Characteristics of Gothic Literature

Gothic Literature (Gothicism, Gothic Style)

It originated in England in the late 18th century, and its founding father was Horace Walpole. His The Castle of Otranto created the model for the early classical Gothic novel. Gothic literature flourished in the Victorian era, and most of it was included in the ranks of horror literature and magical fiction, and its content was dominated by death, gods and ghosts, deduction, bloodshed, and specters, with a strong horror color. Gothic literature, for the darkness of repression, the aesthetics of death, religious sentiment and aestheticism, has an innate almost paranoid pursuit of the ultimate, he always showed a kind of isolation and alienation, gloomy spiritual temperament. This philosophy, which is alien to classical philosophical concepts, has made it linger for a long time outside the gates of mainstream culture and serious art. Notable elements of Gothic fiction include horror, mystery, the supernatural, bad luck, death, decadence, old houses with ghosts, epilepsy, madness, and family curses.

Features of Gothic Literature

Setting of the Novel Wastelands, extreme weather, exotic backgrounds, collapsed, dilapidated castles, basements, underpasses, catacombs, attics, labyrinthine corridors, revolving staircases, dark shadows, moonlight, flickering candles, magic, supernatural forces, horrific events (e.g., murders, homicides) Plot Patterns A beautiful female protagonist (a princess or a beautiful woman) is taken or held hostage by a demon, monster, or villainous character against an exotic backdrop, and after a series of trials and tribulations, is eventually rescued by the hero, returns to his family and friends, and is happily united with his beloved.　The heroic hero (prince, knight, warrior or police officer, detective) in a dangerous and bizarre environment with courage and wisdom to overcome a series of difficulties, and ultimately defeat the demons, monsters or villainous characters, to save the captive or blackmailed by the beautiful heroine, success and success, and get a beautiful woman.　Artistic Effect Eerie, mysterious, suspenseful, dramatic, exciting, giving pleasure.

Representative works

The more typical works are: The Castle of Otranto HoraceWalpole (HoraceWalpole) is recognized as the first western gothic novel The Willan Charles Brown TheAsylum; or, AlonzoandMelissa Isaac Mitchell In fact, some of the famous novels we know can also be categorized as Gothic, such as: The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries The Treasure of King Solomon and so on.