Gothic/Supernatural Elements

1
Gothic/Supernatural Elements

• What comes to mind when you think of the words
  GOTHIC
• Or
• SUPERNATURAL?

2
The Gothic Movement

• The term gothick actually comes from a tribal
  name from 1 AD. The Gothicks were a rough and
  brutal tribe who swept through the Roman Empire
  long ago. They destroyed Roman towns in Europe.
  Because literary writers wanted to go back to
  more medieval poetry, they names their movement
  The Gothic Movement.

3
Characteristics of the Gothic Movement
4
Focus

• Gothic stories always have a point behind them.
  Their principle aim is to evoke terror by using
  dark mystery and suspense. Violence never occurs
  simply for the sake of violence. Every extreme
  event is purposeful and used to reveal something
  about the plot.

5
Extreme Situations

• These unreal, amazing scenarios are used to
  completely blow everything out of proportion.

6
Deeper Meaning

• After catching the readers attention with exotic
  tales of monsters, criminals, violence, revenge
  and death, the author can bring a reader deeper
  into his work in order to see the true meaning
  behind the tales.

7
Class Structure

• During this time in Europe, classes were very
  much set. You will find a head of the manor and
  servants in Gothic literature.

8
Elements of the Supernatural

• This doesnt mean that each piece has vampires,
  werewolves and ghosts, but many contain black
  mysterious birds, shreds of white disappearing
  down a hall, thunderstorms or bumps in the night.

9
Death and Darkness

• Gothic writers often focus on and talk about
  death and darkness - blackness, hidden passages,
  sliding panels, creaking doors, dark castles,
  dungeons, mysterious disappearances.

10
Innocent Heroine

• Often a fair maiden will suffer due to a villain.