The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831) by Victor Hugo Salathiel the Immortal (1828) by George Croly Melmoth the Wanderer (1820) by Charles Maturin
The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794) by Ann Radcliffe The History of the Caliph Vathek (1786) by William Thomas Beckford The Castle of Otranto (1764) by Horace Walpole <- Known as the start of the genre Virginal Maiden in Distress: Our heroines are often orphans, abandoned or without guardian, leaving them open to become prey by the traditional Gothic villain (usually powerful men) Gothic Literature Reading List Supernatural: this is present in many ways, whether it is the devil, a villain, a haunting, etc. Setting: Gothic architecture plays an important role like a castle or large manor and/or caves / wilderness. Omens: or foreshadowing of things to come, especially in the form of dreams Mystery: This is usually present even if the mystery later can be explained and ends up not being fantastical Inexplicable Events: Elements of the supernatural or paranormal evil (morally wrong, immoral, wicked)Ĭlergy: portrayed often as weak and/or evilĭeath: usually appears in one way or another, whether it is an actual death, a graveyard, etc. Key Elements, Themes, or Tropes of Gothic Literatureīattle: of good (morally good, virtuous, or pious) vs. This turn to mystery and the inexplicable, left doors open for the overlapping Gothic movement to take hold. It was believed that things could not always be explained by reason and instead could be discovered with imagination and the healing power of nature. During the Romantic movement, reason was least valued. The Romantic movement focused on emotion and the experience of emotions, such as apprehension, terror, and horror. The Romantic movement was said to have made Gothic literature even more popular, as Romanticism was characterized by its focus on emotions, glorification of the past, and emphasis on nature. The Gothic period is roughly known to have occurred between 1764 – 1840, overlapping with the romantic era (1800 – 1850), but obviously its influence can still be seen today.
It’s common to find ghosts and other paranormal phenomena in Gothic literature as well as mystery, fear, suspense and a healthy dose of melodrama. Gothic literature is known for featuring the supernatural, blending horror and romance, and the emphasis on setting, feeling, and atmosphere. It focuses on death, terror, chaos, passion, and ruin, and at times romance, and was a response to the surroundings (historical, psychological, etc.) of the late 18 th century and early 19 th century. Gothic literature is a movement and a subgenre of fiction. If you want to peek at the source of these pictures, just click on the board. There’s so much I could say about this subject, as it includes most of my favorite stories and authors, but for the sake of not rambling, I tried to keep my wits about me.īut first, let me share my Gothic literature mood board I made with pins I found on Pinterest to you know, get you in the mood…for a Gothic discussion! Today I wanted to talk about Gothic literature and tell you a little more about it.
There have already been some fabulous posts like Both Things I Know About Gothic Horror I Learned from Jane Austen Who Learned from Ann Radcliffe from Erica Davis and My Favorite Gothics from Jenna Lehne. It’s Gothic Horror month here at The Midnight Society.