The Thrilling Expedition to the Art of Gothic Novel in particular and literature in general is more than just a work of fiction but in fact the hidden reflection of a specific historical era. Although, Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights and Dracula were written in different times and each leaves its readers with different emotion and contemplation stages, they all share an affinity: the presence of Gothic elements. Indeed, these novels are designed to lead their reader into thrilling journeys through spooky dark setting, suspense horrifying plot, and claustrophobic atmosphere. These elements, though appear in various forms throughout these three novels, still excellently accomplish their mission of enticing the readers to be caught up in the narrative. The dark settings are usually depicted through the presence of old or abandoned buildings, castles, dungeons, crypts, or even extreme landscapes. In Frankenstein, when working on his second being, his laboratory is set on the remotest of the Orkneys in Scotland, the island which is described as nothing more than a rock, “whose high sides were continually beaten upon by the waves” (Shelley 188). Moreover, in addition to the isolation, this place is also in molder and abandoned situation, which enhances the dreadfully dismal of the setting. Indeed, the author has built such a perfect birthplace for the creation of a hideous being. The setting of Wuthering Heights, on the other hand, is based more on the extreme of landscape and
How Bram Stoker Uses Gothic Conventions to Create an Atmosphere of Suspense and Fear for the Reader
Within the specter of the Gothic fictions arises the atmosphere of gloom, terror, and mystery with some elements of uncanny challenging reality. One major characteristic function of the Gothic fictions is to open the fiction to the realm of the irrational and perverse narratives, obsessions, and nightmarish terrors that hide beneath the literally civilized mindset in order to demonstrate the presence of the uncanny existing in the world known rationally through experience. At certain points, the interactions between the conventions of the Gothic fictions with other thematic, ideological, and/or symbolic functions of the narrative would rather be challenging. However, though the analysis of Jane Eyre written by
Many gothic novels have tried to create an unsettling feeling within their audiences. None have achieved this quite as well as Dracula. The jarring transitions of action, and the sharp cliffhangers create many moments of suspense and unease. Using epistolary format is also a way of creating nervousness in the readers, as it not only make the story “believable”, but introduces many stories woven into one large mystery. However, the transitions of story is not the only factor creating the feeling of apprehension within the book. To create these feelings to his greatest potential, in Dracula, Bram Stoker uses symbolism to reinforce the uneasy atmosphere.
A setting in an unnatural or exotic place as well as multitudes of supernatural occurrences are characteristics that define a piece of literature as gothic. Gothicism, as a part of the Romantic Movement in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, was commonly used during this time period as a way to entertain audiences in an unfamiliar way that would keep them engaged. Gothic pieces are written to be “thrill-provoking manipulations of our unconscious” (Randel 185). The setting is a very important aspect of gothic literature, with “the rationale for setting its horrors in particular places ... ‘what happens depends a lot on where it happens’” (185). The places that dark situations occur tend to add to the suspense and the gruesomeness.
The gothic horror genre is a favourite for many readers. We love the suspense and mystery, the desperation, the doom and gloom, the claustrophobia, even the blood. But most of all we love the fear - the feeling we get that gives us pathos with the protagonist that keeps us on the edge of our seats and propels us to turn the page. How do Shelley and Shakespeare provoke our reactions when reading Macbeth (Shakepeare,1606) and Frankenstein (Shelley, 1818)? When comparing and contrasting the two texts an awareness of the different formats is necessary: Macbeth is a play and
Gothic fiction is a genre of literature that combines fiction, horror and Romanticism with a particular focus on the mysterious and supernatural aspects. Gothic fiction originated in England during the latter half of the 18th century. This distinctive genre of literature soon developed into a 19th century phenomenon. The success of this dominant genre in England is frequently attributed to Mary Shelley. Despite its success during this time period, gothic fiction ceased to be a dominant genre by the Victorian Era. However, in many ways it had now begun to enter into its most ingenious phase. This paper will analyze the influence of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein on Flannery O’Connor’s work, specifically her novel Wise Blood.
Gothic Literature Mini Assignment Compare and contrast the way the writers use plot, character and setting to increase tension and atmosphere in the opening chapter of ‘Varney the Vampire’ and ‘Dracula’. Both ‘Varney the Vampire’ and ‘Dracula’ create a tense and suspenseful atmosphere in their opening chapters as the typically gothic language (“solemn tones”, “air thick and heavy”) and imagery immediately incites in the reader a sense of foreboding and unease. This is particularly true of a modern audience familiar with the conventions of the genre; the old castles adorned with “curious carvings” and the dank, dark settings of musty “antique chambers” in ‘Varney the Vampire’ are highly suggestive of imminent encounters
Bram Stoker’s ingenious piece of work on writing Dracula has set the expectation for gothic novels all over the world and time to come. The mindset of writing Dracula through the Victorian Era really sets the tone for the reader by creating a spine-tingling sensation right through the novel. With this in mind, Stoker wouldn’t have been able to succeed his masterpiece without the effective uses of symbolism, imagery, foreshadowing, and its overall theme.
Brianna Cairon Mrs. Schroder Honors English IV 8 December 2016 Frankenstein and Gothic Literature To define gothic literature, someone might state that this genre includes mystery and horror in writing with characters fighting for power over one another. The stories written in this way typically include strange and mysterious locations that characters find themselves in as well as horrific situations. The plot might include threatening and dangerous circumstances that evoke fear out of the readers themselves. After comparing a definition of gothic literature to the story Frankenstein, the plot aligns perfectly with the explanation.
A century of deception, betrayal and usurption to attain the respected and feared authority over my fellow kin, all for it to lead up to this very moment; a once powerful vampire lord beaten beyond belief whose body was once a fearsome physique that accentuated his superior position in the hierachy, lay broken and ravaged; limbs that were torn off or obliterated entirely and chunks of flesh bitten off by a ravenous beast. And looming over my pitiful image of a defiled soon-to-be corpse was the wretched devourer himself; once a pathetic waste of air no different from his kin who threw themselves beneath our shadows to pick up whatever scraps to prolong their miserable and worthless
In both Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, suffering and love cause horrific events to occur. By observing the personality, life, and actions of the Creature and Heathcliff, there is a revealing of a great similarity. Due to these items, each are categorized as the Byronic hero, which is the center of the similarity, along with love.
Many gothic texts utilize the reader’s imagination to allow the plot to continue without normal logic. Events are accepted within a novel that would otherwise not be given thought to. Stories create an escape for the mind, to embrace unrealistic information, and ignore the frightening events in one’s own life. With the novel Dracula, the reader is forced to imagine the circumstances the argue that vampires
Written and set in the late 19th century, Bram Stoker’s epistolary novel Dracula is a pivotal book in gothic/horror literature. Like most novels written by men, Dracula appeals more to the male audience and their fantasies and fears about women than to the Victorian Age woman. In the novel, Lucy and Mina are the only two female characters the reader meets in detail, and they are also the only two characters that are seen becoming vampires – indeed, they are the only major vampire characters, with the exception of the chief antagonist, who are described in detail within the novel. Therefore it is clear that these two play a very important role in representing females in the novel. Both characters are also
The epistolary form of the novel consists of a narrative based on letters, diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documentary records. It helps to bring realism into the narrative by lacing it with personal and historical references. It helps to add believability by incorporating a variety of perspectives on the events and characters in the novel. This form works for Dracula because the log of the ship captain and the diary entries of Jonathan Harker provide personal witness accounts to prove that the events are real as opposed to imaginary. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster are a novel composed nearly entirely of letters by the orphan Jerusha Abbott to her benefactor John Smith. The form helps to record the growth of the character over the years.
Introduction Boundaries are important as they indicate a limit a person not supposed to cross, it important that people respect boundaries as once boundaries are crossed, it can affect the relationship between two people or society as a whole. Crossing boundaries come with consequences. In regards to this assignment we will be looking at consequences of challenging boundaries in the gothic novels Wuthering heights and Frankenstein. The social and cultural background of the genre gothic novel According to Mullan, (2014), gothic fiction began as a sophisticated joke Horace Walpole first applied the word gothic to a novel in the subtitle – ‘a gothic story’- of the Castle of Otranto, published in 1764. According to Tiffin (2011) the historical