Gothic Literature Notes

Following the Romantic Period in England (1785-1830), what period was born?

Gothic Literature (mid 1850s)

(TRUE OR FALSE) Gothic Literature is a subgroup of Romanticism

true

What was Romanticism an effect of?

Age of Reason, which focused much on scientific rationality

When did the Romantic period take place?

1785-1830
America: 1800-1860

What was the focus of the Romantic Period?

Intuition, imagination, nature, individuality, idealism as opposed to society and social order

What did Dark Romantics think of the transcendalists?

that they ignored the "dark side of humans"

What period did the Romantic period overlap with?

the Victorian Period in England (1832-1901)

What did the nature of Gothic literature put a twist on?

the Romantic idea of nature worship and nature imagery. instead of just focusing on nature having the power to heal (Romantics), nature also had the power to destroy

What was gothic literature clearly influenced by?

gothic architecture from the Middle Ages (gothic cathedrals, high towers, or large stained glass windows, inspired awe and fear in religious worshippers; gargolyes (small deformed stone creatures, sitting and watching--- intended to ward off evil spirits)

Describe the characteristic of Gothic Literature

- imagination leading to the threshold of unknown, where the fantastic, insane, or maybe demonic resides
- darkness of the supernatural
- the individual represents potential of evil

Describe the characteristics of Romanticism.

- develops as a reaction to the Age of Reason
- celebrated the beauties of nature
- freedom of imagination
- the individual at times represented hope

Who is considered the Father of Gothic?

Horace Walpole

Who wrote the first gothic novel?

Horace Walpole (European)
"The Castle of Otranto (1764)"

(TRUE OR FALSE) The gothic movement swept upon Europe first.

True

Who were the authors of the 19th century of America who used Gothic elements in their writing?

Edgar Allen Poe
Nathaniel Hawthorn
Washington Irving
Herman Meville

Who is considered to be the master of the Gothic form in the U.S.?

Edgar Allen Poe

Gothic believed that humans were far from perfect and were as evil as they were good

a. individuals prone to sin and self-destruction'
b. believed that humans did not inherently possess wisdom and divinity
c. near obsession with evil

Gothic's view of nature is MUCH darker than that of the Transcendentalists and Romantics

a. viewed the world as dark, decaying, and mysterious
b. while the Transcendentalists and Romantics believed that nature revealed truths in life, the Dark Romantics (Gothics) saw the truth to only be evil and hellish

Gothics were unsure of the individual's ability to follow through with reform

a. made this apparent by frequently showing individuals failing in their attempts to change social norms

What did Gothics value over logic?

intuition

Provide the frequent images prevalent in Gothic literature.

haunted houses/castles
woods (dark, dense); foggy moors imposing mountains
mazes/labyrinths
closed door/secret passageway or rooms winding stairs
death and decay
blood as a visual spectacle 7 genealogy/ethnicity
spectral or grotesque figures

Provide the frequent motifs prevalent in Gothic literature.

light and dark interplay with shades of gray or blood-red colors
fair and dark ladies
repressed fears and desires; memories of the past crime or sin
creepy or startling sounds/screams in the night
groans from unknown rooms
sense of foreboding (omens, ancient curses, dark forces)
character's dreams bleed into reality or death like states

describe how decay is presented in gothic literature

the great community or family has peaked and now is in the process of decline (landscape or characters)

Explain the supernatural in gothic literature.

ghosts, unexplained manifestations; sometimes there is an explanation

Describe the protagonist in gothic literature.

usually isolated or alone (self-imposed or a result of circumstance beyond his/her control; physical or emotional isolation)
hidden secrets which threaten the protagonist

How are female protagonists usually presented in gothic literature?

usually persecuted maidens, have fainting spells, or ailing health (The Damsel in Distress motifs occurs a lot)

How are male protagonists usually presented in gothic literature?

usually the byronic hero, have a trouble past, and dark attributes
- is proud, rebellious, attractive, and dangerous to know

Describe emotions in Gothic literature.

- run high for both males and female protagonists
- are often passionate and strong-willed, defying others or even their own common sense
- women are usually curious and have a tendency to faint, while men storm and rage in reflection of inner torment
- the event cause high emotions & therefore, a heightended sense of drama (murder, kidnapping, people going and tragic illness)

(TRUE OR FALSE) Gothic is meant to evoke "terror," not "horror"

TRUE

Describe the elements of horror

- described distinctly
- something grotesque
- appalling and unrealistic
- depends on physical characteristics

Describe the elements of terror

- suggestive of what will happen
- depends on reader's imagination
- sense of uncertainty
- creates an "intangible atmosphere of spiritual psychic dread"

Basic plot structure of a Gothic

- takes place at night, or at least in a claustrophobic sunless environment
- ascent (up a mountain or staircase)
- descent (into a dungeon, cell, underground chamber); facing off a precipce; secret passage; hidden doors
- physical decay, skulls, cemetries, and other images of death; ghosts, revenge; family curse; blood and gore; torture; the Doppleganger