Literary Devices of Gothic Literature

Gothic literature was developed during the eighteenth and nineteenth century of the Gothic era when war and controversy was too common. It received its name after the Gothic architecture that was becoming a popular trend in the construction of buildings. As the buildings of daunting castles and labyrinths began, so did the beginning foundation of Gothic literature. The construction of these buildings will later become an obsession with Gothic authors. For about 300 years before the Renaissance period, the construction of these castles and labyrinths continued, not only in England, but also in Gothic stories (Landau 2014). Many wars and controversies, such as the Industrial Revolution and Revolutionary War, were happening at this time, causing the Gothic literature to thrive (“Gothic Literature” 2011). People were looking for an escape from the real world and the thrill that Gothic literature offered was exactly what they needed. Gothic literature focuses on the horrors and the dark sides to the human brain, such as in Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein. Gothic literature today, as well as in the past, has been able to separate itself apart from other types of literature with its unique literary devices used to create fear and terror within the reader.

The blending of terror and romance in Gothic Literature was used in a unique combination to attract and entice the reader into the story. The terror in the literature helps the reader explore their imagination and form their own picture setting of what is happening. Using romance in the story also keeps the reader's attention because of the unknown and the curiosity of what happens next. The Gothic writing became popular after the Romantic period because readers were still a...

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...physical or intellectual ability. Therefore, stereotypical women were not given much personality in Gothic stories. The woman tends to be the motivation and the hope that the readers look for after the dread and despair of the gothic literature's depressing setting. Searching for the positive is a common response from readers after experiencing the haunted castles, landscape, or buildings. Again, if there was not any optimism in the story, readers feel awkward and reject the story. These settings display the Gothic feel for the characters that enter along with the reader. Along with the scary places, the monsters or villain, also take part in setting the Gothic feel to the literature. Whether it is a vampire, witch, woman in distress, or hero with super powers, the terror and optimism is a must within the story (“Themes & Construction: Frankenstein” 2003).