What is the origin of Gothic literature?
Origin of Gothic literature The origin of this type of literature is considered to be in Great Britain, particularly during Romanticism. However, the first appearance of the term -gothic-, takes place when the writer Horace Walpole places it as a subtitle in his work The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic History.
What was the first Gothic novel?
The Castle of Otranto is a novel by Horace Walpole. First published in 1764, it is generally regarded as the first gothic novel. In the second edition, Walpole applied the word 'Gothic' to the novel in the subtitle – A Gothic Story. Set in a haunted castle, the novel merged medievalism and terror in a style that has endured ever since.
Did Gothic literature start durint the French Revolution?
The Gothic, however, had existed from the 1760s onward, and we are talking about a particular development in the 1790s, a particular plot which was either at hand for writers to use in the light of the French Revolution, or was in some sense projected by the Revolution and borrowed by writers who may or may not have wished to express anything specifically about the troubles in France.
What are the best Gothic novels?
10 Classic Gothic Novels Everyone Should Read
- William Baldwin, Beware the Cat. What’s this? ...
- Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto. This 1764 work was the book that started it all – it effectively invented modern Gothic fiction. ...
- William Beckford, Vathek. ...
- Ann Radcliffe, A Sicilian Romance. ...
- Matthew Lewis, The Monk. ...
- Mary Shelley, Frankenstein. ...
- Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. ...
Why did Gothic fiction start?
Gothic fiction began as a sophisticated joke. Horace Walpole first applied the word 'Gothic' to a novel in the subtitle – 'A Gothic Story' – of The Castle of Otranto, published in 1764. When he used the word it meant something like 'barbarous', as well as 'deriving from the Middle Ages'.
When did Gothic literature start and end?
The period typically associated with European Gothic fiction begins with Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto published in 1764 and ends with Charles Maturin's Melmoth the Wanderer published in 1820.
When did Gothic fiction became popular?
At the height of the Gothic novel's popularity in the 1790s, the genre was almost synonymous with Ann Radcliffe, whose works were highly anticipated and widely imitated. Particularly popular were The Romance of the Forest (1791) and The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794).
Where did Gothic begin?
But where did Gothic literature originate? Throughout the 18th century, the phenomenon of the Gothic emerged and flourished across Britain. With its emphasis on suspense and the supernatural, terror and the macabre, the Gothic was heralded as a “medieval revival” that stood against the Enlightenment's focus on reason.
Who invented gothic fiction?
Horace Walpole'sGothic fiction as a genre was first established with the publication of Horace Walpole's dark, foreboding The Castle of Otranto in 1764. In the centuries since, gothic fiction has not only flourished, but also branched off into many popular subgenres.
What are the 5 elements of Gothic literature?
Gothic elements include the following:Setting in a castle. ... An atmosphere of mystery and suspense. ... An ancient prophecy is connected with the castle or its inhabitants (either former or present). ... Omens, portents, visions. ... Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events. ... High, even overwrought emotion. ... Women in distress.More items...
Why did Gothic literature emerge?
It can be theorized that the Gothic Romance was born in this period as a reaction to the sterility of the Victorian Age: its strict moral code, of its science and reason, and of its politics. Lord Byron was not only a writer of Romantic literature; he became the model for what is known as the Byronic Hero.
Why is it called Gothic literature?
Called Gothic because its imaginative impulse was drawn from medieval buildings and ruins, such novels commonly used such settings as castles or monasteries equipped with subterranean passages, dark battlements, hidden panels, and trapdoors.
What defines the gothic genre?
Emerging in Europe in the 18th century, Gothic literature grew out of the Romantic literary movement. It's a genre that places strong emphasis on intense emotion, pairing terror with pleasure, death with romance. The Gothic is characterized by its darkly picturesque scenery and its eerie stories of the macabre.
Who is the most famous Gothic writer?
Mary Shelley was for sure the most goth author of all time—not only did she write Frankenstein, widely considered to be the first horror novel, but she also kept her husband's heart wrapped up in a silk handkerchief on her person at all times.
Why is Gothic literature important?
The genre has an almost unique ability to integrate into some of the most unexpected places, once again ensuring its indomitability. It has also provided a vehicle for writers to explore considerations of sexuality, repression, politics, race and a myriad of other anxieties of their society.
What is Gothic literature designed for?
The Gothic novel often deals with supernatural events, or events occurring in nature that cannot be easily explained or over which man has no control, and it typically follows a plot of suspense and mystery.
When did Gothic literature end?
<>The publication of Charles' Maturin's Melmoth the Wanderer in 1820 is the last of what some critics have called the Classic Gothic novel and for others marks the end of the true Gothic novel.
What is the Gothic era of literature?
What is Gothic literature? Emerging in Europe in the 18th century, Gothic literature grew out of the Romantic literary movement. It's a genre that places strong emphasis on intense emotion, pairing terror with pleasure, death with romance.
In which period do Gothic literary writers react to?
In many ways, the Gothic novel is a direct response to eighteenth century ideals of formal realism, which is why it is essential to understand formal realism in order to understand Gothic literature. Formal realism is about creating a reality through the experience of one single character.
Why did Gothic literature became popular in the Victorian era?
As new scientific answers were being made available and elements of religion were being questioned, gothic literature's response was encouraged by society. These elements were popular in the Victorian era with novels like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte or The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins.
When did Gothic fiction emerge?
Gothic fiction emerged at the beginning of the 18th century. This is mainly a result of a rejection of rationalist ideals at the time, and a prefer...
What are examples of Gothic literature?
Examples of Gothic literature exist in the past and today. A past example is Mary Shelley and her work on the human condition, and modern examples...
What are the main elements of gothic literature?
The main elements in Gothic literature are dark and romantic. Characters are often placed in a scary setting, and forced to face an unknown force.
What is Gothic literature?
Gothic literature is a form of literature with a preference for the horrific and macabre. It focuses on aspects of the human condition that are oft...
When was the Gothic novel published?
Themes: The Gothic, The novel 1780–1832. Published: 15 May 2014. Professor John Mullan examines the origins of the Gothic, explaining how the genre became one of the most popular of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and the subsequent integration of Gothic elements into mainstream Victorian fiction. Gothic fiction began as a sophisticated ...
What is the Gothic story?
Gothic fiction began as a sophisticated joke. Horace Walpole first applied the word ‘Gothic’ to a novel in the subtitle – ‘A Gothic Story’ – of The Castle of Otranto , published in 1764. When he used the word it meant something like ‘barbarous’, as well as ‘deriving from the Middle Ages’. Walpole pretended that the story itself was an antique relic, ...
What was the name of the publishing company that published Gothic novels?
Other Gothic novelists of the period used the same word for their tales, advertising their supernatural thrills. A publishing company, Minerva Press, grew up simply to provide an eager public with this new kind of fiction.
Which Gothic novel was a scientific form?
A second wave of Gothic novels in the second and third decades of the 19th century established new conventions. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) gave a scientific form to the supernatural formula. Charles Maturin’s Melmoth the Wanderer (1820) featured a Byronic anti-hero who had sold his soul for a prolonged life.
Where was the Walpole story published?
Walpole pretended that the story itself was an antique relic, providing a preface in which a translator claims to have discovered the tale, published in Italian in 1529, ‘in the library of an ancient catholic family in the north of England’. The story itself, ‘founded on truth’, was written three or four centuries earlier still (Preface).
Who was the author of The Mysteries of Udolpho?
In the 1790s, novelists rediscovered what Walpole had imagined. The doyenne of Gothic novelists was Ann Radcliffe, and her most famous novel, The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794) took its title from the name of a fictional Italian castle where much of the action is set. Like Walpole, she created a brooding aristocratic villain, Montoni, ...
When was The Monk by Matthew Lewis published?
This frontispiece illustration and title page summary from an 1818 edition of The Monk by Matthew Lewis (first published 1796) provides a flavour of how extreme and dramatic the novel was.
What is Gothic Literature?
Literature, or written works with artistic merit, can take many different forms. One of such forms is Gothic literature, which emphasizes the darker aspects of humanity: horror, death, and sometimes even romance.
Characteristics of Gothic Literature
The Gothic writing style can be identified by specific characteristics common across Gothic literature. As mentioned above, these elements are influenced by the romantic emphasis on nature, emotion, individualism, and the revival of medieval architecture.
Gothic Fiction: Definition, Characteristics & Authors
1. In the lesson, you read that Gothic fiction has connections to the Romantic movement in literature, which placed an emphasis on intense emotional experiences, often in wild and untamed settings. In many of the novels and short stories we categorize as Gothic, setting plays a key role in creating atmosphere.
What is the origin of Gothic literature?
Origins of Gothic Literature. The 1760s was the decade of literary forgeries. One of the most famous forgeries which that decade produced, Horace Walpole’s 1764 book The Castle of Otranto, was responsible for founding the Gothic novel genre. Walpole, who was the son of the first de facto Prime Minister of Britain, Robert Walpole, ...
What are the features of the Gothic novel?
Many of the features of Gothic which endure today, such as the subterranean secret, the gloomy castle, and the mysterious ghostly sightings, were all used in Walpole’s novel.
What was the influence of Walpole on the Gothic revival?
Walpole’s influence on the Gothic revival extended beyond literature. His London house, Strawberry Hill, was a vast villa that approached the scale and appearance of a castle. Walpole’s house became so celebrated that it gave its name not only to an area of London (near Twickenham and lying in the London borough of Richmond) but also to a style ...
How many gothic horror novels are there?
So whether you’re a fan of creepy castles or terrifying apartment complexes, we’ve gathered a list of 15 gothic horror novels and novellas that are guaranteed to chill and thrill! ( Summaries adapted from the publishers.)
What were some examples of gothic horror?
The Victorian era (1837-1901) produced some of the most well-known examples of gothic horror with the publication of such novels as Wilkie Collins ’ The Woman in White (1859) and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) and novellas such as Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla (1871) and Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886). H.P. Lovecraft borrowed heavily from the genre, as did the authors of pulp fiction novels and comics that were published in the years following the end of the Victorian era. As a film genre, gothic horror saw a boom during the earlier days of cinema, with the release of film adaptations of many of these novels, such as Universal’s Dracula (1931 ).
How did Louis become a vampire?
Louis recounts how he became a vampire at the hands of the radiant and sinister Lestat and how he became indoctrinated, unwillingly, into the vampire way of life. His story ebbs and flows through the streets of New Orleans, defining crucial moments such as his discovery of the exquisite young child Claudia, wanting not to hurt, but to comfort her with the last breaths of humanity he has inside.
When did Edgar Allan Poe start writing horror stories?
Edgar Allan Poe managed to condense elements of gothic horror within his short stories, starting in 1839 with the release of " The Fall of the House of Usher .". For more information on the Father of American Goth, check out our post: Where to Start with Edgar Allan Poe . The Victorian era (1837-1901) produced some of the most well-known examples ...
Who wrote Frankenstein?
Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. The story of Dr. Frankenstein and the obsessive experiment that leads to the creation of a monstrous and deadly creature. The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe ; edited with an introduction and notes by Benjamin F. Fisher.
Who wrote the monk?
The Monk (1796) by Matthew Lewis. The Monk recounts the diabolical decline of Ambrosio, a Capuchin superior, who first succumbs to temptations offered by a young girl who has entered his monastery disguised as a boy, and then continues his descent with increasingly depraved acts of sorcery, murder, incest, and torture.
Is romance a gothic genre?
The novels' endings are more often than not unhappy, and romance is never the focus. The battle between humanity and unnatural forces of evil (sometimes man-made, sometimes supernatural) within an oppressive, inescapable, and bleak landscape is considered to be the true trademark of a gothic horror novel.
When did female leads come to dominate gothic romance?
Female leads would come to dominate gothic romance, especially after the publication of Charlotte Bront ë ’s Jane Eyre in 1847 . A young woman struggling to maintain her independence as she falls for a dark, brooding, handsome man became a genre-defining plot of gothic romances published in the decades that followed.
Who wrote the mysteries of Udolpho?
The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794) by Ann Radcliffe. If beautiful, orphaned Emily St. Aubert is to resist the predatory demands of her new guardian, the inscrutable Signor Montoni, she must quell the superstitious imaginings that pervade her mind.
When was Rebecca published?
A renewed public interest in gothic romance came on the heels of Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca upon its publication in 1938. Authors such as Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Phyllis A. Whitney dominated the gothic romance trade paperback market from the 1960s to the 1990s. The image of a young woman running away from a darkened castle became ...
Who was the first Gothic novelist?
The Castle of Otranto: The first Gothic novel. English aristocrat Horace Walpole combines the supernatural and horrific to create the first Gothic novel. Purporting to be translated from an earlier manuscript, The Castle of Otranto introduces what have become classic Gothic devices, such as a foreign location, a dark and ominous castle ...
What is Gothic literature?
It is a wide-ranging genre which includes Frankenstein, Dracula and Wuthering Heights.
What genre is Twilight?
It is a wide-ranging genre which includes Frankenstein, Dracula and Wuthering Heights. The success of recent novels such as Twilight continue its popularity. This timeline spotlights key moments in the evolution of spine-tingling Gothic stories.
How many pages are there in Mark Z Danielewski's novel?
Mark Z Danielewski’s cult 700-page novel redefines Gothic for the twenty-first century.
What is Radcliffe's best known novel?
In her best-known novel, The Mysteries of Udolpho, Radcliffe introduces ‘the explained supernatural’, a technique by which terrifying, apparently supernatural incidents have a logical explanation. Over the course of her previous novels, Radcliffe developed the formula of ‘the female Gothic’, first introduced in The Recess by Sophia Lee.
Where does Emily Bronte transport Gothic?
Emily Bronte transports Gothic to the wild and dangerous Yorkshire moors.
Which Jane Austen novel is a satire of the Gothic genre?
Jane Austen parodies the genre. While not the first satire of Gothic to be published – The New Monk (1798) and The Heroine (1813) were among a number preceding it – Northanger Abbey is perhaps the most memorable of the genre. The novel, whose lead character is a young girl obsessed by Gothic stories, contains direct references to The Mysteries ...
