The Gothic Novel

1
The Gothic Novel

• A novel in which supernatural horrors and an
  atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the action.

2
Invented by Horace Walpole

• The Castle of Otranto (1764) contains essentially
  all the elements that constitute the genre.
  Walpole's novel was imitated not only in the
  eighteenth century and not only in the novel
  form, but it has influenced writing, poetry, and
  even film making up to the present day.
• http//www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm

3
Setting

• Dark
• Mysterious castle where ghosts and sinister
  humans roam
• Secret passageways
• Gloom and horror
• Wind and rain

4
Supernatural Elements

• A giant--or
• A sighing portraitor
• A skeletonor
• Ghosts or their apparent presence
• Omens
• Dream visions

5
Women

• Fainting
• Frightened
• Screaming
• Threatened by powerful male

6
Elements of Gloom and Horror

• doors grating on rusty hinges
• howls in the distance
• distant sighs
• footsteps approaching

• lights in abandoned rooms
• gusts of wind blowing out lights or blowing
  suddenly
• characters trapped in rooms or imprisoned

7
Elements of romance in the Gothic novel

• Powerful love
• Uncertainty of reciprocation
• Unreturned love
• Tension between true love and father's control
• Lovers parted
• Illicit love of lust threatens virtuous one
• Rival lovers

8
Vocabulary

• Use of words indicating fear, mystery, etc.
• Apparition
• Devil
• Ghost
• Haunted
• Terror
• Fright