Elements of the Gothic Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein English 12 AP

Elements of the GothicElements of the Gothic

Mary Shelley’s Mary Shelley’s FrankensteinFrankenstein

English 12 APEnglish 12 AP

On the Gothic…On the Gothic…

““Gothicism insists that what Gothicism insists that what is customarily hallowed as is customarily hallowed as real by society and its real by society and its language is but a small language is but a small portion of a greater reality of portion of a greater reality of monstrous proportion and monstrous proportion and immeasurable power” immeasurable power”

(Bayer-Berenbaum).(Bayer-Berenbaum).

On the Gothic…On the Gothic…

Gothic is a Gothic is a genre which genre which fulfills the fulfills the “strange “strange human craving human craving for feeling for feeling afraid” afraid” (Woolfe).(Woolfe).

The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason

Sometimes referred Sometimes referred to as the to as the Neoclassical PeriodNeoclassical Period

Represented:Represented: Renewed focus on Renewed focus on

classics (Rome)classics (Rome) Focus on science Focus on science

and philosophyand philosophy


Rome and Roman culture Rome and Roman culture represented civilization and represented civilization and order.order.


Rene Descartes:Rene Descartes: Cogito ergo Cogito ergo

sum.sum. I think therefore I think therefore

I am.I am. The rational The rational

being, was a being, was a supreme being.supreme being.

Origins of the Gothic…Origins of the Gothic…

The Gothic The Gothic movement movement represented a represented a reaction to the reaction to the Age of Reason & Age of Reason & EnlightenmentEnlightenment


Gothic is a Gothic is a reference to the reference to the “Goths” – the “Goths” – the Visigoths and Visigoths and Ostrogoths who Ostrogoths who sacked and sacked and destroyed the destroyed the Roman Empire.Roman Empire.


This destruction This destruction represented the represented the overthrow of overthrow of reason in favor reason in favor of the wild, of the wild, barbarous, and barbarous, and chimerical – the chimerical – the GothicGothic


The Age of Reason The Age of Reason sparked not only a sparked not only a resurgence of resurgence of classical thought, classical thought, but classical but classical architecture as architecture as well.well.

Simple lines and Simple lines and shapesshapes


The Gothic style The Gothic style of architecture of architecture incorporated incorporated elaborate elaborate designs: designs: vaulted ceilings, vaulted ceilings, flying flying buttresses, etc..buttresses, etc..

Origins of the Gothic…Origins of the Gothic… The Gothic literary movement followed The Gothic literary movement followed

suit… abandoning the rational for the suit… abandoning the rational for the irrational and mysterious…irrational and mysterious…

The Gothic NovelThe Gothic Novel

The height of the The height of the Gothic movement Gothic movement in literature was in literature was from 1790-1830.from 1790-1830.

The Gothic The Gothic movement has movement has never completely never completely dissipated – dissipated – Stephen King, etc…Stephen King, etc…

Elements of the Gothic Elements of the Gothic NovelNovel

The gothic genre is The gothic genre is characterized by a series of characterized by a series of commonly held characteristics.commonly held characteristics.

A novel need not present all of A novel need not present all of the following characteristics to the following characteristics to labeled “Gothic.”labeled “Gothic.”

The SettingThe Setting

SettingSetting Typically set in Typically set in

mansions or mansions or medieval castles medieval castles containing containing secret passages secret passages and trap doors.and trap doors.


Gothic novels Gothic novels may also be may also be set in wild set in wild landscapes or landscapes or wastelands.wastelands.


Evokes an Evokes an atmosphere horror atmosphere horror and dreadand dread

Portrays Portrays deterioration of the deterioration of the worldworld

Emphasis on Emphasis on decay, ruin, and decay, ruin, and death.death.

Gothic CharactersGothic Characters

ProtagonistProtagonistIsolated from societyIsolated from societyCharacterized by fall from Characterized by fall from

gracegraceSuccumbed to temptationSuccumbed to temptationSaved by union with loved oneSaved by union with loved one


VillainVillainEpitome of evil Epitome of evil Characterized Characterized

by Fall from by Fall from Grace, or Grace, or inherent inherent malevolencemalevolence


The WandererThe Wanderer Epitome of Epitome of

isolationisolation Wanders the earth Wanders the earth

in perpetual exilein perpetual exile ““Exile” typically a Exile” typically a

form of divine form of divine punishmentpunishment


Women in DistressWomen in DistressLonely, pensive, and Lonely, pensive, and

oppressed heroineoppressed heroine““Damsel in Distress”Damsel in Distress”Threatened by Threatened by

powerful, impulsive, powerful, impulsive, tyrannical maletyrannical male


Doubles or Doubles or DoppelgangersDoppelgangers

Meaning "double Meaning "double walker" a doppelganger walker" a doppelganger is a shadow-self that is a shadow-self that accompanies every accompanies every human. human.

Doppelgangers can be Doppelgangers can be mischievous or mischievous or malicious.malicious.

Supernatural EventsSupernatural Events

Characterized by supernatural Characterized by supernatural events: ghosts, chimerical events: ghosts, chimerical creatures, objects coming to lifecreatures, objects coming to life

Marked by unnatural events, or Marked by unnatural events, or acts of natureacts of nature

ToneTone

Highly sentimentalHighly sentimental Characters often overcome by Characters often overcome by

anger, sorrow, surprise, anger, sorrow, surprise, and/or fearand/or fear

ToneTone

Characters Characters suffer from raw suffer from raw nerves and nerves and impending doomimpending doom

Manic Manic depressive depressive qualityquality

ThemeTheme

Cosmic Cosmic Struggle: polar Struggle: polar opposites opposites struggle struggle

Over-Reacher: Over-Reacher: Sin of Pride, Sin of Pride, Delusions of Delusions of GrandeurGrandeur

ThemesThemes

Guilt: hero Guilt: hero haunted by haunted by guiltguilt

Violence Violence against against InnocentsInnocents

DeathDeath

Structure and LanguageStructure and Language

StructureStructure Story within a story within a storyStory within a story within a storyLanguageLanguage Florid language is employedFlorid language is employed Detailed description of setting, Detailed description of setting,

characters, actions, etc.characters, actions, etc.Aids the establishment of toneAids the establishment of tone

Documents

Elements of the Gothic Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein English 12 AP