Gothic The Gothic novel and the sublime

The term Gothic The term Gothic, applied to this type of novel, meant both “medieval”, with its relative store of ruins, ancient castles, abbeys, etc., and “supernatural”, i.e. mysterious and frightening. The term Gothic, applied to this type of novel, meant both “medieval”, with its relative store of ruins, ancient castles, abbeys, etc., and “supernatural”, i.e. mysterious and frightening.

The beginning In the second half of the 18° century, a new taste revealed itself in fiction, marked by a sensibility towards the strange and the mysterious. In the second half of the 18° century, a new taste revealed itself in fiction, marked by a sensibility towards the strange and the mysterious.

Time and place The Gothic novel flavourished in Great Britain from about 1760 to 1820 and it reflected a specific historical moment, in opposition to the Enlightment and rationality (revolt against realism). The Gothic novel flavourished in Great Britain from about 1760 to 1820 and it reflected a specific historical moment, in opposition to the Enlightment and rationality (revolt against realism).

Different from the Industrial Revolution period People realized in fact that all these technologies could not help people to archieve a better life, so many people started thinking it was better before. People realized in fact that all these technologies could not help people to archieve a better life, so many people started thinking it was better before. DISILLUSIONMENT

It developed the idea to escape and fear of: 1) consequences of science 2) things you don’t know 3) evil It developed the idea to escape and fear of: 1) consequences of science 2) things you don’t know 3) evil

The origin These ideals gave the rise to the Gothic novel, with appeared to all strate of society and it had its origin on the social iniquity (factory owners and poor people) and on the mechanization of work, which has destroyed the importance of human being. These ideals gave the rise to the Gothic novel, with appeared to all strate of society and it had its origin on the social iniquity (factory owners and poor people) and on the mechanization of work, which has destroyed the importance of human being.

Gothic in literature Its plots normally set in an immaginary past time, usually the Middle Ages, always connected with grotesque and supernatural. Its plots normally set in an immaginary past time, usually the Middle Ages, always connected with grotesque and supernatural.

Elements of the new novel New taste for the desolate, the ruins, graveyards, ancient castles and abbeys New taste for the desolate, the ruins, graveyards, ancient castles and abbeys Impulse for freedom and escape from the reality Impulse for freedom and escape from the reality Fear of the triumph of evil over good and chaos over order. Fear of the triumph of evil over good and chaos over order.

Characters Ghosts Ghosts Vampires Vampires Villains Villains Persecuted women Persecuted women

Features 1.Tension 2.Fear 3.Suspance 4.Sublime

The sublime This form is used to express a noble elevation of feelings and behaviour. This form is used to express a noble elevation of feelings and behaviour. At the very beginning the word sublime was indicated as a synonim of beautiful, which had its origin in the passion of inspiration, coming from the soul. At the very beginning the word sublime was indicated as a synonim of beautiful, which had its origin in the passion of inspiration, coming from the soul. The passion caused in Nature is the so- called Astonishment. It is a state which stops all the motions. The passion caused in Nature is the so- called Astonishment. It is a state which stops all the motions.