American Gothic Research Paper

From the later eighteenth century all the way to present day, the gothic genre has appeared sporadically in many poems, short stories, and films. Contradictory to the Age of Enlightenment, an era believed to have valued reason above all others, gothic fiction explored more of the darker aspects of human nature. The concept of a supernatural literary genre was first analyzed by English writers, such as Walpole and Radcliffe, during the transition between the eighteenth and nineteenth century (1750-1800). Although, the first known accounts of gothic literature by American writers wasn’t until the early 1800s with works like Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” in 1839. Since

Although, it is thought to be a groundbreaking discovery in writing to some. The progression of the American gothic has been integral to how writers go about their work. Thus further leading human nature to new unexplored areas of literature. So what makes this genre so captivating? -- Why do people expose themselves to true horror for enjoyment? According to Frank Farley PhD, psychologist at Temple University, people have been curious about horror for years, trying to make sense of it all, especially its role in film. He says: “Through movies, we’re able to see horror in front of our eyes, and some people are fascinated by it. They’re interested in the unusual and the bizarre because they don’t understand it and it’s so different from our everyday lives.” Farley is stating the fact that today, humans are exposed to horror face-to-face and consequently have put themselves through true terror for their own enjoyment. This speaks volumes when it comes to how far the gothic genre has come since it was first introduced, eradicating any nebulous feelings people might have had on whether it would last throughout the history of American