Gothic Unit Elements, Vocabulary, & Author Information

Elements of Gothic Literature Setting: castle or large house/mansion Setting: castle or large house/mansion Atmosphere: mysterious, gloomy and suspenseful Atmosphere: mysterious, gloomy and suspenseful Ancient prophecy Ancient prophecy Omens, portents (unpleasant events), and visions Omens, portents (unpleasant events), and visions Supernatural or unexplainable events Supernatural or unexplainable events Characters: Distressful, threatened women Characters: Distressful, threatened women

Romance Elements of Gothic Lit Powerful love Powerful love Unreturned love Unreturned love Tension between true love and fathers control Tension between true love and fathers control Parted lovers Parted lovers Rival lovers or multiple suitors Rival lovers or multiple suitors

Gothic Colors Red: blood, passion, emotion, danger, or daring; fire Red: blood, passion, emotion, danger, or daring; fire Black: death, ignorance, or evil Black: death, ignorance, or evil White: purity, innocence or enlightment White: purity, innocence or enlightment Purple: royalty or bruising/pain Purple: royalty or bruising/pain

Gothic Seasons Spring: birth, new beginning Spring: birth, new beginning Summer: maturity, knowledge Summer: maturity, knowledge Autumn: decline, nearing death, growing old Autumn: decline, nearing death, growing old Winter: death, sleep, hibernation, or stagnation Winter: death, sleep, hibernation, or stagnation

Gothic Weather Fog/Mist: isolation and unclear thinking Fog/Mist: isolation and unclear thinking Storms: violent emotions Storms: violent emotions Lightning: spark of life Lightning: spark of life Morning: uncorrupted times Morning: uncorrupted times Snow: hidden features Snow: hidden features Thunder: anger Thunder: anger Rain: sadness/despair Rain: sadness/despair

Edgar Allen Poe , Boston, Massachusetts , Boston, Massachusetts Addicted to gambling & alcohol Addicted to gambling & alcohol Married his cousin, Virginia Clemm (13) Married his cousin, Virginia Clemm (13) Wrote dark, twisted tales Wrote dark, twisted tales Death is unknown – possibly alcohol, drug, or illness-related Death is unknown – possibly alcohol, drug, or illness-related Buried in Old Westminster Burying Ground of Baltimore in an unmarked grave (later moved to the Poe Memorial Grave) Buried in Old Westminster Burying Ground of Baltimore in an unmarked grave (later moved to the Poe Memorial Grave) The Poe Toaster visits Poes grave on birthdays and leaves a ½ filled bottle of cognac and 3 roses The Poe Toaster visits Poes grave on birthdays and leaves a ½ filled bottle of cognac and 3 roses

Doppelgänger A ghostly counterpart of a living person (a.k.a. a double or alter-ego). A ghostly counterpart of a living person (a.k.a. a double or alter-ego).

Masochist A person that enjoys having pain inflicted on them. A person that enjoys having pain inflicted on them. Necromancy The black art of communicating with the dead. The black art of communicating with the dead.

Revenant The return of the dead to terrorize or to settle some score with the living. The return of the dead to terrorize or to settle some score with the living. Sadist A person that gains gratification by inflicting physical or mental pain on others. A person that gains gratification by inflicting physical or mental pain on others.

Somnambulism Sleepwalking. Sleepwalking.

Activity Respond to the following in a creative way: Respond to the following in a creative way: who is your famous/celebrity doppleganger? who is your famous/celebrity doppleganger? who is a well-known masochist from a movie, book, or tv show? who is a well-known masochist from a movie, book, or tv show? Give an example of Necromancy from a tv show or movie. Give an example of Necromancy from a tv show or movie. Provide an example of a revenant from a film, show or book. Provide an example of a revenant from a film, show or book. who is a well-known sadist from a movie, book, or tv show? who is a well-known sadist from a movie, book, or tv show? give an example of somnambulism from tv/movies/books. give an example of somnambulism from tv/movies/books.