With many parallels to “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Noemi leaves her posh live in Mexico city for the mysterious High Place, a dilapidated mansion in the countryside, after her cousin writes her that she is desperate for help. Here are five examples of gothic horror novels and short stories that contain the most important markings of the genre. His writing laid the groundwork for later zombie tales, Stephen King novels, and even detective stories. Vast cliffs and mountains are common images found in gothic literature, with characters both threatened and in awe of these elements of nature.Īcross the pond in America, Edgar Allen Poe took command, exploring themes of mental illness, trauma, and the evils of man. The genre’s Romantic connections can be seen in its emphasis on the sublime, especially in nature. Walpole used the adjective to refer to the Middle Ages, but the Gothic-castle setting, along with its supernatural elements, inspired the makings of a new genre in Europe, with writers like Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Ann Radcliffe, and Sir Walter Scott at the helm. The term ‘gothic’ was first used to describe literature in 1765, in Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic Story. Gothic literature was a product of the Romantic movement in Europe, especially in Britain. In addition to macabre settings, other common characteristics of gothic horror include: In general, gothic horror isn’t filled with serials killers and slashed throats the ‘horror’ part is more subtle.Īnd though it isn’t a requirement, the “oppressive, inescapable, and bleak landscape” is often a house, which might even function as an antagonist. You’ll likely feel a chilling sense of foreboding when you read Gothic literature, even if for much of the story, you may not be able to pinpoint what exactly is so scary. Defining Gothic HorrorĪccording to The New York Public Library, the most simple definition of gothic horror is a genre that deals with “the battle between humanity and unnatural forces of evil (sometimes man-made, sometimes supernatural) within an oppressive, inescapable, and bleak landscape.” Vampires, ghosts, haunted mansions- oh my! These are the images that most often come to mind when we think of gothic horror.īut is there more to this genre than creaky staircases and blood-sucking counts, and are modern audiences still interested in medieval motifs? In this post, we’ll take a look at the most common characteristics of gothic horror, its origins, and what the future holds.
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