the dark romantics gothic literature 1760-1820…and beyond

The Dark The Dark RomanticsRomantics

Gothic LiteratureGothic Literature

1760-1820…and 1760-1820…and beyondbeyond

““Can we speak of Can we speak of ‘ghosts’ without ‘ghosts’ without transforming the transforming the whole world and whole world and

ourselves, too, into ourselves, too, into phantoms?”phantoms?”

Jean-Michale RebatéJean-Michale Rebaté

The Origins of the term The Origins of the term Gothic (“Gothick”)Gothic (“Gothick”)

GothicGothic Originally referred to the Originally referred to the

northern Gothic tribes that northern Gothic tribes that invaded Europe in the 4invaded Europe in the 4thth, 5, 5thth, , and 6and 6thth centuries centuries

Later applied to Renaissance Later applied to Renaissance architecture (critics thought architecture (critics thought the style originated with the the style originated with the Gothic tribe)Gothic tribe) Was considered ugly, barbaric, Was considered ugly, barbaric,

archaicarchaic

Gothic ArchitectureGothic Architecture First Gothic First Gothic

Cathedral build in Cathedral build in 11441144

Gargoyles Gargoyles (originally for (originally for religious buildings)religious buildings)

Vaulted ceilingsVaulted ceilings Structural ribbing Structural ribbing

(skeletal)(skeletal) Stained glassStained glass

Art InfluencesArt Influences

““The Nightmare”The Nightmare”Johann Heinrick FuseliJohann Heinrick Fuseli

The Beginning The Beginning

1764- Horace Walpole publishes 1764- Horace Walpole publishes The The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic StoryCastle of Otranto: A Gothic Story anonymouslyanonymously Contains essentially all the elements Contains essentially all the elements

associated with the genreassociated with the genre Best-sellerBest-seller Had remodeled his home in “Gothick” styleHad remodeled his home in “Gothick” style

Said that the inspiration of his story was a Said that the inspiration of his story was a dream that was so haunting, he had to write it dream that was so haunting, he had to write it downdown

Elements of Gothic Elements of Gothic LiteratureLiterature

1. Setting1. Setting Action takes place in Action takes place in

or around an or around an old old castlecastle

Seems abandoned, or Seems abandoned, or broken downbroken down

Has secret passages, Has secret passages, doors, roomsdoors, rooms

Usually very large, but Usually very large, but seems claustrophobicseems claustrophobic


2. An atmosphere of mystery or 2. An atmosphere of mystery or suspensesuspense Feeling of being threatened or fearfulFeeling of being threatened or fearful Plot is built around a mystery (such as Plot is built around a mystery (such as

unknown parentage, a disappearance, unknown parentage, a disappearance, or some other inexplicable event)or some other inexplicable event)

This is achieved by the next three This is achieved by the next three elements…elements…


3. An ancient prophecy3. An ancient prophecy Usually connected with the castle or its Usually connected with the castle or its

inhabitantsinhabitants Obscure, partial, or confusingObscure, partial, or confusing The characters struggle to understandThe characters struggle to understand


4. Omens, visions4. Omens, visions Character may have a disturbing

dream/vision Some phenomenon may be seen as an omen

of coming events If the statue of the lord of the manor falls over,

it may predict his death


5. Supernatural or otherwise 5. Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable eventsinexplicable events Dramatic or amazing events occurDramatic or amazing events occur

Such as ghosts or giants, or inanimate Such as ghosts or giants, or inanimate objects (such as a suit of armor or painting) objects (such as a suit of armor or painting) coming to lifecoming to life

In some works, the events are ultimately In some works, the events are ultimately given a natural explanation, while in others given a natural explanation, while in others the events are truly supernaturalthe events are truly supernatural


6. High, overwrought emotion6. High, overwrought emotion Narration may be highly sentimentalNarration may be highly sentimental Characters are often overcome by Characters are often overcome by

anger, sorrow, surprise, and especially, anger, sorrow, surprise, and especially, terror. terror.

Suffer from raw nerves and a feelings of Suffer from raw nerves and a feelings of impending doom impending doom Crying and emotional speeches are frequentCrying and emotional speeches are frequent Breathlessness and panic are common Breathlessness and panic are common


7. Women in distress7. Women in distress Female characters often face events Female characters often face events

that leave them fainting, terrified, that leave them fainting, terrified, screaming, and/or sobbingscreaming, and/or sobbing

Lonely, pensive, and oppressed heroine Lonely, pensive, and oppressed heroine is often the central figure of the novelis often the central figure of the novel Her sufferings are even more pronounced Her sufferings are even more pronounced

and the focus of attention than the other and the focus of attention than the other characters in the storycharacters in the story


8. Women threatened by a 8. Women threatened by a powerful, tyrannical malepowerful, tyrannical male One or more male characters has the One or more male characters has the

power (king, lord of the manor, father, or power (king, lord of the manor, father, or guardian) to demand that one or more of guardian) to demand that one or more of the female characters do something the female characters do something intolerable intolerable

The woman may be commanded to marry The woman may be commanded to marry someone she does not love (it may even be someone she does not love (it may even be the powerful male himself), or commit a the powerful male himself), or commit a crime crime


9. The metonymy of gloom and 9. The metonymy of gloom and horrorhorror Metonymy is a subtype of metaphor, in Metonymy is a subtype of metaphor, in

which something (like rain) is used to which something (like rain) is used to stand for something else (like sorrow). stand for something else (like sorrow). For example, the film industry likes to use For example, the film industry likes to use

metonymy as a quick shorthand, so we often metonymy as a quick shorthand, so we often notice that it is raining in funeral scenes. notice that it is raining in funeral scenes.

Note: that the following metonymies for Note: that the following metonymies for "doom and gloom" all suggest some element "doom and gloom" all suggest some element of mystery, danger, or the supernatural…of mystery, danger, or the supernatural…


Wind, especially howlingWind, especially howling Doors grating on rusty Doors grating on rusty

hingeshinges Footsteps approaching Footsteps approaching Gusts of wind blowing Gusts of wind blowing

out lightsout lights Characters trapped in a Characters trapped in a

room room Baying of dogs (or Baying of dogs (or

wolves) wolves) Thunder and/or lightning Thunder and/or lightning

RainRain Sighs, moans, howlsSighs, moans, howls Clanking chains Clanking chains Lights in abandoned Lights in abandoned

rooms rooms Gusts of wind blowing Gusts of wind blowing

out lights out lights Doors suddenly Doors suddenly

slamming shut slamming shut Crazed laughterCrazed laughter

What’s Your Favorite What’s Your Favorite Scary MovieScary Movie

Think about a scary movie you Think about a scary movie you enjoy…enjoy…

What scary movies have come out What scary movies have come out recently?recently?

Now look back at all the elements of Now look back at all the elements of the genrethe genre Which ones are evident in your favorite Which ones are evident in your favorite

scary movie?scary movie?

CriticismCriticism

Gothic tradition has not been very Gothic tradition has not been very highly regardedhighly regarded Attracted many “big” writers: Keats, Attracted many “big” writers: Keats,

Melville, Faulkner Melville, Faulkner but it is usually not these works that are but it is usually not these works that are

highlightedhighlighted Women also wrote in this genreWomen also wrote in this genre

Jane Austin Jane Austin (Northanger Abbey),(Northanger Abbey), Mary Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (Wollstonecraft Shelley (Frankenstein)Frankenstein)

RevivalsRevivals

1897: 1897: DraculaDracula 1960’s: Gothic was the best-selling 1960’s: Gothic was the best-selling

mass market fictionmass market fiction 1970-present: Stephen King 1970-present: Stephen King

The Master: PoeThe Master: Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is the master of gothic Edgar Allan Poe is the master of gothic literatureliterature

He is famous for this use of personal He is famous for this use of personal tragedies, especially with women, in his tragedies, especially with women, in his workwork

Poe is most popular because of his Poe is most popular because of his mastery of fear, suspense, and mastery of fear, suspense, and

Poe’s biographyPoe’s biography

As most authors do, Poe used his As most authors do, Poe used his personal life as motivation to write…personal life as motivation to write…

Watch this video clip and look for the Watch this video clip and look for the similarities between what you have similarities between what you have read of “The Fall of the House of read of “The Fall of the House of Usher” and his personal Usher” and his personal experiences.experiences.

Works UsedWorks Used Bayer-Berenbaum, Linda. “Elements of a Gothic.” Bayer-Berenbaum, Linda. “Elements of a Gothic.” Horror.Horror. Ed. Michael Ed. Michael

Stuprich. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. 72-83.Stuprich. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. 72-83.

““Door: Metal: Squeaky Metal Restroom Door in Building: Close: Slow Creak.” Door: Metal: Squeaky Metal Restroom Door in Building: Close: Slow Creak.” Sound Ideas. 2007. Sound Ideas. 2007. Unitedstreaming. 17 April 2007. http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>. Unitedstreaming. 17 April 2007. http://www.unitedstreaming.com/>.

The Gothic ImaginationThe Gothic Imagination. Ruthford: Associated University Press, Ltd., 1982.. Ruthford: Associated University Press, Ltd., 1982. ““Gothic Architecture.” Gothic Architecture.” Wikipedia OnlineWikipedia Online. 2005. 6 March 2005 . 2005. 6 March 2005

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_architecture..

Harris, Robert. “Elements of the Gothic Novel.” Harris, Robert. “Elements of the Gothic Novel.” VirtualSalt.VirtualSalt. 2005. 6 March 2005. 6 March 2005. 2005.

http://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htmhttp://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm..

Williams, Anne. “The Gothic Novel.” Williams, Anne. “The Gothic Novel.” Horror.Horror. Ed. Michael Stuprich. San Diego: Ed. Michael Stuprich. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. 62-71.Greenhaven Press, 2001. 62-71.

Wolfreys, Julian. Wolfreys, Julian. Victoria Haunting: Spectrality, Gothic, the Uncanny and Victoria Haunting: Spectrality, Gothic, the Uncanny and Literature.Literature.

Houndsmills: Palgrave, 2001.Houndsmills: Palgrave, 2001.

the dark romantics gothic literature 1760-1820…and beyond

Documents

gothic tribewas

northern gothic tribes

distressfemale characters

amazing events occursuch

powerful male

castle of otranto

inexplicable eventsdramatic

inexplicable eventthis