1. GOTHIC LITERATURE

2. Gothic Literature
Poetry, short stories, or novels designed to thrill readers by providing mystery and blood-curdling accounts of villainy, murder, and the supernatural. 

3. Elements of the Gothic genre
Weather/Environment
Dreams
Sense of mystery and dread
The Supernatural
Plots dealing with man’s inner “self”
Revenge
The “outsider”
Omens and curses
Female in distress

4. Weather/Environment Weather is often mentioned Weather sets the mood
Environment can include architecture/
surroundings

5. Dreams
Main character experiences dreams/blurred with reality

6. Sense of mystery and dread
Mystery: suspense, surprises, a lot of unanswered questions
Dread: unresolved ending; some feelings of unrest linger throughout the story

7. The Supernatural
Ghosts, demons, werewolves, anything NOT of this world

8. Man’s inner “self” Inside main character’s head
Causes character to self-reflect
Sometimes starts to go crazy; maybe hears voices, sees things that aren’t there, etc

9. Revenge
Character attempts to right a wrong done to him/her

10. The outsider The “other” Someone who does not belong
Pushed out of society

11. Omens and curses
Omen = sign/warning

12. Female in Distress
Female character in the story needs help, to be saved, or to be taken out of her miserable situation by a hero

13. Exit Slip
Considering what you know about the Romantic period, which element of gothic literature do you think fits in most with the overall themes of Romanticism? Why?