1. The Mysteries of Udolpho & Northanger Abbey
Peak Gothic Aesthetic & the Parody of a Petty Woman

2. The Mysteries of Udolpho Summary
Character Guide
Emily St. Aubert-Protagonist
Valancourt-love interest
Madame Cheron-Emily’s guardian, marries Signor Montoni
Signor Montoni-Antagonist, very evil
DuPont-Was kept in dungeon, helps Emily and two servants escape
The Villeforts-Own the chateau from the beginning of the story
Ludovico-servant who stays in the haunted chamber
Sister Agnes-Secretly Signora Laurentini and Emily’s aunt

3. What Makes the Story Gothic?
Setting
Fascination with the Past
The story begins in 1584
Many old, crumbling locations including
The Castle of Udolpho
Several old French chateaux (large manors for the nobility)

4. What Makes the Story Gothic?
Supernatural Element & Suspense
Voices in the Castle of Udolpho
Haunted chamber in the estate of the Marquis de Villerois
Supernatural element partially explained with a rational explanation
What’s behind the black veil?

5. Northanger Abbey Summary
Character Guide
Catherine Moreland-Protagonist
Henry Tilney-Love interest
Isabella Thorpe-Catherine’s fake friend, gets engaged to James, gets involved with Captain Tilney
James Moreland-Catherine’s brother
John Thorpe-Isabella’s brother
General Tilney-Henry’s father
Captain Tilney-Henry’s older brother, gets involved with Isabella
Eleanor Tilney-Henry’s Sister

6. How Does Austen Parody the Gothic Style?
Pure-hearted Heroines & Naïve Teenagers
Catherine imagines herself as Emily
Juxtaposition of the dramatic vs the mundane
Can read Gothic novels but cannot read people
Pokes fun at the Gothic audience as a whole

7. Why Parody the Gothic Style?
Austen defends her own writing style
Melodrama vs. real threats
Advocates controlled emotion
Speaks to Austen as a person as much as Austen as an author