Whilst the attraction of luxuriating in the dark side of the human condition is undeniably strong in Gothic texts it must also be acknowledged that Gothic texts provide considerable insights into humanity. Discuss the above with reference to one prose core text and one related text of your own choosing. Gothic texts encompass the ability to convey the fear that underpins the human psyche in many contexts, with particular relevance to societal concerns and anxieties. Although concerns vary throughout different time periods, those confronted within texts often consist of universal themes and ideas that can be translated through different generations. Brahm Stoker’s “Dracula” highlights concerns prevalent within the Victorian era, shown through characters, symbols and themes throughout the novel.
Another element is an atmosphere of mystery and suspense. Throughout the novel readers are kept wondering about different situations such as Lucy’s fate, Dracula’s next victim, and Renfield’s purpose. Presence of the supernatural is an element as well. Dracula is a vampire which is supernatural. The next element is a woman or women in distress.
Washington Irving is identified with the gothic with his “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, however the gothic mode can also be identified in his story, “Rip Van Winkle”. To begin, both will be compared with their use of the Gothic Mode. Edgar Allan Poe’s writing set the mold for most gothic literature to follow. From “The Raven” to “The Tell-Tale Heart” his writing sets the reader on edge and fills them with unease. “Its style tends to be ornate, unnatural” (Carter 134).
What are at least two common mental disorders one might find in Gothic stories? Two common mental disorders found in Gothic stories include Melancholia and Hysteria. 5. How are terror and horror different from one another, and how are they related to one another in Gothic literature? In Gothic literature, terror is described as being full of fear, or the fear of what we believe will be bad, whereas horror is described as someone in distress, or watching those bad things happen.
The Devil and Tom Walker Gothic literature was and still is a very common form of literature in which the point of writing is to make people scared or to question their beliefs. It started around the Puritan times and was directly opposed to their views, so it was aimed at them to make them question their beliefs. Gothic literature is usually extremely dark and gloomy with more than a little death and decay throughout the story. It also almost always has some form of supernatural being or event. “The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving is a perfect example of gothic literature because it has all of the characteristic features of it.
The settings presented are also dark and eeire, and Dracula himself lives in solitude with no other companion. The film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ is just as reliant on the conventions of Gothic fiction (a genre that was extremely popular in the early nineteenth century when the book was written) as the novel, making it not only follow nicely in the novel’s footsteps but also proving to be a chilling delight for the viewing audience. Gothic fiction traditionally includes elements such as wild landscapes, eerie castles, darkness, and decay, isolation, security, the supernatural and innocent maidens threatened by unspeakable evil. Stoker has utilized all of the above and consequently, as does this film adaptation. An example of this would be in the theme of isolation as Dracula’s castle is hidden in the recesses of Transylvania, kept away from civilization of any description.
She was obsessed with immortality and youth. Another trait that Stoker brought into his novel. As far as fiction goes, Dracula is by far one of the darkest most horrific tales, yet, very entertaining. To know that the character alone is based off of some of the cruelest people in world history still to this day astounds me. However, what is interesting is how vampires have gone from being hated and feared dark monsters of the night to the romanticized creatures of young girl's dreams.
To what extent do you think gothic literature is characterised by a fascination with death? Notions of 'death' manifest themselves into gothic texts in numerous ways, throught plot, setting and through both characters perceptions, and reactions to death, thus one interpretation is that gothic literature has become fascinated by death. Death, represents arguably one of the main provokers of human fear. It is the ultimate unknown and stimulates feelings of both horror and terror, the sickening apprehension at the mere thought of death and consequently the dismal realisation.Gothic texts are known for the promise of the sickly addictive combination of both horror and terror, thus it is almost inevitable then, that 'death' too has become an archetypal feature. To an increasingly large extent gothic literature is concerned with and obsession or fascination with death, however some may argue that this notion of death presents merely a sole characteristic of the gothic, and that perhaps there are alternative features that take predominance over it, such as the supernatural.
Fears and uncertainties have always played a part in everyday life. They are inescapable, all consuming and despite the changing times, universal. The Gothic genre is a style of literature which is intended to invoke a sense of terror while examining the dark side of nature. But the way Gothic literature commands its impact is through confronting society with its deepest uncertainties and perceived social threats. Therefore, the Gothic cannot exist or be valued without the sublime and contextual fears as they are universally understood conditions.
Suspense in Macbeth “Round about the cauldron go: In the poisoned entrails throw. Toad, that under cold stone days and night has thirty-one sweltered venom sleeping go to, boil thou first i’th’ charmed pot!”1 Shakespeare uses a lot of suspense and tension in his plays to create a specific mood or tone like evil, fear, and terror. In the play The Tragedy of Macbeth, many literary devices were portrayed but a very important one that played a key role would be suspense. The scenes that best create suspense, and tension in Macbeth would be the following events with the Witches presence, Duncan’s death, and Banquo’s death. From the very beginning of the play, suspense was already introduced.