Elements of a gothic novel

1
Elements of a gothic novel

• Horace Walpole invented the gothic novel in 1764.
  His novel The castle of otranto influences
  writing, poetry and film to this day.

2
SETTING IN A CASTLE

• The action takes place in or around a castle
• May contain secret passages, trap doors, hidden
  staircases or ruined sections
• Can be near or connected to caves

3
Atmosphere of Mystery and Suspense

• Has a threatening feeling or a fear enhanced by
  the unknown
• Plot is built around a mystery, such as unknown
  parentage, a disappearance or other inexplicable
  event

4
An Ancient Prophecy

• Connected to the castle or its inhabitants
• Usually obscure or confusing
• Can be a legend

5
Omens, Portents and Visions

• A character may have a disturbing dream or vision
• Some phenomenon may be seen as a sign of future
  events
• For example if the head falls off of the statue
  of the king it may mean that he will die

6
Supernatural or Otherwise Inexplicable Events

• Dramatic events such as ghosts or giants walking
• Inanimate objects moving or coming to life
• Events may have a natural explanation or may be
  truly supernatural

7
High Emotion

• Narration may be highly sentimental
• Characters are often overcome with terror,
  sorrow, anger or surprise
• Panic and crying are common

8
Women in Distress

• To gain sympathy from the reader the female
  characters often are terrified, sobbing or
  fainting.
• A lonely or oppressed heroine is often the
  central figure in the novel

9
Women threatened by a powerful, impulsive male

• Powerful male such as a king, lord of the manor,
  or father. Demands that the female character do
  something intolerable.
• She may be commanded to marry someone or commit a
  crime.

10
Metonymy of Gloom and Horror

• Metonymy is when something, like rain, is used to
  represent something else like sorrow.
• These metonymies for doom and gloom suggest an
  element of mystery, danger, or supernatural
  howling wind, clanking chains, thunder and
  lightning, ruins of buildings, approaching
  footsteps, squeaking doors, crazed laughter, and
  eerie sounds.

11
Vocabulary of the gothic

• Here are examples of words in several categories
  
• Mystery diabolical, enchantment, ominous,
  prophecy, vision, specter and haunted.
• Fear, terror, or sorrow despair, dread, frantic,
  grief, melancholy, shrieks, terrified and
  wretched
• Surprise alarm, astonished and thunderstruck
• Haste anxious, frantic, impatient and suddenly.
• Anger enraged, furious, rage and wrathful
• Largeness enormous, gigantic and tremendous