Features of American Gothic Fiction

Setting European Gothic literature was frequently set in castles But…have you seen a castle in America? American Gothic fiction is often set in large, drafty old houses that had been in the family “for years.”

Motifs: A ghostly legend an unexplainable occurrence A motif is a repeated theme, image, or literary device, including: A ghostly legend an unexplainable occurrence a story about a horrible death or murder Omens, foreshadowing and dreams are often significant—dreams often explore the depths of the human psyche and reveal truths too terrible for the conscious mind

Tales often include highly charged emotional states: Terror A feeling that one is on the brink of insanity Anger Agitation Exaggerated feeling of impending doom Obsessive love

Supernatural Events and Damsels in Distress Women who are frightened and confused Lost women A woman dying of an unexplainable ailment Ghosts Doors that open themselves Unexplained sounds

Themes Thematic concerns in Gothic romances often involve: Diction: Words designed to evoke images of gloom and doom For example: dark, foreboding, ghostly… Themes Thematic concerns in Gothic romances often involve: The death of a man or woman in the throes of some great passion The obsessive nature of a man or woman in love Excessive grief upon the loss of a loved one. The search for forbidden knowledge