![]() ![]() ![]() This can be in the form of a murder or other such macabre themes laced throughout the text. Two-and-a-half centuries have passed since it was born into a Britain on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution's wrenching. Macabre and morbid - No Gothic tale is complete without a little death and destruction. Gothic literature is as long-lived as any curse or fanged anti-hero. 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. Ornate, intricate, and heavy-handed, this style of architecture proved to be the ideal backdrop for both the physical and the psychological settings in a new literary genre, one that concerned itself with elaborate tales of mystery, suspense, and. 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. The term Gothic originates with the architecture created by the Germanic Goth tribes that was later expanded to include most medieval architecture. 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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