ENC1102--Characteristics of Gothic Literature (Notes for Lecture). You may write down (handwriting acceptable) in your binder if you want to learn better--not required.

While this list is not exhaustive, some elements of Gothic literature follow. Gothic literature is not necessarily always supernatural, "scary," or unrealistic. The Gothic elements below pertain to some of the writings of the "dark Romantics" in American Romanticism (approx. 1800-1860). However, the gothic genre in fiction still exists today (Joyce Carol Oates, for example). Gothic fiction as a genre started in the mid-1700s.

Story Elements:

• The story is set in "scary" places (castles, dungeons, large and dilapidated mansions), often with characters in extreme or dangerous situations. The story is sometimes set in a remote or secluded area as well.
• The story may contain supernatural or fantastic (unbelievable, lacking realism) elements.
• The story illustrates the theme of "the other"--someone perceived as odd, strange, rebellious, or different from a larger community. This individual is often oppressed, isolated, or treated severely through punishment.
• The mood/tone of the text is gloominess, darkness, fear, and decay.
• The selection utilizes vivid descriptive imagery for dramatic effect.
• At times, the plot is melodramatic or sensationalistic ("over-the-top").
• Themes of isolation and mystery are often present.
• The plot may have unanswered questions.
• The literature may demonstrate a fascination with the past.
• The theme of the individual against a larger community is sometimes predominant.
• Sometimes, Gothic literature has elements of "the grotesque." In fiction, characters are usually considered grotesque if they induce both empathy and disgust. (A character who inspires disgust alone is simply a villain or a monster.) Obvious examples would include the physically deformed and the mentally deficient, but people with cringe-worthy social traits are also included. In literature, the word grotesque carries with it elements of the monstrous, the malformed, the frightening, the freakish, and the outright strange.

For more information on Gothic fiction, click on this link: https://www.nypl.org/blog/2018/10/18/brief-history-gothic-horror