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A European [[Romanticism|Romantic]], pseudo-medieval literary genre that took shape in England between 1790 and 1830. It was "invented" by [[Horace Walpole]], whose ''Castle of Otranto'' (1765) became the epitome of this genre. "The gothic has been associated with with a rebellion against a constraining neoclassical aesthetic ideal of order and unity" (Kilgour).
A European [[Romanticism|Romantic]], pseudo-medieval literary genre that took shape in England between 1790 and 1830. It was "invented" by [[Horace Walpole]], whose ''Castle of Otranto'' (1765) became the epitome of this genre. "The gothic has been associated with with a rebellion against a constraining neoclassical aesthetic ideal of order and unity" (Kilgour).
The action often takes place in and around an old castle and at night; the place involves secret passages, trap doors, secret rooms and dark or hidden staircases. It not only evokes the atmosphere of horror, dread, mystery and suspense, but also portrays the deterioration of its world. The decaying, ruined scenery implies that at one time there was a thriving world. At one time the abbey, castle, or landscape was something treasured and appreciated. Now, all that lasts is the decaying shell of a once thriving dwelling.
Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events occur in gothic novels, e.g. the appearance of ghosts or giants walking, or inanimate objects coming to life. In some works, the events are ultimately given a natural explanation, while in others the events are truly supernatural. The Gothic Novel also deals with the [[sublime]]. The concept of the sublime became used as a way of talking about the impact of certain dramatic or powerful manifestations of nature (towering mountains, storms, etc) or supernatural phenomena (demons, angels, ghosts).
There is always the Gothic hero, the protagonist, who is isolated voluntarily or involuntarily. Then there is the villain, who is the epitome of evil, either by his own fall from grace, or by some implicit malevolence.


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
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* http://cai.ucdavis.edu/waters-sites/gothicnovel/155breport.html
* http://cai.ucdavis.edu/waters-sites/gothicnovel/155breport.html
* http://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm
* http://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm
[[Category:Expansion]]

Revision as of 12:03, 29 November 2013

A European Romantic, pseudo-medieval literary genre that took shape in England between 1790 and 1830. It was "invented" by Horace Walpole, whose Castle of Otranto (1765) became the epitome of this genre. "The gothic has been associated with with a rebellion against a constraining neoclassical aesthetic ideal of order and unity" (Kilgour).

Sources

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