The Elements of Gothic Literature:

Nov.6th, 2015
What is Gothic Literature?
Gothic literature began in ______________ in the late 1700s and early 1800s. ( ___th and ___th
century)
It spread to other parts of the _________ especially the U.S., where it influenced writers like
______________________________.
It is often grouped with ____________________ literature and ______ be romantic, but it explores
________________ and more _____________ themes than other Romantic works of the period.
This genre is ___________________. Gothic literature was and is used to reveal the
_____________, ______________, and _________________ that exists within _______________.

The Elements of Gothic Literature

#1: Physical Setting (Part 1)

Gothic literature often is set in old, _________________ structures, especially:

________________, _____________________, and other large neglected homes.
These buildings generally include _________________ passages, trap doors, dungeons,
or_________________ rooms.
Rundown, ______________________ , or has been ____________________ for a long time.

#1: Environment (Setting Part 2)

The environment _________________ the setting is a _______________ or _____________
atmosphere.
Generally there are dark ______________, large _______________________ ,
____________________weather, or areas _______ away from civilization (areas that are
______________)

#1: Atmosphere (Setting Part 3)

Gothic literature stresses an atmosphere _______________, _______________, and __________.
This could also be considered as part of the setting.
This atmosphere is usually enhanced by the ___________________. Often the plot itself is built
around a mystery, such as unknown parentage, a disappearance, or some other inexplicable (unable
to explain) event.

#2: Ancient Prophecy

Whats an ancient prophecy?
It is a very old ___________________ of something that is going to happen.
In Gothic literature, ancient prophecies are usually _____________ with the old ______________
or ______________; or, connected to its________________ or _____________________
inhabitants.
Ex) In the Harry Potter series, Harrys parents hide him among humans as a child because of a
prophecy that said Harry would grow up to defeat Lord Voldemort.

#3: Supernatural or Inexplicable Events

___________________ events can occur; ___________ walking, ____________________ objects

move on their own (like a painting coming to life).
In some gothic literature the events in the end, are given a more natural explanation, but sometimes
the events remain truly ______________________ (of another world/not-living/in spirit)
Ex) Scrooge is visited by a ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, in A Christmas
Carol.

#4: Characters
What makes a Gothic Character?
1. Reader is ____________________ of character (maybe even unreliable. Should we
believe what they say? Are they secretive or sneaky?)
2. Physical ______________ or abnormality
3. _________________ Illness
4. _________________
5. _________________
6. Can be an __________________ person
7. ________________________ (belief in the supernatural or irrational belief based
on fear)

#4: Characters and Isolation of the Protagonist

The main characters of the Gothic literature are often isolated or _______________.
It could be ______________ isolation. For instance, the main character could be trapped in
a house far away from other people.
It could also be _________________ isolation. The main character could be emotionally
cut off from the people around her or even mentally ill.

#5: Suspense & Drama

The events in Gothic literature usually show____________________ and often reflect a heightened
sense of ___________________.
For example, in Gothic literature it is not unusual to see ______________, ________________,
people going mad (_____________), and tragic mental or physical ________________ .

#6: Vocabulary
Words that give a sense of:
Mystery, terror or fear, sadness, surprise/suspense, anger, darkness, supernatural, suspicion,
and isolation
**Can we think of any specific words that may evoke some of these feelings?***
___________________ _________________________ _______________________

#7: Metonymy of Gloom and Horror

A metonymy is a type of metaphor. Remember a metaphor is a comparison
between two things that _______ ___ use the words ______ or ______
A metonymy is a type of metaphor in which something is used to stand
for_____________ ____________. A lot of times in movies, we will see it raining at
a funeral. Therefore the rain stands for sadness.

METONYMIES FOR: gloom and doom

Wind, especially howling wind, doors grating on rusty hinges, footsteps approaching, lights on in
abandoned rooms, characters trapped in a room, ruins of a building, thunder and lightning, and rain

#8 Mood and Tone

Mood gives off certain ____________ or ____________ in readers
through______________ and ________________. Mood can be referred to as the
_________________ of a text.

Tone is the _________________ that the _____________ has with a specific

character, place or development.
Classic Gothic Texts
1. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
2. Dracula by Bram Stoker
3. The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, The Pit and the Pendulum, all by Edgar Allen Poe
Modern Gothic Texts Can we name some?