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Impact of Gothic Literature

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Impact of Gothic Literature
Impact of Gothic Literature
Gothic Literature is a well-known genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothic writing has impacted the literature and art of today by influencing writers and artists over time. It was able to do so with its interesting storylines, ability to hold suspense, and the way it held interests of many people through the ages. Understanding this unique genre can help a person to truly appreciate literature as a whole.
The word “Goth” derived from a German tribe called the Goths. The term was then used commonly in the medieval era with architecture for the construction of buildings with pointed arches and vaults. Gothic literature originated in England in the second half of the Eighteenth century and became very successful in the Nineteenth century. It can be found in the forms of poems, short stories, or novels. The literature is connected with the Gothic Revival architecture of the same era. This was a movement that began in the late 1740’s in England, dealing with the revival of medieval Gothic architecture. Prominent features of Gothic fiction consist of terror, both psychological and physical, the supernatural, mystery, ghosts, haunted houses and Gothic architecture, castles, darkness, death, madness, secrets, and hereditary curses. The most common characters are maniacs, tyrants, vampires, magicians, demons, dragons, angels, Byronic heroes, monks, and nuns. The setting in a Gothic novel proves to be very unique. It tends to evoke the atmosphere of horror and dread, but also portrays the deterioration of its world (Kashmira). The plot itself involves the ruined world in its dealings with a protagonist 's fall from grace as she succumbs to temptation from a villain. In the end, the central character must be salvaged through a reunion with a loved one. The English Gothic novel began with Horace Walpole 's The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic Story in 1765. Readers of the novel found it to be very



Cited: Glancey, Johnathan and Thomas Cussans. Architecture. New York: DK Pub, 2006. Print. Gothic Literature: A Gale Critical Companion. Ed. Jessica Bomarito. Vol. 1: Topics. Detroit: Gale, 2006. P1-106. Print. Lad, Kashmira. Gothic Literature. Buzzle.com, 10 Jan. 2013. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. Lake, Crystal. Gothic Literature and its Origins. Mizzou U, n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. Melani, Lilia. The Gothic Experience. n.p. 26 Aug. 2008. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. Murray, Paul. Paul Murray 's top 10 gothic novel. Guardian News and Media Limited, 10 Aug. 2004. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. Weinauer, Ellen. Gothic Fiction. American History Through Literature 1820-1870. Ed. Janet Gabler- Hover and Robert Sattelmeyer. Vol. 1. Detroit: Charles Scribner 's Sons, 2006. 475-481. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.

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