![]() Themes of fear and evil drawn from Gothic architecture are other examples that Poe uses in Gothic literature. The description of the environment is important since it helps to build a vivid image of the place and develops the mood of the narrative. 3), and “the ghastly tree stems" (Poe, 1839, p. 3), “dreary tract of country" (Poe, 1839, p. Oscar Wilde’s “Picture of Dorian Gray,” published a century later, accomplishes this same feat with the symbolism of the namesake painting.From the beginning of the story, Poe describes the dreary setting and eerie surroundings to intensify the narrator’s terror and engage the reader using phrases such as, “during the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day" (Poe, 1839, p. Often, the supernatural elements, such as the veiled and bloody nun in Matthew Lewis’ 1796 “The Monk,” convey the hidden terrors contained in human nature. Since its first appearance in the late 18th century, gothic literature made heavy use of symbolism to explore themes of human experience. “Frankenstein” contains a notable example in Victor’s dream of his lover, Elizabeth. ![]() Hyde." The dream motif, in which dream sequences can convey the subconscious, also features in gothic literature. The motif of the doppelganger, characters that reflect the duality of human nature, appears notably in Stevenson’s "Dr. Many examples of gothic literature contain similar motifs, or devices that convey a thematic impact. Lord Byron featured gothic heroes in many of his works, including “Childe Harold” and “Manfred.” Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights” contains a prominent gothic hero in Heathcliff. Gothic literature popularized the notion of the anti-hero, a flawed protagonist who incorporates dark or monstrous elements. A literary tableaux - a description of a static scene - can establish mood or convey symbolism. ![]() Shifting narrators - such as those in William Faulkner’s Southern gothic “As I Lay Dying" - give different perspectives on the plot. ![]() Gothic literature contains experimental techniques such as shifting narrators and literary tableaux. The development of gothic literature paralleled that of the novel as art, and reached its apogee in the first half of the 20th century. William Bedford’s “Vathek,” set in the Middle East, helped popularize Orientalism, a 19th century fascination with Arabic and Asian cultures. Exotic LocalesĮxotic settings featured in some of the earliest gothic works, and remained a key element throughout the genre’s history. As the genre matured into the 20th century, writers began to portray the internal horror of psychosis, as in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Poe’s “The Telltale Heart,” which examines the psychology of guilt, stands as an earlier example of this tendency. Themes of madness and emotional distress characterize the psychological emphasis of gothic literature. Hyde” and Ann Radcliffe’s “The Mysteries of Udolpho” also provide examples of gothic horror. Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” with its graveyards, gloomy castle and iconic monster, became a bestseller upon its first single-volume publication. Many of gothic literature’s most influential works make heavy use of horror elements. This appears in the trope of the doomed romance, as in Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee,” or in the appearance of a demonic lover figure, such as the bloodthirsty vampire in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” Horror ![]() In the chaste Victorian era, Gothic literature provided an outlet for the exploration of sexuality. ![]()
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