1. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein English 12 AP
Elements of the Gothic
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
English 12 AP

2. On the Gothic…
“Gothicism insists that what is customarily hallowed as real by society and its language is but a small portion of a greater reality of monstrous proportion and immeasurable power” (Bayer-Berenbaum).

3. On the Gothic…
Gothic is a genre which fulfills the “strange human craving for feeling afraid” (Woolfe).

4. The Age of Reason Sometimes referred to as the Neoclassical Period
Represented:
Renewed focus on classics (Rome)
Focus on science and philosophy

5. The Age of Reason
Rome and Roman culture represented civilization and order.

6. The Age of Reason Rene Descartes: Cogito ergo sum.
I think therefore I am.
The rational being, was a supreme being.

7. Origins of the Gothic…
The Gothic movement represented a reaction to the Age of Reason & Enlightenment

8. Origins of the Gothic…
Gothic is a reference to the “Goths” – the Visigoths and Ostrogoths who sacked and destroyed the Roman Empire.

9. Origins of the Gothic…
This destruction represented the overthrow of reason in favor of the wild, barbarous, and chimerical – the Gothic

10. Origins of the Gothic…
The Age of Reason sparked not only a resurgence of classical thought, but classical architecture as well.
Simple lines and shapes

11. Origins of the Gothic…
The Gothic style of architecture incorporated elaborate designs: vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, etc..

12. Origins of the Gothic…
The Gothic literary movement followed suit… abandoning the rational for the irrational and mysterious…

13. The Gothic Novel
The height of the Gothic movement in literature was from
The Gothic movement has never completely dissipated – Stephen King, etc…

14. Elements of the Gothic Novel
The gothic genre is characterized by a series of commonly held characteristics.
A novel need not present all of the following characteristics to labeled “Gothic.”

15. The Setting
Setting
Typically set in mansions or medieval castles containing secret passages and trap doors.

16. The Setting
Gothic novels may also be set in wild landscapes or wastelands.

17. The Setting Evokes an atmosphere horror and dread
Portrays deterioration of the world
Emphasis on decay, ruin, and death.

18. Gothic Characters Protagonist Isolated from society
Characterized by fall from grace
Succumbed to temptation
Saved by union with loved one

19. Gothic Characters Villain Epitome of evil
Characterized by Fall from Grace, or inherent malevolence

20. Gothic Characters The Wanderer Epitome of isolation
Wanders the earth in perpetual exile
“Exile” typically a form of divine punishment

21. Gothic Characters Women in Distress
Lonely, pensive, and oppressed heroine
“Damsel in Distress”
Threatened by powerful, impulsive, tyrannical male

22. Gothic Characters Doubles or Doppelgangers
Meaning "double walker" a doppelganger is a shadow-self that accompanies every human.
Doppelgangers can be mischievous or malicious.

23. Supernatural Events
Characterized by supernatural events: ghosts, chimerical creatures, objects coming to life
Marked by unnatural events, or acts of nature

24. Tone Highly sentimental
Characters often overcome by anger, sorrow, surprise, and/or fear

25. Tone Characters suffer from raw nerves and impending doom
Manic depressive quality

26. Theme Cosmic Struggle: polar opposites struggle
Over-Reacher: Sin of Pride, Delusions of Grandeur

27. Themes
Guilt: hero haunted by guilt
Violence against Innocents
Death

28. Structure and Language
Story within a story within a story
Language
Florid language is employed
Detailed description of setting, characters, actions, etc.
Aids the establishment of tone