1. Gothic Literature

2. Origination Arose in late 18 th century Reaction against “The Age of Reason” or the Enlightenment A philosophical movement of the 18th century characterized by belief in the power of human reason and by innovation politics, religion, and education Emphasis on individuality and imagination appealed to Romantics Romantics: writers who emphasized emotion over intellect, individual over society, and imagination over logic First example of “Gothic” novel was Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic Story (1764)

3. Characteristics Mood of decay Dramatic action Generally violent or otherwise disturbing Destructively passionate romances Magnificent settings that are gloomy or bleak Emphasis on chivalry and magic

4. Characteristics Events that are macabre or melodramatically violent Typically a romance Supernatural phenomena Ghosts Mysterious disappearances

5. Characters Emphasis on story line and setting rather than characters and characterization Heroes and heroines may be mysterious with dark histories and secrets Often deals with abnormal psychological states Evil predominates and is usually personified Often focuses on the sufferings of an innocent heroine by a cruel (sometimes lustful) villain She is often repelled and attracted to the evil around her

6. Setting Called “gothic” due to inspiration drawn from medieval architectural style. Often dark, mysterious medieval castles Dungeons Subterranean passages Sliding panels Secret passageways

7. Examples Ann RadcliffeThe Italian (1797) The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794) Mary ShelleyFrankenstein (1817) Edgar Allan PoeThe Fall of the House of Usher (1839) Gregory LewisThe Monk (1796) William BeckfordVathek (1786)

8. Theme Sometimes virtue wins… But evil may dominate until it ultimately destroys… itself