Gothic Fiction includes works by writers such as Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Emily and Anne Bronte, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Oscar Wilde. 19th-century Gothic Fiction is among the best-known and most-read literature in the present day. Gothic novels were extremely popular during the late 18th century. Modern Gothic works written in the present day might take place in a 19th century mansion, much in the way that early works commonly used medieval castles as their settings. Modern examples of Gothic Fiction have continued to look to past eras, often using such settings as colonial America, Victorian England or the pre-Civil War Southern United States. In its early days, the genre took the medieval period as a major inspiration. Gothic fiction often deals with past eras, sometimes romanticizing them and other times using them as symbols of excessive darkness and oppression. Although the novel is often considered the best example of gothic fiction, some poetry and short stories can also be characterized as Gothic, such as the short stories of Edgar Allen Poe, which have influenced Gothic writers since their publication.Įver feel like stacking your lesson plans up and waiting for the earth to swallow them? Well, you won’t feel that way about these “Fall of the House of Usher” Lesson Plans. Gothic fiction might also feature a romantic plot or subplot.

As with the broader American Romantic movement, Gothic fiction contains a fascination with death and the supernatural, often emphasizing family curses, mystery and madness. Gothic Fiction places heavy emphasis on atmosphere, using setting and word choice to build suspense and a sense of unease in the reader. The name of the genre comes from medieval architecture, because it often harks back to the medieval era in spirit and subject matter, and it sometimes uses Gothic buildings as a setting. Originating in the late 18th century, Gothic fiction was a branch of the larger Romantic movement that sought to stimulate strong emotions in the reader - fear and apprehension, in this case.

Other Gothic Horror elements include mystery, romance, lust, and dread. Gothic Horror, or Gothic Fiction, is characterized by the elements of fear, horror, the supernatural and darkness, and by characters such as vampires, demons, heroes, heroines and villains. Elements of Gothic Horror and Gothic Fiction

Features of gothic literature