What is Gothic Horror?
Gothic Horror is a style of writing which touches elements of horror, fear, death and also romantic elements like individuality and nature. This style of fictional writing began mid 1700 and the book ' The castle of Otranto' By Horace Walpole was the first Gothic Horror novel to be created, which caused a lot of controversy due to Gothic Horror exploring 'The unknown' which was unheard of during this time period.
The Plot of 'The Castle of Otranto'.
"This novel is a medieval tale of love, knights, horror, and curses that features several twists and turns along the way. As the story opens, there is to be a wedding between the sickly, young son of Prince Manfred, Conrad, and the lovely Isabella. Isabella's father, Frederick, has been away at the Crusades. He is presumed to be dead, as is Isabella's mother. Manfred persuades her guardians to allow her to marry Conrad, who is just 15 years old. It is not a marriage of love.
On the morning of the wedding, a servant finds the crushed body of Conrad under a plumed helmet large enough to fit a giant. This horrifying, inciting event sets up the action to follow."
The text above is taken from http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-castle-of-otranto-summary-analysis-quiz.html, this is an educational site which holds a plot, notes and analysis on 'The Castle of Otranto' By Horace Walpole.
The term Gothic originated and was associated with the style of art and architecture during the 1700's, Gothic described dark, decaying and dismal settings and events. The settings within Gothic Horror novels are commonly described as gloomy, dead, lifeless, scary and fearful in large Gothic fearful churches and buildings. Most Gothic Horror literature spoke about 'Monsters', 'The unknown', Vampires, The supernatural, werewolves etc, there are also Gothic Horror stories which displayed these 'fearful' and 'gloom' elements of fear and suffering in Gothic settings themselves.
References
http://study.com/academy/lesson/gothic-fiction-definition-characteristics-authors.htmlhttp://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-origins-of-the-gothic
Clery, E.J. (1995). The Rise of Supernatural Fiction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bloom, Clive (2007). Gothic Horror: A Guide for Students and Readers.
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