WHAT IS GOTHIC HORROR?
Original horror stories were not necessarily terrifying in the way they are today. The genre began with gothic tales that were very unsettling – dark tales that reminded readers about right and wrong and the consequences of making the wrong choices. |
LEARNING GOALS
Understand the meaning of Gothic Horror.
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THE INGREDIENTS OF GOTHIC HORROR
MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE
There is a sense of mystery and dread. This can be lifted and then rebuilt throughout the story. It can be created through words, images and/or sounds depending on the text type. This is often created by description of spooky settings and creatures.
SETTINGS
The settings for a gothic horror text are usually dark and somehow isolated.
Popular settings include (but are not limited to) forests, castles (with hidden passages), old houses with mysterious pasts, abbeys and monasteries, cemeteries and churches, swamps, tunnels, country estates, morally decayed cities, ruins, catacombs, isolated country towns, the Australian outback, etc.
Popular settings include (but are not limited to) forests, castles (with hidden passages), old houses with mysterious pasts, abbeys and monasteries, cemeteries and churches, swamps, tunnels, country estates, morally decayed cities, ruins, catacombs, isolated country towns, the Australian outback, etc.
THE WEATHER
The weather often works with what is happening in the text.
Mist - This is often used to suggest the character’s confusion or to create tension;
Storms - These frequently accompany important events. Flashes of lightning may accompany revelation; thunder and downpours come before a significant event;
Sunlight - represents goodness and pleasure; it also has the power to bestow these upon characters.
Mist - This is often used to suggest the character’s confusion or to create tension;
Storms - These frequently accompany important events. Flashes of lightning may accompany revelation; thunder and downpours come before a significant event;
Sunlight - represents goodness and pleasure; it also has the power to bestow these upon characters.
MOTIFS
Natural creatures and phenomena have become repeated images (motifs) in horror stories. They often add to the creepy mood.
- The full moon or a lunar eclipse.
- Wolves can be used as metaphors (stranger danger) and also to create a creepy setting.
- Black birds like ravens and crows are often used as bad omens in literature.
- Thirteen as an unlucky number (in modern western culture)
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE AND STYLE
The story within a story: Traditionally gothic stories can have a number of narrators. Each one tells his own story and then recounts part of the story as told to him by another character. (Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Frankenstein)
Letters: Parts of the story can be told through diary entries or letters (Dracula).
Unreliable narrator: Often the narrator does not fully understand what is going on
Letters: Parts of the story can be told through diary entries or letters (Dracula).
Unreliable narrator: Often the narrator does not fully understand what is going on
TONE AND LANGUAGE
Melodramatic language: the language of gothic stories is often very dramatic (sometimes melodramatic). This helps to keep the tension and suspense strong throughout the story.
Archaic language: Archaic means old. Many gothic horror stories contain rather old fashioned language.
Archaic language: Archaic means old. Many gothic horror stories contain rather old fashioned language.
THE SUPERNATURAL
Supernatural creatures like ghosts, poltergeists and monsters are a key feature of gothic horror stories. Sometimes, at the end of the story we find that there is a rational explanation and the supernatural creature never really existed.
Often the supernatural creature somehow reflects our own fears and insecurities or the concerns of our society
Often the supernatural creature somehow reflects our own fears and insecurities or the concerns of our society
characters
The virtuous heroine: This is a self-sacrificing, good woman who must be protected from the story’s villains.
The noble hero: A man who will try to rescue the maiden or restore order.
The ambiguous villain: Sometimes the reader may have momentary sympathy for the villain.
The outsider: Most gothic texts have a main character who exists on the fringe of society and can never truly belong. (Dracula, Batman)
The noble hero: A man who will try to rescue the maiden or restore order.
The ambiguous villain: Sometimes the reader may have momentary sympathy for the villain.
The outsider: Most gothic texts have a main character who exists on the fringe of society and can never truly belong. (Dracula, Batman)
nature
Nature is important in gothic horror. It has the power to restore, overwhelm and awe characters, reminding them that there is a higher power.
Gothic writers put great effort into creating magnificent landscapes and celebrating the power and beauty of nature. This is often referred to as ‘the natural sublime’.
Gothic writers put great effort into creating magnificent landscapes and celebrating the power and beauty of nature. This is often referred to as ‘the natural sublime’.
morality
The story usually ends with strong moral closure. There is a sense of justice. Good will triumph over evil in some significant way. Those who have done the wrong thing must suffer and the good are often rewarded (though they may die heroically).
Often gothic horror texts convey moral lessons to the audience.
Often gothic horror texts convey moral lessons to the audience.
revenge
Many gothic horror stories contain the idea of revenge. Sometimes it is carried out on the loved one of an enemy. In Frankenstein, the monster kills each of Victor’s friends and family members. Batman seeks revenge on those who killed his father and ruined the city. In Monster House, the house seeks revenge on all children.
the significance of gothic horror
Gothic fiction was the beginning of the horror genre. The horror genre has changed in many ways but many of the original conventions are still used or adapted today.
differentiation AND RESOURCES
Click on the link on the right to download the PowerPoint presentation that addresses the driving questions.
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