The Gothic A genre of spooky stories The

The Gothic A genre of spooky stories

The Gothic Movement A reaction to Enlightenment rationalism, which was concerned with classical principles and scientific progress. Gothic novels drew upon the conventions of the medieval (chivalric) romances that told of knights battling with magic and monsters. Presented a protagonist’s immersion into a dark, horrific realm Reintroduced supernatural elements into fiction.

The Gothic Deals with difficult-to-express issues and anxieties. Boundaries or limits (political, philosophical, sexual, etc. ) are both established and challenged in Gothic fiction. Blurring or disruptions of borders are common (e. g. , inside/outside, illusion/reality, masculine/feminine, material/spiritual, good/evil) Initially considered to be of low literary quality.

Conventions of the Gothic Scientific tone (fantastic events observed through experiment or verified by observation) Family secrets Puzzling figures with supernatural powers Specific reference to noon, midnight, twilight (the witching hours) Use of traditionally "magical" numbers such as 3, 7, 13

Elements of the Gothic? Let’s watch a clip and make a list…

Gothic Setting In an old castle An atmosphere of mystery and suspense An ancient prophecy Omens, portents, visions Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events Unnatural acts of nature (blood-red moon, sudden fierce wind, etc. ) Marvelous or mysterious creatures, monsters, spirits, or strangers

Gothic Plot High, even overwrought emotion Women in distress Women threatened by a powerful, impulsive, tyrannical male

Metonymy: gloom and horror Metonymy defined: a figure of speech in which something related to a thing or suggested by it is substituted for the thing itself. Ex. Using the word crown instead of king. wind, especially howling doors grating on rusty hinges footsteps approaching lights in abandoned rooms characters trapped in a room ruins of buildings thunder and lightning rain, especially blowing sighs, moans, howls, eerie sounds clanking chains gusts of wind blowing out lights doors suddenly slamming shut baying of distant dogs (or wolves? ) crazed laughter

Modern Gothic Examples Southern Gothic subgenre (more on this another day) Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice The Shining, by Stephen King “The Tell-Tale Heart, ” by Edgar Allen Poe “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, ” by Washington Irving Twilight Series, by Stephanie Meyer

Frankenstein as Gothic Judge for yourself… Reading Schedule: Chapters 1 -3 for Friday, Feb. 26 Chapters 4 -9 for March 1