The Gothic Novel Background Notes Gothic Elements

The Goths a German tribe that originated in Sweden (think Viking warrior) and spread through Europe In the 5th century, they conquered Rome. When Rome was rebuilt, the “gothic” architecture was considered barbaric – uncivilized - who wasn’t in the 5 th Century??

Connection to the Gothic Novel? Centuries passed before the word "gothic" meant anything else again. During the Renaissance, Europeans rediscovered Greek-Roman culture and began to regard a particular type of architecture, mainly those built during the Middle Ages, as "gothic" –  No connection to the Goths, but they were considered barbaric and not in Classical (Roman) style In the 1800s, "gothic" came to describe a certain type of novels, because all these novels seem to take place in Gothic-styled architecture -- mainly castles, mansions, and, of course, abbeys ("Gothic..."). -- remember, the Romantics had a love for the past … folklore, myths, etc.

The Gothic Novel Gothic novel took shape mostly in England from 1790 to It falls within the category of Romantic literature. But it is a reaction against the rigidity and formality of other forms of Romantic literature. The Gothic is not limited to this time period - it takes its roots from former terrorizing writing that dates back to the Middle Ages, and can still be found written today by writers such as Stephen King.

Also known as Anti-transcendentalism or Dark Romanticism Popular from the 1840’s-1860’s Typical themes are morbid and melancholy and usually include premature death, the supernatural, and insanity Elements of Puritanism—the innate depravity of human beings Gothicism in American Literature

Women Gothic Writers Gothic novels so saturated the popular culture of the time that, in 1818, the English writer Jane Austin wrote Northanger Abby, a novel that parodies the Gothic. By the nineteenth century, several novels of high literary merit by women writers fell solidly within the Gothic framework: Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights Who are some female authors today that are writing novels with Gothic themes?

Conventions of Gothic Literature 1. A hero whose birth is enshrouded in mystery. 2. Restless ghosts groaning for revenge. 3. Forbidding cliffs, stormy seas (eerie settings) 4. Ancient manuscripts rediscovered; produces a narration which gives an air of strangeness to the exotic setting. 5. Incest 6. Characters can often communicate psychically. 7. Often concerned with the possibility of returning to life after death.

Conventions, Continued 8. Problem of evil presented as a psychological problem 9. Castle or house identified with its owner 10. Characters exhibit overwhelming guilt or pride. 11. Good characters are usually physically lovely; evil characters have twisted bodies and ugly faces. 12. The idyllic life in nature invaded and destroyed by a dark ambiguous force. 13. Animals respond to a supernatural presence.

More gothic elements 14. Feeling of gloom throughout the story 15. Terrifying things occur at night, usually after midnight. 16. Story often concerned with injustice. 17. Magic mirrors in which one can see anyone he wishes. 18. Moving statues and pictures. 19. Madness (insanity) often occurs.

Gothic Elements, the last ones 20. Dreaded secrets. 21. Inexplicable music. 22. Heroine is usually beautiful and virtuous, often an orphan and given to swooning and weeping. 23. Hero usually has a vague past, is basically good but has a flaw. 24. Characters usually not drawn realistically, may not even be believable. 25. Fatal/tortured love