Characteristics of Gothic Literature English 11

When did it become popular? Later 18th Century Started with a “Gothic Revival” -- mid-1700’s Visible in gardens Seen in architecture (gargoyles) of the Middle Ages 1740’s - Horace Walpole - Strawberry Hill estate near London Published The Castle of Otranto: a Gothic Story - 1764 http://www.puzzlehistory.com/gothgrdn.jpg

Romanticism a literary, artistic, and philosophical 18th century, an emphasis on the imagination and emotions marked especially in English literature by the use of autobiographical material an appreciation of external nature a predilection (propensity) for melancholy,

Application to literature Any kind of romantic, scary novel Came from Germany in the late 1700’s - early 1800’s Popular among female writers Became best sellers! http://www.greatscotland.be/evenementen.htm

Famous Gothic Writers Ann Radcliffe - The Mysteries of Udolpho Jane Austen -- Northanger Abbey (parody of Gothic novels) Charlotte Bronte -- Jane Eyre Emily Bronte -- Wuthering Heights Shirley Jackson, Daphne du Maurier, Barbara Michaels, Anne Rice

A classic Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) Single most important product of this tradition Themes relate to science, poetry, psychology, alienation, politics, education, family relationships, etc. Tradition: 8-foot tall monster made of separate body pieces librarycommission.lib.wv.us/ WVLC%20BOOK/Frank...

Famous Gothic Writers - cont’d. Edgar Allen Poe Steven King http://www.1001-votes.com/vote/fond.php?mcat=24&lg=fr http://www.3boysproductions.com/MIFF-2002-Fri-Nite-Program.htm

Characteristics Set in Medieval times Dark, mysterious, evil tone Dark castles, palaces, chambers, haunted mansions Isolated setting All come together to emphasize the sense of evil http://www.encounterspri.com/Articles.htm

More characteristics Presence of ghosts, spirits, vampires, and other supernatural entities Mysterious disappearances and reappearances Supernatural or paranormal occurrences http://www.penelopesweb.com/gargoyles.html

Characteristics -- cont’d. Religion, usually Christianity or at least spirituality, is confronted. A gothic “double” is used in which a character who seems to be good is linked with another who is evil www.pagedepot.com/.../ GOTHIC%20CHAPBOOKSX.HTM

More characteristics Blood, pain, death Cruelty Eroticism Characters with “aberrant psychological states” Events are uncanny, macabre, or melodramatically violent bordering between reality and unreality http://www.pantip.com/cafe/chalermthai/newmovie/hauntedcastle/hc.html

Purpose To evoke “terror” versus “horror” in the reader because of situations bordering reality/unreality Often used to teach a message May lack a Medieval setting but will develop an atmosphere of gloom and terror

American Gothic Important from the mid-18th Century on Related to “Romantic Period” Criticizes “national myth of new-world innocence by voicing the cultural contradictions that undermine the nation’s claim to purity and equality” - Teresa A. Goddu Tells of historical horrors that make national identity http://photos1.blogger.com/img/154/1420/1024/american%20gothic.jpg

Southern Gothic http://www.madelinecarolgallery.com/images/Southern%20Plantation.jpg Customary setting because it’s the source of values not necessarily welcome in the rest of the country Poe was the first Southern gothic writer Common themes: race, alienation, sense of “otherness”

Your Assignment Write a paragraph illustrating how “The Red Death” and Poe fit with the definition of Gothic Literature

Sources of text http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~mdward/essay2.html http://www.wwnorton.com/nael/romatic/topic_2/welcome.htm And others