Exploring Gothic Literature and Its Conventions

Gothic

Describes Germanic tribes that sacked Rome.

Gothic Architecture

Features pointed arches, flying buttresses, stained glass.

Damsel in Distress

A vulnerable female character needing rescue.

Ancestral Curse

Current generation suffers for ancestors' evil deeds.

Body-Snatching

Illicit trade in corpses for scientific purposes.

Entrapment

Being confined, creating a sense of hopelessness.

Gothic Gadgets

Supernatural props enhancing eerie atmosphere.

Gothic Counterfeit

Faked authenticity complicating authorship and perspective.

The Grotesque

Disturbing mix of comedy and tragedy in fiction.

Necromancy

Dark art of communicating with the dead.

Revenge

Act of repaying harm done by others.

Superstition

Beliefs in supernatural forces and rituals.

The Supernatural

Phenomena defying natural laws and explanations.

Transformation

Significant change in form or appearance.

Plot

Sequence of events in a story.

Setting

Time and place influencing story's atmosphere.

Conflict

Struggle between opposing forces in a narrative.

External Conflict

Character struggles against outside forces.

Internal Conflict

Character grapples with personal dilemmas.

Theme

Central message or belief conveyed in a story.

Foreshadowing

Hints about future events in the narrative.

Irony

Contrast between expectation and reality.

Symbolism

Deeper meanings assigned to objects or actions.

Suspense

Anxious uncertainty about future events.

Point of View

Perspective from which a story is told.

Third Person Limited POV

Narrative focused on one character's thoughts.

Third Person Omniscient

All-knowing perspective revealing multiple characters' thoughts.

Third Person Objective POV

Narrative records only observable actions and dialogue.

Metonymy

Substitute of one term for another related term.

Gothic Hero

Isolated protagonist often facing dark forces.

Mystery

Situation overwhelming understanding, often in narratives.