(image from Musgo Dumio_Momio at critics, though, still accused her of exploiting horrifying topics to terrorize her readers. The above elements are tools used to evoke that sense of terror/horror/mystery in order to attempt to reach the sublime. I would argue, though, that it’s the feeling of terror or horror (and there is a difference between the two) that makes the gothic genre what it is. horror or the threat of something horrific.passion-driven villain, or villain-hero.supernatural monsters such as ghosts, vampires, zombies, etc.set in a castle, mansion, dungeon, or other large, dark and decaying place.Most works of gothic fiction have at least a few of the following: When we go about defining gothic literature, it’s usually with a set of elements that may or may not be present in the work. So what are the elements of gothic literature and how was this new exploration of romanticism viewed by critics? Otranto is our jumping off point for gothic fiction, with many of its elements used in the gothic fiction we know of today. We left off with Horace Walpole and his motivation behind writing what is now considered to be the first gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto. Yesterday, we began our introduction to the gothic novel by looking at the literary landscape at the end of the 18th century. This can be in the form of a murder or other such macabre themes laced throughout the text.Last week, we looked at fear and why we enjoy being scared. Macabre and morbid - No Gothic tale is complete without a little death and destruction. Omens and prophecies - The protagonist or a supporting character will often typically have distressing dreams, visions or prophecies connected to the setting or events of the story.Īgony and ecstasy - Gothic stories are often characterized by melodrama, inner turmoil, intrigue, and insanity as well as sweeping romance, grandiose passions and enchanting prose. Sometimes these supernatural figures are literal, and other times they are symbolic or have a natural explanation.

Paranormal activity - Gothic novels are famous for featuring ghosts, vampires, monsters, and other shadowy figures. Terror - The protagonist is haunted by supernatural or seemingly supernatural events such as doors suddenly closing, baying of dogs, footsteps, moans, and eerie sounds in the night. Suspense - Gothic plot lines typically revolve around suspenseful events, familial mysteries, disappearances, unexplainable events, and frightening objects. Examples include rain, storms, a chill in the air or howling wind.Īrchetypal character traits - Gothic literature typically has particular types of characters: a distressed heroine, tyrannical male characters (usually villains) and anti-heroes, also known as Byronic heroes after Romantic poet Lord Byron. Natural imagery - A hallmark of both Romanticism and Gothic literature is imagery, particularly pertaining to nature.ĭark atmosphere - No Gothic story is complete without atmosphere, including complementary weather conditions.

Some common types of settings include castles, haunted houses, graveyards, and dark forests. This is because Gothic literature has specific characteristics like:Ĭreepy settings - In Gothic fiction, the setting is a character in its own right. There is a reason the word “gothic” brings to mind trap doors, castles, monasteries, and more.

Supernatural gothic literature