1.1.1
Origins of Gothic Literature
Origins and Initial Reception of Gothic Literature
Origins and Initial Reception of Gothic Literature
Bram Stoker wrote Dracula. The novel was first published in 1897. It is arguably one of the most famous examples of Gothic literature.
Origins of Gothic literature
Origins of Gothic literature
- Gothic literature was born out of the Romantic movement. Gothic writers took the concept of revering of the natural world and explored its darker side.
- The first Gothic novel was Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto (1764).
Initial reception
Initial reception
- As a genre, Gothic literature was initially not taken very seriously.
- Critic Sue Chaplin suggests that this may have been because Gothic fiction was “perceived to be read by women” and, as such, was considered an “inferior literary mode”, against the “higher intellectual aspirations of the Romantic movement".
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
- Gothic writing is inspired by Gothic architecture.
- Antiquated buildings in isolated, rugged locations are a key Gothic feature.
- Castle Dracula in the Carpathian Mountains and the ruined abbey at Carfax are prime examples of Gothic architecture.
1Context - Gothic Literature
1.1Origins & Conventions of Gothic Literature
1.2Vampires in Gothic Literature
1.3'Terror' & 'Horror'
1.4Narrative Features
2Context - The Victorian Era
2.1The Victorian Era
3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
4Character Profiles
4.1Archetypal Gothic Characters
4.2Count Dracula
4.3Other Main Characters
4.4Minor Characters
5Key Ideas
6Writing Techniques
7Critical Debates & Interpretations
7.1Initial Reception of Dracula
7.2Modern Reception of Dracula
Jump to other topics
1Context - Gothic Literature
1.1Origins & Conventions of Gothic Literature
1.2Vampires in Gothic Literature
1.3'Terror' & 'Horror'
1.4Narrative Features
2Context - The Victorian Era
2.1The Victorian Era
3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
4Character Profiles
4.1Archetypal Gothic Characters
4.2Count Dracula
4.3Other Main Characters
4.4Minor Characters
5Key Ideas
6Writing Techniques
7Critical Debates & Interpretations
7.1Initial Reception of Dracula
7.2Modern Reception of Dracula
Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring
Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home
Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs
30+ school subjects covered