Elements of a Gothic Novel

1. Elements of a Gothic Novel

2. Elements of a Gothic Novel • Setting in a Castle • An Atmosphere of Mystery and Suspense • An Ancient Prophecy • Omens, Portents, and Visions • Supernatural or otherwise Inexplicable events • High, even overwrought emotion

3. Elements (cont) • Women in distress • Women threatened by a powerful, impulsive, tyrannical male • The Metonymy of Gloom and Horror • Vocabulary of the Gothic • Elements of Romance

4. Setting in a Castle • Action takes place in or around an old castle, sometimes abandoned. • It often has trap doors, secret passages, or anything else that leads to a sense of the unknown

5. Atmosphere of Mystery and Suspense • Pervaded by a threatening feeling, a fear enhanced by the unknown: • Mystery could include-unknown parents, disappearance, or some other

6. Ancient Prophecy • Usually obscure, and connected with its inhabitants (either former or present) • Eventually manifested as a legend or folk tale (Ex: “It is said that the ghost of old man Smith stills wanders these halls…”)

7. Omens, Portents, Visions • Portent means-Indication of something that is about to happen, or soon going to come; a foreshadowing • Often shown in dreams, or visions • EX: If a statue of the main character falls and breaks, that is an omen of what is to come—his death.

8. Supernatural or Otherwise Inexplicable Events • Dramatic amazing events occurred, such as ghosts or giants walking, or inanimate objects coming to life.

9. High, Overwrought Emotion • Characters often overcome by extreme: • Anger • Sorrow • Depression • Surprise • And Especially Terror • Frequent Crying • Breathlessness and Panic are common

10. Women in Distress • Female Characters often face events that leave them: • Fainting • Terrified • Screaming/Crying • Characteristics are: • Pensive • Lonely • Oppressed

11. Women Threatened by Powerful, Tyrannical Male • Male character has the power as: • King • Lord of the Manor • Father • Guardian • To demand she do something intolerable • Marry someone she doesn’t love • Commit a Crime • Etc.

12. The Metonymy of Gloom and Horror • A type of metaphor for doom and gloom: Examples: • Wind, especially howling • Rain, especially blowing • Footsteps approaching • Lights in abandoned rooms • Thunder and lightening • Ruins of buildings

13. Vocabularyof the Gothic • Listed in several categories: • Mystery: Diabolical, Enchantment, Haunted • Fear/Terror: Afflicted, Agony, Frantic, Grief • Surprise: Alarm, Astonishment, Shock • Haste: Breathless, Anxious, Frantic, Sudden • Anger: Provoked, Rage, Raving, Wrath • Largeness: Gigantic, Vast, Tremendous

14. Elementsof Romance • Powerful Love • Uncertainty of Reciprocation • Unreturned Love • Tension Between true love and father’s control • Lovers Parted • Illicit love or lust threatens the virtuous one • Rival lovers or multiple suitors

15. Powerful Love • Heat stirring, often sudden, emotions create a life or death commitment

16. Uncertaintyof Reciprocation • What is the beloved thinking? Is the lover’s love returned or not?

17. Unreturned Love • Someone loves in vain (at least temporarily). Later, the love may be returned

18. Tension Between the True Love and Father’s Control • Disapproval, or choice. • Most often, the father of the woman disapproves of the man she loves

19. Lovers Parted • Some obstacles arise and separate the lovers, geographically or in some other way

20. Illicit Love or Lust Threatens the Virtuous One • The young woman becomes the target of some evil man’s desires and schemes.

21. Rival Lovers or Multiple Suitors • One of the lovers (or even both) can have more than one person vying for their affection