| Gothic literature got its start in 1764 when Horace | | | | Another sub-genre is known as Southern Gothic. This |
| Walpole wrote "The Castle of Otranto." Walpole's | | | | sub-genre takes traditional Gothic elements and plants |
| story contained all the elements that define the genre. | | | | them in the Southern United States. |
| Throughout the years, many authors have taken their | | | | To have a novel known as "Gothic," its got to follow a |
| stab at writing Gothic literature, putting their own unique | | | | set of rules. First, the setting takes place in a castle, or |
| stamp on it. | | | | if the story is set in America, an old family estate. |
| Ann Radcliffe, writing in 1794, gave the genre a sense | | | | That's what makes Southern Gothic so appealing, |
| of legitimacy when she questioned the supernatural | | | | because an old plantation can be used. The estate, be |
| elements, explaining them away as natural causes. | | | | it a castle, mansion, or plantation, can sometimes be |
| She also introduced the brooding villain, who by the end | | | | abandoned, sometimes occupied, or it can be near |
| of the story, is revealed to the hero. | | | | caves to augment a mystery and may often contain |
| Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, was definitely | | | | secret passages, trap doors, and mysterious rooms. |
| influenced by Gothic elements, but her novel is | | | | Next, the novel has to carry an atmosphere of |
| considered the one of the first science fiction novels to | | | | mystery and suspense. In the recent novel, "The |
| be written. | | | | Thirteenth Tale," there's an atmosphere of mystery |
| Another influential author in the Gothic tradition was | | | | built up around the parentage of the twins, "Emmeline |
| Edgar Allen Poe. In "The Fall of the House Usher," he | | | | and Adelaine." |
| explored such classic Gothic themes of decay, death, | | | | There's usually an ancient prophecy involved along |
| and madness, but he added his own twist - he looked | | | | with omens and visions. In "The Thirteenth Tale" the |
| into the terrors of the soul. | | | | storyteller tells Margaret that there's a third girl which |
| Also writing during Poe was Emily Bronte. "Wuthering | | | | follows Emmeline and Adeline around, referring to her |
| Heights," explored Gothic elements on the Yorkshire | | | | as a vision. |
| Moors through the brooding "Heathcliff" character and | | | | There are usually supernatural events which occur in |
| is still a favorite today. | | | | gothic fiction. It doesn't matter if they are given a |
| With Bram Stroker's "Dracula," the most famous | | | | natural explanation or not, the event is what's |
| Gothic villain ever was created. He also established | | | | important. |
| Eastern Europe as a favorite locale for the genre. | | | | Other elements in Gothic literature include high emotion, |
| More recently, in the 1930's, HP Lovecraft has been | | | | women in distress, a powerful or tyrannical male figure |
| connected with the genre, blending the Gothic with | | | | and metonymies - metaphors like rain which is used to |
| horror, setting a new bar for writers. | | | | represent something else, like sorrow. |
| Romance has also been mixed with the Gothic genre. | | | | If you're thinking of exploring the genre, read a couple |
| During the 1950's, 60's, and 70's, such authors as | | | | of books first to get the "feel" for it. It can be fun to |
| Victoria Holt and Dorothy Fletcher focused on the | | | | write for, but the plot and pacing must be tight for the |
| female and her connection to a gloomy castle. | | | | story to be successful. |