Peace be upon you
The Gothic Literature
Gothic literature derives its name from its similarities to the gothic medival cathedrals,which feature a majestic,unrestrained architectural style with often a savage or groteque ornamentation.
(the word "Gothic" derives from "Goth",the name of one of the barbaric Germanic tribes that invaded the Roman Empire)
Like Gothic architecture,Gothic literature focuses on humanity's fascination with the grotesque,the unknown,and the frightening,inexplicable aspects of the universe and the human soul.The Gothic creates horror by portraying human individuals in confrontation with the overwhelming,mysterious,terrifying forces find in the cosmos and within themselves.Gothic literature pictures human condition as an ambiguous mixture of good and evil powers that cannot be completely understood by human reason.
1-Importance of Setting:
The setting is greatly influential in Gothic novels.It does not only evoke the atmosphere of horror and dread,but also portrays the deterioration of its world.The decaying,ruined scenery implies that at one time there was a thriving world.
Setting Elements
A castle,ruined or intact,haunted or not.
Ruined buildings which are sinister or which arouse a pleasing melancholy.
Dungeons,underground passages,crypts,and catacombs which,in modern houses,become spooky basements or attics.
Labyrinths,dark corridors,and winding stairs.
Shadows,a beam of moonlight in the blackness,a flickering candle,or the only source of light failing(a candle blown out or an electric failure).
Extreme landscapes,liked rugged mountains,thick forests,or icy wastes,and extreme weather.
2-Gothic plot devices
Action at night,or at least in a claustrophobic,sunless environment.
Ascent(up a mountain high staircase).
Descent(into a dungeon,cave,underground chambers or labyrinth) or falling off a precipece,secret passage,hidden doors.
physical decay,skulls,cemeteries,and other images of death;ghosts;revenge;family curse;blood and gore;torture;the Doppelganger(evil twin or double);demonic possession;masking/shape-changing;black magic;madness.
3-The Gothic Hero:
Forbidden knowledge/power is often the Gothic protagonist’s goal. The Gothic Hero questions the universe’s ambiguous nature and tries to comprehend and control those supernatural powers that mortals cannot understand. He tries to overcome human limitations and make himself into a "god." This ambition usually leads to the hero’s "fall" or destruction; however, Gothic tales of ambition sometimes paradoxically evoke our admiration because they picture individuals with the courage to defy fate and cosmic forces in an attempt to transcend the mundane to the eternal and sublime.
4-Monster/Satanic Hero/Fallen Man:
The courageous search for forbidden knowledge or power always leads the hero to a fall, a corruption, or destruction, such as Satan’s or Adam’s fall. Consequently, the hero in Gothic literature is often a "villain." The hero is isolated from others by his fall and either becomes a monster or confronts a monster who is his double. He becomes a "Satanic hero" if, like Satan, he has courageously defied the rules of God’s universe and has tried to transform himself into a god.
5-Multiple Narrative:
The story is frequently told through a series of secret manuscripts or multiple tales, each revealing a deeper secret, so the narrative gradually spirals inward toward the hidden truth. The narrator is often a first-person narrator compelled to tell the story to a fascinated or captive listener (representing the captivating power of forbidden knowledge). By revealing to us their own souls’ secrets, these narrators reveal the secrets of humankind’s soul.
6-Dreams/visions
Terrible truths are often revealed to characters through dreams or visions. The hidden knowledge of the universe and of human nature emerges through dreams because, when the person sleeps, reason sleeps, and the supernatural, unreasonable world can break through. Dreams in Gothic literature express the dark, unconscious depths of the psyche that are repressed by reason— truths that are too terrible to be comprehended by the conscious mind.
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2015-01-31, 17:56
The Gothic Literature
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