Gothic Literature
Gothic novel originated in England, in the last quarter of the XVIII century. It opens up a world, freed from the everyday plausibility. This world is fantastic, with a gloomy color and plot, covered with historical and geographical romance and sinister atmosphere. Gothic novel is more than two hundred years; it has changed, has become modern, but have not lost its essential characteristics – pleasant horror, tension and excitement.
British Gothic Novel
Gothic novel in England has been very popular since the XVIII century. The “father” of this genre of literature is considered to be Horace Walpole, with the novel The Castle of Otranto (1764). Books by famous writers, such as Radcliffe, Reeve, Shelley, were published serially, leather-bound. It was also a lot of cheap novels, with thin covers and bright pictures. Even poor people could buy these books. (MacAndrew 27)
The distinctive features of the gothic literature became characters and places of action. It is difficult to imagine a Gothic novel without vampires, zombies, cursed castle and crime around which the plot unfolds. The modern Gothic novel is slightly different from the novels of the second half of the 18th century, but there has changed not only the scene of action; the actions usually take place in the city. The Modern Gothic novel raises philosophical questions of life and death, time, love, memory, errors and their consequences. The fact that the book heroes are vampires, werewolves, and zombies makes it easy to look at the problem from a different angle. (Stevens 10)
Classification of Gothic Novel
The first serious attempt to divide the Gothic novel into categories belongs to English literary critic Edith Birkhead. In her monograph The Tale of Terror: A Study of the Gothic Romance she allocates 6 types of the Gothic novel. These are: The Novel of Suspense, The Novel of Terror, The Oriental Tale of Terror, Satires on the Novel of Terror, The Short Tale of Terror. (Birkhead)
The Novel of Suspense. The main features of the genre is that the reader is always in tension. This is not a permanent feeling of horror and fear, but rather the excitement and tension, the reader expects that something will happen soon. He may know those moments, which are not known to the protagonists. The brightest representative of this genre is Ann Radcliffe.
The Novel of Terror. The aim of Terror Novel is to scare the reader, cause a feeling of horror and terror, trepidation and fear. Usually this feeling of terror is caused by supernatural forces, although the author can use natural things, but to create an atmosphere of terror. The representatives of this sub-genre are Matthew Gregory Lewis, Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, Charles Maturin.
The Oriental Tale of Terror. The events of the stories take place in some exotic country, or revolve around objects, brought from there. They are full of paranormal phenomena, mysticism, magic, and supernatural beings. This particular trend in the literature caused a fashionable phenomenon in the Art - a hoax, which is purposely misleading the reader or viewer. Many authors deliberately issued their works, for example, for the folk art. The most bright representative is William Beckford.
Satires on the Novel of Terror. The purpose of these works was to ridicule and parody the Gothic novel. It poked fun at all the elements of the Gothic novel, such as the paranormal, secret, fatal coincidence. This sub-genre appeared because the Gothic novel got unprecedented success, and people began to believe and fear the supernatural. The purpose of this satire was to make readers think that they should not be afraid of demonic evil, but their own base passions - greed, lies, stupidity. Representatives: Jane Austen, Thomas Love Peacock.
The Short Tale of Terror. These short stories were published in magazines and other periodicals. It was assumed that Gothic tales have more impact, if you read them from time to time, rather than one after the other. Also, these stories were published separately and called "chapbooks"; although they were short, about 5 pages, readers liked the colorful illustrations. (Birkhead)
Modern Gothic Literature
Gothic novel successfully adapts to the time in which it was created. Appeared in the XVIII century, it was changing, as well as everything around, but it did not lose its essential characteristics and is easily recognizable at all times.
Nathaniel Hawthorne. The most striking and unusual example of Gothic novel is “The House of the Seven Gables” by American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. This book is unusual, because it was created by the canons of the Gothic novel; however the atmosphere that reigns in the book makes the reader tremble. It has no ghosts, flying around the house; rather people there are like ghosts. All mystical events have a logical explanation, but the author has managed to ensure that the reader feels light horror of what is happening in the book. (Hawthorne)
Laurell K. Hamilton. Her books are intense, spicy, with unexpected twists. Laurell K. Hamilton's novels - a blend of the mystical thriller, Gothic novel, tough detective-thriller and a strong love story. In “Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter”, Hamilton described the modern world very vividly - a reflection of the modern USA, where werewolves, vampires, zombies feel quite comfortable. These dynamic, exciting, ironic books have many readers. The main advantage - significantly prescribed Gothic world. Vampires live here quite legally, in a special ghetto, and even there are people fighting for the provision of bloodsuckers civil rights and freedoms. Ironic and even satirical moments in the cycle are very strong. (Hamilton)
Clive Barker. The works of British writer, film director, and artist, definitely relate to Gothic style. The book “Coldheart Canyon” has many gothic features, but with some correction for time. This book has it all - horror, mystic, demonic creatures, mystery, connection of times, a gloomy house, a constant threat to the lives of the characters. But since the book was written by Barker, everything is with a particular slant. Despite some discrepancies with the original Gothic style, the reader has no doubt that the novel refers to this genre, though with some admixture, which only makes it brighter. (Barker)
Gothic Style in TV-Shows
The Supernatural. The title of this TV-show speaks for itself, because “supernatural” is a crucial characteristic of Gothic style. The Supernatural is fantasy horror television series about haunting various demons, monsters, and other scary creatures. The protagonists are two brothers, not even girls, but in everything else it is a Gothic TV-show. They are investigating paranormal phenomena, many of which are based on American urban legends and folklore. The plot is full of different mysteries, the place of action is not a castle, but a modern city, but this does not diminish the feeling of fear and terror, because the usual pattern of daily life quite unusual in this series.
Sleepy Hollow. This is a gothic horror film from the master of gothic films and cartoons Tim Burton. The film is full of puzzles, mystery, dead bodies, and investigations. The atmosphere of the film makes you forget about everything and wait for an outcome with trepidation. In the film, the viewer finds out the story of a killer, who, according to legend, lost his head in the woods of Sleepy Hollow. Young investigator must overcome your fear and reveal a series of murders, thereby disproving or proving mystical coincidence.
Conclusion
Gothic literature - one of the most terrible and controversial events in the world literature. It is changing under the influence of time. The success of this genre is built on our basest, animal fears and interests, it makes dive into the darkest areas, tremble and admire. But the most important thing is that Gothic literature, in spite of everything, always retains its popularity. It makes the reader feel nervous and experience a variety of emotions, which one is not able to experience in everyday life.
Works Cited
Barker, Clive. Coldheart Canyon. Harper Collins Publishers, 2002. Internet resource.
Birkhead, Edith. The Tale of Terror: A Study of the Gothic Romance. , 2012. Internet resource.
Hamilton, Laurell K. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Collection: Books 1-15. New York: Jove Books, 2011. Internet resource.
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The House of the Seven Gables. Charlottesville, Va: University of Virginia Library, 1996. Internet resource.
MacAndrew, Elizabeth. The Gothic Tradition in Fiction. New York: Columbia University Press, 1979. Print.
Stevens, David. The Gothic Tradition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print.
