![]() ![]() Many of these stories take place in antique spaces such as castles or large houses however, the suggestion of space being antique also applies (Hogle, 2002, p. The dichotomy between the past and the present. By this definition, Gothic literature is indicated as not equal to horror because the purpose is not to frighten the reader. “Otherness” or “othered” beings are not a concept isolated to Gothic literature, but they can be related to the Gothic concept of the “sublime.” Hogle (2002) explains this-with the help of Horace Walpole’s (1996) preface of the original Otranto, and Edmund Burke (1990) as cited in Gothic Documents-as a dichotomy between “constrain reactions and behaviour” against a “threat of ‘death’ and the dissolution of the self” from the “sublime” or its implication (p. Common examples of this include ghosts, demons, monsters, and even madwomen or men (Hogle, 2002, p. Due to the overlap with Romanticism, Gothic literature places significance on the irrational and emotional where the former manifests itself in the supernatural, fantastic, and uncanny, or “ othered beings” (Editors of Britannica, 2021 “Gothic,” n.d. To reiterate, Gothic literature is defined by mystery and fear where there are often themes of death (sometimes macabre), the supernatural, confinement, and isolation (“What is the Gothic?”, 2021). To begin, the literary characteristics and elements of Gothic literature must be outlined. However, this will be further explained in the subsequent section. It is the implementation and purpose of these elements and the direction of the narrative that defines the genre(s) of that literary work. The elements previously mentioned are some-but not all-of the qualities that will lead to literature being called Gothic. What Makes Literature “Gothic?”ĭefining Gothic as an aesthetic is an important step to understanding the literature associated with it because the genres that afterwards define them are distinctly different. ![]() Regardless of however old this literary aesthetic may be, Gothic works are still loved as are its themes and elements that continue to be prevalent in today’s literature. Well-known Gothic literature includes Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher.” However, many attribute the first Gothic novel to Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto where an introduction by Henry Morley (2021) quotes Walpole who states his inspiration as “‘a very natural dream for a head like, filled with Gothic story’” (Editors of Britannica, 2020 para. At the same time, the Gothic novel coincides with the Romantic era, that of which opposed the values and aesthetics of Neoclassic order and rationality (Editors of Britannica, 2020 2021). Evident in European castles and monasteries, these buildings later become notable settings and motifs within Gothic literature (Editors of Britannica, 2020). ![]() In fact, the term ‘Gothic’ originates from the same namesake of medieval architectural style (Editors of Britannica, 2020 Hogle, 2002, p. It is more so an aesthetic that categorizes varying arts, whether that is literature, paintings, or architecture (Hogle, 2002, pp. Although its key characteristics are of mystery, terror, and death, Gothic literature does not exist solely to scare its audience. When many think of Gothic literature, it is assumed that it is a horror story taking place in an antique space.
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