GothicGothicThe Gothic novel and the The Gothic novel and the

sublimesublime

The term GothicThe term Gothic

The term Gothic, applied to this type The term Gothic, applied to this type of novel, meant both “medieval”, of novel, meant both “medieval”, with its relative store of ruins, with its relative store of ruins, ancient castles, abbeys, etc., and ancient castles, abbeys, etc., and “supernatural”, i.e. mysterious“supernatural”, i.e. mysterious and and frightening. frightening.

The beginningThe beginning

In the second half of the 18° century, In the second half of the 18° century, a new taste revealed itself in fiction, a new taste revealed itself in fiction, marked by a sensibility towards the marked by a sensibility towards the strange and the mysterious. strange and the mysterious.

Time and placeTime and place

The Gothic novel flavourished in The Gothic novel flavourished in Great Britain from about 1760 to Great Britain from about 1760 to 1820 and it reflected a specific 1820 and it reflected a specific historical moment, in opposition to historical moment, in opposition to the Enlightment and rationality the Enlightment and rationality (revolt against realism). (revolt against realism).

Different from the Industrial Different from the Industrial Revolution periodRevolution period

People realized in fact that all these People realized in fact that all these technologies could not help people to technologies could not help people to archieve a better life, so many people archieve a better life, so many people started thinking it was better before. started thinking it was better before.

DISILLUSIONMENT

It developed the idea to escape and It developed the idea to escape and fear of:fear of:1) consequences of science1) consequences of science2) things you don’t know2) things you don’t know3) evil3) evil

The originThe origin

These ideals gave the rise to the These ideals gave the rise to the Gothic novel, with appeared to all Gothic novel, with appeared to all strate of society and it had its origin strate of society and it had its origin on the social iniquity (factory owners on the social iniquity (factory owners and poor people) and on the and poor people) and on the mechanization of work, which has mechanization of work, which has destroyed the importance of human destroyed the importance of human being. being.

Gothic in literatureGothic in literature Its plots normally set in an Its plots normally set in an

immaginary past time, usually the immaginary past time, usually the Middle Ages, always connected with Middle Ages, always connected with grotesque and supernatural. grotesque and supernatural.

Elements of the new novelElements of the new novel

New taste for the desolate, the ruins, New taste for the desolate, the ruins, graveyards, ancient castles and graveyards, ancient castles and abbeysabbeys

Impulse for freedom and escape from Impulse for freedom and escape from the realitythe reality

Fear of the triumph of evil over good Fear of the triumph of evil over good and chaos over order.and chaos over order.

CharactersCharacters

GhostsGhosts VampiresVampires VillainsVillains Persecuted womenPersecuted women

FeaturesFeatures

1.1.TensionTension

2.2.Fear Fear

3.3.Suspance Suspance

4.4.Sublime Sublime

The sublimeThe sublime

This form is used to express a noble This form is used to express a noble elevation of feelings and behaviour. elevation of feelings and behaviour.

At the very beginning the word sublime At the very beginning the word sublime was indicated as a synonim of beautiful, was indicated as a synonim of beautiful, which had its origin in the passion of which had its origin in the passion of inspiration, coming from the soul. inspiration, coming from the soul.

The passion caused in Nature is the so-The passion caused in Nature is the so-called Astonishment. It is a state which called Astonishment. It is a state which stops all the motions. stops all the motions.