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The Gothic novel as a literary form dates from the eighteenth century. The first book that can be classified as such is 'The Castle of Ontranto' written by Horace Walpole in 1764. There have been many others written since and the genre continues to be popular today.
There are some key elements that help define the Gothic style. It is not just horror and melodrama that allow a story to be placed in this category. It is a total package which includes the key constituent of location. The setting must be apart from the crowd and the building must be in ruins or of lofty dimensions. Victorian rectories or medieval castles provide ideal places for tragedy and imprisonment. Their position far away from other houses means that isolation magnifies the terror created by unfolding events.
Unusual noises and fleetingly seen ghostly shapes will add to the scary atmosphere. The reader's own imagination will aid the tension by importing their fear of the dark and the unknown into the story.
High emotion between the principal characters is essential. This is created through unrequited love or untrammelled jealousy. Family members may turn upon each other. The female principal will be double-crossed by an unscrupulous male relative.
Holy visions or magical spells are ways in which the supernatural manifests itself in this genre. Sometimes the black arts are employed by religious persons to give an added element of the macabre to the story.
The vagaries of the European weather are used to emphasize the dark and thunderous mood of the novel. Lightning flashes and peals of thunder shudder throughout the novel. Eerie screams and animal squeaks provide an aural backdrop to vulnerable characters.
The Gothic Novel is an intriguing mix of emotion and fantasy. The writer brings the darker side of human nature to the page and gives the reader much to think about.
There are some key elements that help define the Gothic style. It is not just horror and melodrama that allow a story to be placed in this category. It is a total package which includes the key constituent of location. The setting must be apart from the crowd and the building must be in ruins or of lofty dimensions. Victorian rectories or medieval castles provide ideal places for tragedy and imprisonment. Their position far away from other houses means that isolation magnifies the terror created by unfolding events.
Unusual noises and fleetingly seen ghostly shapes will add to the scary atmosphere. The reader's own imagination will aid the tension by importing their fear of the dark and the unknown into the story.
High emotion between the principal characters is essential. This is created through unrequited love or untrammelled jealousy. Family members may turn upon each other. The female principal will be double-crossed by an unscrupulous male relative.
Holy visions or magical spells are ways in which the supernatural manifests itself in this genre. Sometimes the black arts are employed by religious persons to give an added element of the macabre to the story.
The vagaries of the European weather are used to emphasize the dark and thunderous mood of the novel. Lightning flashes and peals of thunder shudder throughout the novel. Eerie screams and animal squeaks provide an aural backdrop to vulnerable characters.
The Gothic Novel is an intriguing mix of emotion and fantasy. The writer brings the darker side of human nature to the page and gives the reader much to think about.
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