Elements Of Gothic Literature

Words: 1209
Pages: 5
Open Document
Dark, gloomy, and eerie: these are the elements of Gothic Literature. Gothicism is a 19th century literary period that shines a light on the creepy side of life. Gothicism is one of the first American literature time periods that is mainly focused on death or sin. Edgar Allen Poe who wrote “The Fall of the House of Usher,” creates a story about two twins with either a mental or physical disability. Roderick and Madeline have to face their isolation, their odd lineage, and their decaying home. Both are dependent on each other in order for survival. This story will change one’s view on the human brain (unconscious or conscious) and sin. Another Gothic works is “The Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The short story is about a sermon wearing …show more content…
To enhance to the Gothic traits of literature, figurative language is used to emphasizes such aspects of the writing. In “The Fall of House of Usher,” Poe states “the vacant and eye-like windows” (414). This quote describes the windows of the “House of Usher” and throughout the story this quote is repeated for extra significance. This simile stating that the windows are comparable to eyes have a deeper meaning that give a depth to the story. This quote was used when describing the house’s windows. This juxtaposes the eyes of Roderick, who faces a mental illness. Roderick’s eyes are disturbed eyes. These “eye-like windows” foreshadow the death of the sibling’s eyes. Rodericks eye’s were full of exhilaration and craziness, but his eyes lose those characteristics after the family lineage and the “House of Usher” comes to the end too. In “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Hawthorne uses figurative language when he says, “There may be whispers that you hide your face under the consciousness of secret sin” (4). This example shows personification because sin cannot have a consciousness. This quote reinforces the Puritanistic time period this story was set in. Hawthorne reveals the truth that it is easy to accuse others of sinning when all people are aware of the sin they themselves have committed. The entire theme of “The Minister’s Black Veil” is that all people have secret sin that are completely hidden from others. The use of personification emulates a deep human characteristic to enhance the power of sin. The personification instills fear in the reader because people are aware and frightened by the strength a wrongdoing may have. Both of these works use the capability of figurative language to add to the overall effect of the story by enhancing the mood, tone, or
Show More

Related Documents: Elements Of Gothic Literature

How Does Edward Bloor Use Gothic Elements

In the book Tangerine by Edward Bloor gothic literature is prevalent throughout the book. Gothic literature is a piece of literature that has elements that are frightening. For example the literature has elements of death, horror, and other frightening elements. These elements can come from the atmosphere, a character's interaction with others and many other ways. I believe gothic literature is a book that is written in a frightening matter. Also I believe throughout the book there are clues to the…

Words 818 - Pages 4

Essay about Rebecca: Daphne Du Maurier and Mrs. de Winters

Rebecca Gothic literature is an English genre of fiction that was popular in the eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries, characterized by an atmosphere of mystery and supernatural horror and having a pseudo-medieval setting. The very first example of gothic literature in history was attributed to Horace Walpole and his novel, The Castle of Otranto (1764). Other examples include Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker, Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Brontë, and Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Brontë. Seeing…

Words 1654 - Pages 7

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Throughout history, people have been drawn to stories with dark images, haunted houses, death or monsters. These are all elements that are found in Gothic literature. Similar types of gothic elements can be found in both “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” by Ransom Riggs, and many other short stories. One type of element often found in gothic literature is a creature or monster. In “Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children” there are actually two types of monsters. The children are…

Words 531 - Pages 3

Connotation In Dracula

investigation focuses on the question: How did Mary Shelley present elements of gothic literature in Frankenstein in comparison to Bram Stoker in Dracula? Literary classics Dracula and Frankenstein are two of the most well-known gothic fiction novels due to their impacting embodiment of the elements of gothic literature. However, what exactly is considered gothic literature and why is it important? To quote David Punter, gothic literature is “the paradigm of all fiction” and its origins date back to the…

Words 1549 - Pages 7

Gothic Literature Comparison 2 Essay

Gothic Literature Comparison While reading gothic literature one might notice certain elements. There are a variety of elements, but I will only be comparing a certain few such as gadgets, decay, setting, and emotions. These elements are found in “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs and “The Oval Portrait” by Edgar Allen Poe. “The Monkey’s Paw” is about an old friend that visits a family and shows them a monkey’s paw, which can grant wishes. He warns the family not to take it, but the White family…

Words 769 - Pages 4

Frankenstein and Mary Shelley Essay

Ashley Williams Mrs. Barker English 12 Honors November 13, 2012 “Frankenstein” was the first gothic literature novel. It was written by Mary Shelley and published in 1818. Victor Frankenstein is about a young man creating life and the obstacles he faces. Once he finished his creation he runs away from it because it did not turned out the way Victor planned. The creature soon runs away as well and goes out to learn more about life. When he soon finds out that humans are barbaric because they…

Words 363 - Pages 2

Gothic Elements In The Castle Of Otranto

of Otranto the story includes many of the gothic elements in a gothic novel, and those gothic elements relate to the fear response in the human brain. In this paper I will explain The gothic elements found in the Castle of Otranto, the fear response system and how the gothic elements relate to it, and lastly the significance of the Castle of Otranto. According to the Elements of the gothic Novel worksheet there ten main gothic elements found in a gothic novel ,and in the castle of Otranto the novel…

Words 812 - Pages 4

Gothic Elements In The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman exemplifies aspects of gothic literature through Perkins Gilman’s usage of setting and mood. To establish an almost claustrophobic atmosphere, the narrator describes how she gazes out of the window and see “a lovely view of the bay and a little private wharf belonging to the estate...but John has cautioned me not to give way to fancy in the least” (Perkins-Gilman 3). Clearly, a thorough analysis of the details present in the setting must occur in order…

Words 638 - Pages 3

Dr Heidegger's Experiment Essay

writing stories that are meant to be creepy, dark, and even scare the reader, which led to the development of the Gothic genre of literature. Gothic literature has similar aspects throughout all the stories that are considered Gothic, such as the undead, dark and creepy settings, and crazy characters. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” Nathaniel Hawthorne incorporates the Gothic elements of an unnatural relation between life and death, such as the dead patients dwelling in the mirror, the highly charged…

Words 1028 - Pages 5

Gothic Elements In The Turn Of The Screw And The Other

Gothic literature is a genre that combines elements of horror and romanticism with the intention to create feelings of mystery and suspense to add drama to the literary work. Gothic literature dates back to 18th century in England, and was particularly successful in the 19th. Also, from the renaissance up to the middle of the 18th century, the term gothic had a negative connotation, since it was linked to scary themes. The Turn of the Screw and The Others exhibit Gothic elements by showing an atmosphere…

Words 852 - Pages 4