Gothicism in literature, or Gothic literature
Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction, which is largely known by the subgenre of Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature and film that combines fiction and horror, death, and at times romance. Its origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled (in its second edition) "A Gothic Story."
What are the 8 elements of Gothic literature?
What are the conventions of Gothic literature?
- Dark, Abandoned, Decaying Settings. …
- Romanticized Past. …
- Plot conventions. …
- Horror. …
- Supernatural Beings. …
- Explorations of Romance and Sexuality. …
- Anti-Heroes. …
- Heavy Reliance on Symbolism.
What are the traits of Gothic literature?
Gothic literature shares many of the traits of romanticism, such as the emphasis on emotions and the imagination. Gothic literature goes beyond the melancholy evident in most romantic works, however, and enters into the areas of horror and decay, becoming preoccupied with death.
What are the best Gothic books?
Books shelved as modern-gothic: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Spilt Milk by D.K. Cassidy, We Have Always Lived ... Home My Books
What are the types of Gothic literature?
what does the word "Gothic" mean itself?
- It's a genre of literature.
- It combines both Horror and Romance.
- In 1796, the first Gothic literature book was written.
What are the features of Gothic writing?
Terror and Wonder: 10 key elements of Gothic literatureSet in a haunted castle or house. ... A damsel in distress. ... An atmosphere of mystery and suspense. ... There is a ghost or monster. ... The weather is always awful. ... Dreaming/nightmares. ... Burdened male protagonist. ... Melodrama.More items...•
What are some examples of Gothic writing?
Elements of Gothic LiteratureThe Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole (1764) ... Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818) ... The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe (1839) ... Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) ... The Strange Case of Dr. ... Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897) ... The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (1898)More items...•
What are three characteristics of Gothic literature?
Gothic novels are characterized by a strong element of the supernatural. Characters and readers are required to suspend rational thought and reasoning in favor of superstition, legend and lore. Ghosts, the presence of the deceased and even fantastical creatures like vampires play a prominent role in Gothic fiction.
What are the 5 elements of Gothic literature?
Gothic elements include the following:Setting in a castle. ... An atmosphere of mystery and suspense. ... An ancient prophecy is connected with the castle or its inhabitants (either former or present).Omens, portents, visions. ... Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events. ... High, even overwrought emotion. ... Women in distress.More items...
What are Gothic words?
Study the word list: Gothic vocabulary 1horrorHe was struck dumb with horror.eerieDeep in the forest the atmosphere was dark and eerie. *luminousHe painted using luminous paints. *grotesqueGrotesque can mean very ugly.wailingThe baby was crying and wailing loudly. *10 more rows
What are Gothic themes?
This genre is dark, eerie, and mysterious, often containing elements of terror, horror, and the macabre and the bizarre. Common themes and motifs of the Gothic include power, confinement, and isolation.
How do you write a Gothic poem?
StepsStart with a topic. ... Think of a title. ... With the hard part out of the way, outline the poem. ... Capitalization isn't a big part of Gothic poetry. ... Punctuation is important. ... Many if not most people like rhyme . ... Modern Gothic poetry tends to be free verse . ... Shape & Length.
How do you describe a Gothic setting?
GOTHIC LITERATURE. ... settings: wild, bleak and remote, with old castles or Gothic mansions, dungeons, caves, cemeteries, ... the supernatural: ghosts, monsters, dreams, nightmares, superstition, omens, danger and death. ... atmosphere: claustrophobic and sinister, with turbulent or gloomy weather, often dusk or night or.More items...
What is Gothic literature?
In the most general terms, Gothic literature can be defined as writing that employs dark and picturesque scenery, startling and melodramatic narrative devices, and an overall atmosphere of exoticism, mystery, fear, and dread.
What are some examples of Gothic fiction?
Elements of Gothic fiction are prevalent in several of the acknowledged classics of 19th-century literature, including Mary Shelley 's Frankenstein (1818) , Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables (1851) , Charlotte Brontë 's Jane Eyre (1847) , Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1831 in French), and many of the tales written by Edgar Allan Poe such as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1841) and "The Tell-Tale Heart" (1843).
What is the connection between Gothic architecture and Gothic literature?
There are important, though not always consistent, connections between Gothic literature and Gothic architect. Gothic structures, with their abundant carvings, crevices, and shadows, can conjure an aura of mystery and darkness and often served as appropriate settings in Gothic literature for the mood conjured upthere.
Which authors adopted Gothic motifs?
The genre continued to command a large readership well into the 19th century, first as Romantic authors such as Sir Walter Scott ( The Tapestried Chamber, 1829) adopted Gothic conventions, then later as Victorian writers such as Robert Louis Stevenson ( The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1886) and Bram Stoker ( Dracula, 1897) incorporated Gothic motifs in their stories of horror and suspense.
When was Gothic literature first discovered?
The first mention of "Gothic," as pertaining to literature, was in the subtitle of Horace Walpole's 1765 story "The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic Story" which was supposed to have been meant by the author as a subtle joke—"When he used the word it meant something like ‘barbarous,’ as well as ‘deriving from the Middle Ages." In the book, it's purported that the story was an ancient one, then recently discovered. But that's just part of the tale.
Who were the most influential Gothic writers of the 18th century?
A few of the most influential and popular 18th-century Gothic writers were Horace Walpole ( The Castle of Otranto, 1765), Ann Rad cliffe ( Mysteries of Udolpho, 1794), Matthew Le wis ( The Monk , 1796), and Charles Brockden Brown ( Wieland, 1798). The genre continued to command a large readership well into the 19th century, ...
What did Edgar Allen Poe do in the Gothic period?
In Gothic literature, he found a place to explore psychological trauma, the evils of man, and mental illness. Any modern-day zombie story, detective story, or Stephen King novel owes a debt to Poe.
What is Gothic fiction?
The term Gothic fiction refers to a style of writing that is characterized by elements of fear, horror, death, and gloom, as well as romantic elements, such as nature, individuality, and very high emotion. These emotions can include fear and suspense.
What are the elements of Gothic?
Elements of fear, horror, death, gloom, nature, individuality and high emotion. The settings were usually old dilapidated buildings or houses, possibly with elements of fear and suffering. A possible monster element, like vampires. Learning Outcomes. When you are done, you should be able to: Describe the Gothic genre.
What is the first Gothic story?
This style of fiction began in the mid 1700s with a story titled, The Castle of Otranto (in 1764), by Horace Walpole. This story was about a doomed family and is filled with death, desire, and intrigue. This story is considered to be the first of the Gothic fiction tales, since it encompassed many of the characteristics of the genre.
What is the style of writing that is characterized by elements of fear, horror, death, and gloom?
W. W. Jacobs - The Monkey's Paw. Lesson Summary. The term Gothic fiction refers to a style of writing that is characterized by elements of fear, horror, death, and gloom, as well as romantic elements, such as nature, individuality, and very high emotion. This style of fiction began in the mid 1700s with a story titled, The Castle of Otranto, ...
What is the unusual character in Gothic?
The unusual characters in a Gothic story are part of the strong appeal of this genre. Choose one of the "monsters" from a work of Gothic fiction and write a letter from that character to one of the key human characters in the narrative, reflecting how he or she feels about the actions of the humans in the tale.
When did Gothic fiction start?
This style of fiction began in the mid 1700s with a story titled, The Castle of Otranto, in 1764 by Horace Walpole. The term Gothic actually originated as a term belittling the architecture and art of the period, which was dark, decaying, and dismal.
Who is the best known Gothic author?
These tales all have those characteristics of darkness, suffering, and even death. While Poe is undoubtedly the best known of the Gothic authors, he is certainly not the only one. Here are a few of the more noted examples of Gothic authors and their famous works: Nathaniel Hawthorne - The Minister's Black Veil.
What are the characteristics of Gothic literature?
As it’s widely believed Gothic literature stemmed from Romantic literature, the two genres share overlapping characteristics. Many Gothic novels are plagued by a passionate romance that often leads to sorrow and tragedy. The works of Charles Dickens centered on a Romantic-style love affair, but also featured horrific villains and Gothic settings. In the Victorian era, Gothic novels even provided an outlet for exploration of sexuality, as seen in Edgar Allan Poe’s 1849 poem, “Annabel Lee.”
What is Gothic Literature?
Gothic literature is a genre that emerged as one of the eeriest forms of Dark Romanticism in the late 1700s, a literary genre that emerged as a part of the larger Romanticism movement. Dark Romanticism is characterized by expressions of terror, gruesome narratives, supernatural elements, and dark, picturesque scenery. This fictional genre encompasses many different elements, and has undergone a series of revivals since its inception.
Why are nightmares important in Gothic literature?
Nightmares serve as a particularly important omen within Gothic literature. Nightmares have an ancient association with the act of foretelling and were used to exacerbate the haunting aspects of a novel’s plot. The dreams allow authors to better demonstrate the emotions of their characters in a more immediate and frightening state. Stephen King’s Bag of Bones depicts that of Mike Noonan, a character plagued by nightmares of frightening visions including the death of his wife.
What did Walpole use the word Gothic for?
Walpole used the word “Gothic” in the sense of “barbarous” or “deriving from Middle Ages,” and many were even fooled into believing his story actually held truth.
What is the Gothic language?
Often, Gothic writers use melodrama or “high emotion” to convey a thought. This exaggerated, impassioned language helps convey the panic and terror inherent in many characters. Themes of madness and emotional distress were seen in many of the 20th century Gothic novels that depicted the condition of psychosis. For example, Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” is written from the perspective of a woman suffering from postpartum depression.
What is the role of villains in Gothic literature?
Much like that of various literary genres, villains play a pivotal role in Gothic literature. In traditional Gothic novels, villains took the form of autocratic, male characters, often in authoritative positions like that of priests or kings.
What was the role of castles in the early Gothic period?
Castles, romanticized in the Medieval period, played a large role in early Gothic writings. For example, Gothic writer Mary Shelley set her scenes amid creepy locations such as graveyards, gloomy castles, and even developed the persona of a grotesque monster to emphasize the eerie plot of her 1818 novel Frankenstein.
What are some examples of gothic writing?
Probably giant castles dripping with cobwebs, likely haunted by somebody’s long-lost lover. You might think of something like Dracula or Edgar Allen Poe, classic examples of gothic writers.
How to write a gothic novel?
When you’re writing a gothic literature novel, lean into scary elements, spooky settings, and heightened emotion. At the same time, make the stakes clear and keep them high so that the heightened emotion feels appropriate.
What is the inspiration for Gothic literature?
Original gothic literature often dealt with medieval settings and drew on medieval Europe for much of its inspiration. Lean into old buildings, decaying infrastructure–if it’s a Southern piece, let’s see some churches from the 1700’s. If it takes place in Europe, let’s see a castle or an old, decrepit manor.
Is there a place for Gothic literature?
Gothic literature makes up more of our current cultural landscape than people realize, and although the name evokes literature from days of old, there’s still a place for gothic lit in the contemporary sphere! Read on to learn more about gothic literature and how to write it for a modern-day audience.
Is emotion a part of Gothic literature?
That being said–emotion is at the core of gothic literature, so you don’t want to lose it altogether!
What is Gothic literature?
Gothicism in literature. Gothicism is a style of writing in literature characterized by the gloomy settings, supernatural elements, and exoticism. The Gothic writers mostly fabricate their narratives using elements like horror, mystery, suspense, romance, decay and degeneration. The Gothic stories or novels also contain famous historical ...
How to appreciate Gothic literature?
In order to fully appreciate Gothicism in literature, it’s mandatory to understand its place in history and society. Besides, it is equally necessary to explore the factors which led writers to adopt this particularly gruesome style of narration. It’s also essential that readers learn to recognize Gothic literature themes, motifs and conventions. Finally, I’ll discuss some famous Gothic writers and their major works. The discussion will end with exploring why Gothic fiction has retained its appeal even with today’s audiences.
How has Gothicism influenced today's life?
Moreover, Gothicism in literature has significantly influenced today’s life. It now has a great impact on how people dress, speak and act. Over the years, Gothic fiction has developed in many ways, but the most drastic change came when the genre moved to America. Since its birth (two-and-a-half centuries ago) Gothic fiction has never really left Western culture. Its stories have started to delve more deep into disorder and darkness.
What countries did the Gothic literature flourish in?
Known for its mysterious and adventurous stories set in dark and gloomy places, the Gothic literature soon flourished successfully in Europe, America and some other countries including France. Later on, there came many writers after Walpole who wrote novels of terror and mystery.
Where did Gothicism originate?
Origin of Gothicism in Literature. The term ‘Gothic’ actually traces its origin in the medieval architecture created by the Goths, a North German tribe of the Middle ages. The Gothic architecture was dark, intricate, and dismal in its appearance. Aesthetically embellished and conceptually intricate, this medieval architecture became ...
What is the plot of a Gothic novel?
The plot of the Gothic novel or story consists of mysterious happenings and suspense. For example, the disappearance of characters or things is a very common feature of Gothicism. Besides, the unknown parentage of the protagonist, the hidden secrets and unexplained manifestations in the Gothic fiction invoke suspense among the readers.
Who was the first Gothic writer?
Therefore, Horace Walpole is truly considered the chief initiator of Gothicism in literature. He is known as the first Gothic writer as well as the founder of Gothic fiction.
What type of letters are used in Gothic writing?
There are many, many varieties of majuscules (capital letters) used in gothic writing. So keep your eyes open for more examples of capital gothic letters A-Z or even single letters (fonts, signs, titles, manuscript facsimiles etc). Build up a collection.
Why are Gothic capitals round?
Partly, it's because gothic capitals derive somewhat from uncial letters and later versals, which are extremely round.
Can you write Happy Birthday in Gothic?
Done 'H'? Satisfied with it? Congratulations! You can now write 'Happy Birthday' in gothic writing. (Cheat: copy the example on the 'Decorated Letters' page.)
Is there an A in Gothic?
In fact, there are many, many forms of 'A' (and other letters) in historical gothic examples, so as a general rule don't feel too limited by what you see here.
What is Southern Gothic Literature?
Southern Gothic literature is a genre of Southern writing. The stories often focus on grotesque themes. While it may include supernatural elements, it mainly focuses on damaged, even delusional, characters.
What are the characteristics of Southern Gothic literature?
Some of the major characteristics of Southern Gothic literature are dark humor, complex characters that expose flaws in society, Southern elements (like plantations, old downtowns and dialect) and questions of innocence and God . The plots are often disturbing with ironic events and death.
How is the South represented in the story?
The history of the South is represented through the settings of the stories. The characters are usually complex, and many of them are mentally unstable. Many of the characters are broken in spirit and struggling to find a place in society once again. The morality of characters is often questioned.
Where does the story of Southern Gothic take place?
The stories of Southern Gothic are, of course, set in the South. They may take place on a plantation, old slave quarters or broken-down towns. There are many Southern elements in the stories, including dialect, habits and personalities. The history of the South is represented through the settings of the stories.
Is Southern Gothic still written?
Southern Gothic literature is still written today. Some of the more recent authors of this genre include Cormac McCarthy and Kami Garcia. Lesson Summary. Southern Gothic literature is a genre of Southern writing that focuses on the grotesque.
Who wrote Southern Gothic?
Southern Gothic Authors. In the 1920s, William Faulkner began writing Southern Gothic literature. His novels are set in Mississippi and often take place in older Southern towns and plantations. They contain many Southern archetypes, or examples or patterns, including roles in Southern society.
Is Southern Gothic a supernatural story?
Although inspired by Gothic literature, Southern Gothic does not dwell on suspense and the supernatural. Rather, there is a dark humor in the stories. It follows the idea of exposing the problems of society, but does so by developing complex characters.
Development of The Genre
Influence on Today's Fiction
- Today, Gothic literature has been replaced by ghost and horror stories, detective fiction, suspense and thriller novels, and other contemporary forms that emphasize mystery, shock, and sensation. While each of these types is (at least loosely) indebted to Gothic fiction, the Gothic genre was also appropriated and reworked by novelists and poets who...
Similarities with Gothic Architecture
- There are important, though not always consistent, connections between Gothic literature and Gothic architect. Gothic structures, with their abundant carvings, crevices, and shadows, can conjure an aura of mystery and darkness and often served as appropriate settings in Gothic literature for the mood conjured upthere. Gothic writers tended to cultivate those emotional effe…