Gothic Literature

1. Gothic Literature

2. What is gothic Literature? • Subgenre of literature that is characterized by grotesque characters, bizarre situations, and violent events.

3. Where did it Come from? • Gothic literature originated in Europe. It branched off from Romanticism and quickly gained popularity. This genre was popular in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries.

4. Elements of Gothic Literature • Setting in a castle or mansion.

5. Elements of Gothic Literature • Atmosphere of mystery and suspense.

6. Elements of Gothic Literature • An ancient prophecy

7. Elements of Gothic Literature • Omens, portents and visions

8. Elements of Gothic Literature • Supernatural beings and events.

9. Elements of Gothic Literature • High overwrought emotion.

10. Elements of Gothic Literature • Women in distress.

11. Elements of Gothic Literature • Women threatened by a powerful, impulsive, tyrannical male.

12. The fear is in the Details • Howling wind • Doors grating on rusty hinges • Footsteps approaching • Lights on in an abandoned room/house. • Characters trapped in a room. • Ruins • Thunder and lightning • Rain • Sighs, moans, howls, eerie sounds • Clanking chains or unexpected knocks and bangs. • Lights flickering or going out • Doors suddenly shamming shut • Crazed laughter or inaudible whispers.

13. Vocabulary of the Gothic

14. Vocabulary of the Gothic Fear, Terror, or Sorrow afflicted, affliction, agony, anguish, apprehensions, apprehensive, commiseration, concern, despair, dismal, dismay, dread, dreaded, dreading, fearing, frantic, fright, frightened, grief, hopeless, horrid, horror, lamentable, melancholy, miserable, mournfully, panic, sadly, scared, shrieks, sorrow, sympathy, tears, terrible, terrified, terror, unhappy, wretched

15. Vocabulary of the Gothic Surprise alarm, amazement, astonished, astonishment, shocking, staring, surprise, surprised, thunderstruck, wonder Haste anxious, breathless, flight, frantic, hastened, hastily, impatience, impatient, impatiently, impetuosity, precipitately, running, sudden, suddenly

16. Vocabulary of the Gothic Fear, Terror, or Sorrow afflicted, affliction, agony, anguish, apprehensions, apprehensive, commiseration, concern, despair, dismal, dismay, dread, dreaded, dreading, fearing, frantic, fright, frightened, grief, hopeless, horrid, horror, lamentable, melancholy, miserable, mournfully, panic, sadly, scared, shrieks, sorrow, sympathy, tears, terrible, terrified, terror, unhappy, wretched

17. Vocabulary of the Gothic

18. Elements of Romance • In addition to the standard gothic machinery above, many gothic novels contain elements of romance as well. Elements of romance include these: • Powerful love. Heart stirring, often sudden, emotions create a life or death commitment. Many times this love is the first the character has felt with this overwhelming power. 2. Uncertainty of reciprocation. What is the beloved thinking? Is the lover's love returned or not? 3. Unreturned love. Someone loves in vain (at least temporarily). Later, the love may be returned.

19. Elements of Romance 4. Tension between true love and father's control, disapproval, or choice. Most often, the father of the woman disapproves of the man she loves. 5. Lovers parted. Some obstacle arises and separates the lovers, geographically or in some other way. One of the lovers is banished, arrested, forced to flee, locked in a dungeon, or sometimes, disappears without explanation. Or, an explanation may be given (by the person opposing the lovers' being together) that later turns out to be false. 6. Illicit love or lust threatens the virtuous one. The young woman becomes a target of some evil man's desires and schemes. 7. Rival lovers or multiple suitors. One of the lovers (or even both) can have more than one person vying for affection.

20. Gothic Renaissance • Even though the gothic literary movement started almost 250 years ago, society is till obsessed with this thrilling genre…… • ……………..…..Want Proof???