This as a result creates Gothic horror, similar to the horror genre but instead plays on the horrifying attributes of the radical human mind rather than the dread of the unknown and the irregular. In order to become more aware regarding the origins of the horror genre, it is important to understand the progress of the Gothic. It is notable to recognise the meaning of the term, its changing values, historical context and the varying archetypes of the Gothic novel in order to become acquainted with the horror genre’s development. Bibliography: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/gothic/history.html http://www.wwnorton.com/nael/romantic/topic_2/welcome.htm http://cai.ucdavis.edu/waters-sites/gothicnovel/155breport.html
Fear is a guiding force in both the short stories and the fixation the main characters with it only leads to their demise. With both terror and the supernatural being common conventions in most gothic fiction Gothic Fiction is a popular genre of literature that’s aim is to combine horror, fiction and romanticism. It originated in 18th century England and was said to have been founded through Horace Walpole’s novel “The Castle of Otranto” (Hughes). He claimed it to be a “found” medieval manuscript which added to its popular, although he later admitted it was a lie (Hughes). This mode of literature appears to have sprung out from Gothic architecture... ... middle of paper ... ...th possess conventions commonly demonstrated in gothic fiction surrounding setting, atmosphere and theme.
All are guilty; all will, in time, pay the price. And Gothic should also possess the reader; scare him, so he can think of nothing else. He has to read it--or see it--again and again to achieve some peace.” Edmunson quotes Chris Baldick, author of a book on the Frankenstein myth, that Gothic literature "should combine a fearful sense of inheritance in time with a claustrophobic sense of enclosure in space, these two dimensions reinforcing one another to produce an impression of sickening descent into disintegration” (Edmunson, p. 48). The Gothic imagination, in short, is contradictory to mighty American optimism. A nation of ideals, America has also been, not surprisingly, a nation of disillusionment, and we often find some sort of sympathetic resonance in tales of the dark and unholy.
Gothics weren't always perceived in that way, it was a way that allowed people to express their true beliefs, desires and most importantly their inner fears. The genre of Gothics is much more than just a simple collection of horror stories, even if they do place a rather large emphasis on mystery and fear. The term Gothic originally used to describe both art, and architecture, it later spread into the world of literature and writings. They all had extreme emotion and dark, depressing themes and ideas. Though many people in our time may never fully appreciate what the Gothic era gave to us, or understand the dark themes they present I will.
To quote one pundit: "...it presented, at first, a topic for argument and inflammatory rhetoric (Alfred Potter, from Gothic Horror p128 - Clive Bloom)." Despite (or maybe because of) its imperfect beginnings, however, Gothic literature came to be a venerable, albeit controversial genre with a mysterious appeal. Following in Walpole's wake were a number of famous authors ranging from Radcliffe and Jackson to the ever-popular Edgar Allen Poe, all of whom brought their own little twists to the dark romance. In fact, with so many points of view, an exact definition of gothic literature becomes difficult to nail down. So if there is no clear definition, one might ask (and justifiably) "What the heck is Gothic literature?"
How Bram Stoker Uses Gothic Conventions to Create an Atmosphere of Suspense and Fear for the Reader Dracula is one of the most well-know novels, it was written by Abraham Stoker. At the time Dracula was released in 1897, people regarded it as being a romantic horror, with some elements of fantasy and also it was especially famous for it's gothic conventions. In modern times the term 'gothic' can be regarded as being barbarous, offensive and uncouth. Although many people may not regard it as being scary it is still associated with the 'unknown'. In the late 18th and early 19th century, gothic ways of living were very common in the Eastern part of Europe, especially in the medieval times.
It will examine in deeper detail two aspects of the novels: the writing style and setting in order to show how the Gothic genre has developed and evolved and how it has affected the works mentioned previously. The aim of this paper is to explore the ways in which Stoker has used traditional Gothic elements and what he has contributed to this genre. The writing style is a tool to create fear and horror but there are some differences in how it is used in Early and in Victorian Gothic. Authors like Ann Radcliffe used suggestion, sensibility and suspense to provoke terror. She did not descr... ... middle of paper ... ...characteristics of both genres and others that make that Dracula diverges from typical Early Gothic novels.
I’ll Have My Blood Low Fat and Carb Free, Please. Gothic imagery and themes include castles, coffins, monsters and strange lands and pose the background of the classic Gothic novel. The Gothic element is synonymous with the horror and uncanny- a feeling rather than form, in which transgression is the central topic (Wisker 7). The vampire is a figure that transgresses society’s limits to form the central dynamic of the Gothic. “We enjoy seeing the limit transgressed- it horrifies us and reinforces our sense of boundaries and normalcy” (Halberstam 13).
Along with omens, supernatural events also appear in a Gothic novel to add mystery and include: "ghosts, giants, or inanimate objects coming to life" (Harris). The supernatural events continue to add the atmosphere of suspense and even horror to the Gothic novel. In a Gothic novel, a "tyrannical male" usually threatens a weak female, adding an elemen... ... middle of paper ... ...n and fulfills the last criteria in presenting the House of Seven Gables as a Gothic novel. The use of the elements of mystery, suspense, and horror in the House of Seven Gables creates the atmosphere common to a Gothic novel. The use of the supernatural and other mysterious events, in the House of Seven Gables, also compose the elements present in Gothic Literature.
HG Wells, although primarily a science-fiction author, also wrote a gothic horror story, "The Red Room". I will be comparing these two stories, to see how these ... ... middle of paper ... ...t be too lightly dismissed. These two stories are particularly interesting because they were both written by authors who aren't normally associated with the genre, so they have explored the clichés more than a seasoned horror writer might. But despite being so blatantly "influenced" by genre standards such as Henry James' The Turn Of The Screw and work of M.R. James, they remain gripping.