writers like Richard Hurd, James Beattie, Samuel Johnson, James Percy, and Walter Scott influence the shape of the fantastic by defining and describing the modern fantastic in relation to a fabulous and primitive past. As the genre of the 'purely imaginary,' Sandner argues, the fantastic functions as a discourse of the sublime imagination, albeit a contested discourse that threatens to disrupt any attempt to ground the sublime in the realistic or sympathetic imagination. His readings of works by authors such as Ann Radcliffe, William Beckford, Horace Walpole, Mary Shelley, Walter Scott, and James Hogg not only redefine the antecedents of the fantastic but also offer a convincing account of how and why the fantastic came to be marginalized in the wake of the Enlightenment. |
| 10 elements of gothic literature: A Practical Guide to Creative Writing in Schools Fiona Clark, 2021-04-22 This book contains seven tried-and-tested creative writing projects for pupils aged 8–14. Each project is delivered through a series of workshops and enables pupils to explore a literary genre or writing style, discuss themes and topics and receive constructive feedback about their writing. The projects cover topics such as identity, cultural heritage, tolerance, empathy, morality, dreams and much more. Teachers wanting to run creative writing projects will find this book easy to follow, practical and timesaving. Each project allows students to: • explore a certain literary genre or writing style in detail • be creative and have fun while learning • think about, talk about and discuss themes and topics • receive constructive feedback about their writing • pursue their own ideas • see themselves as ‘real’ writers with a ‘real’ audience • understand that writing can be enjoyable, artistic and relaxing • experience creativity to improve their wellbeing. These ready-made projects are invaluable for teachers who are looking for new and successful creative writing projects for a range of students. They will enable teachers to immediately start making a difference to their students’ confidence and writing skills, allowing them to be as creative and imaginative as possible and use creativity as a springboard for their own writing. |
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