![]() Female authors - such as Emily Brönte, Shirley Jackson, and Angela Carter - would continue to utilise gothic as a medium to examine the oppression they faced in everyday society and the liberation that they hoped to achieve one day, in a sub-genre known as ‘female gothic’.īut what exactly makes up a ‘gothic novel’? Most people typically associate gothic writing with the supernatural, which is a common trope, but there are plenty of other traits that are unique to this style of writing. Radcliffe also started the longstanding tradition of using the ‘gothic novel’ to subvert societal inequalities and problems (often through using foreign settings to alienate the happenings from everyday life), by allowing female characters to dominate and often overthrow male villains. Ann Radcliffe was one of the most popular authors at the time and helped establish the genre, stating that the ‘terror’ seen in gothic was different from ‘horror’ because it stimulates the reader through the imagination of perceived evils and consequently “awakens the soul”. Gothic was curated in the 18th century, although it was initially seen to be distasteful and at odds with the ‘rational’ modern age following the Enlightenment. Reoccurring themes are vengeful persecution, imprisonment, and murder, although the events that take place in gothic literature are metaphors for psychological or social conflicts. So, pour yourself a hot drink, stoke the fireplace, and enjoy the chilling tale of how the ‘gothic novel’ came to be… However, the ‘gothic novel’ has more to offer than most people expect and there’s a reason that it has withstood the test of time since the conventions of gothic literature were first established in 1764 with The Castle of Otranto. Although there are plenty of genres to choose from (horror, sci-fi, and thriller to name a few), gothic literature, is often one overlooked as being old-fashioned, outdated, and more boring than frightening. This can be in the form of a murder or other such macabre themes laced throughout the text.As the eerie month of October continues its steady trudge towards the pinnacle of the spooky season, Halloween, many readers are keen to consume the scariest stories they can get their hands on. Macabre and morbid - No Gothic tale is complete without a little death and destruction. Omens and prophecies - The protagonist or a supporting character will often typically have distressing dreams, visions or prophecies connected to the setting or events of the story.Īgony and ecstasy - Gothic stories are often characterized by melodrama, inner turmoil, intrigue, and insanity as well as sweeping romance, grandiose passions and enchanting prose. ![]() Sometimes these supernatural figures are literal, and other times they are symbolic or have a natural explanation. Paranormal activity - Gothic novels are famous for featuring ghosts, vampires, monsters, and other shadowy figures. ![]() Terror - The protagonist is haunted by supernatural or seemingly supernatural events such as doors suddenly closing, baying of dogs, footsteps, moans, and eerie sounds in the night. ![]() Suspense - Gothic plot lines typically revolve around suspenseful events, familial mysteries, disappearances, unexplainable events, and frightening objects. Examples include rain, storms, a chill in the air or howling wind.Īrchetypal character traits - Gothic literature typically has particular types of characters: a distressed heroine, tyrannical male characters (usually villains) and anti-heroes, also known as Byronic heroes after Romantic poet Lord Byron. Natural imagery - A hallmark of both Romanticism and Gothic literature is imagery, particularly pertaining to nature.ĭark atmosphere - No Gothic story is complete without atmosphere, including complementary weather conditions. Some common types of settings include castles, haunted houses, graveyards, and dark forests. This is because Gothic literature has specific characteristics like:Ĭreepy settings - In Gothic fiction, the setting is a character in its own right. There is a reason the word “gothic” brings to mind trap doors, castles, monasteries, and more.
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