A History of Gothic Literature

The Castle of Otranto is considered the first work of gothic fiction due to its establishment of gothic tropes, such as the supernatural, old castles, secret passages, paintings moving on their own, and doors closing by themselves.
The latter part of the 18th century saw an explosion of gothic literature. Ann Radcliffe’s works were some of the most popular in the 1790s. Her novels, such as The Romance of the Forest, and The Mysteries of Udolpho, were considered to be of a more feminine style, where rationality prevailed, instead of supernatural horror. The supernatural events in her novels ended up having mundane explanations.
Early Gothic works often had medieval settings. Ancient castles perfectly contributed to the themes of entrapment and constraint in these stories.
In fact, Gothic literature is associated with the Gothic Revival architecture of the period. Gothic writers associated old medieval buildings with what they thought as a terrifying period - characterized by harsh laws and mysterious, torturous and superstitious rituals. The medieval settings of extreme beauty in Gothic works reflect the genre’s appreciation of extreme emotions and the sublime.
Sources:
www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victo...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eightee...
www.toledolibrary.org/blog/a-...
www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victo...
www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victo...
Music:
Shostakovich - Chamber Symphony For Strings In C Minor, Op 110a
Mahler - Symphony No. 7 in E Minor - Scherzo

Пікірлер: 27

  • @deforeestwright2469
    @deforeestwright2469 Жыл бұрын

    Very good job. . .but fact check: Glenarvon was written by Lady Caroline Lamb, not Claire Claremont.

  • @katieflaxbeard1019
    @katieflaxbeard1019 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much! The Brontes are my favorite authors and Gothic literature as a whole has been my desired area of study! Glad I found your channel

  • @luigibeyer
    @luigibeyerАй бұрын

    The Abbey in The Oakwood, what an amazing painting!

  • @ernestjanzen6809
    @ernestjanzen680911 ай бұрын

    A wonderful video, really well explained. I got a lot out of it, and will likely give it a few rewatches. Thank you!

  • @jimcoyle4453
    @jimcoyle4453 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much for this comprehensive review of Gothic Literature.

  • @returnoftheromans6726
    @returnoftheromans67264 ай бұрын

    A very good analysis! As you talked of Darwin's theory, it reminded me of HG Well's "Time Machine," which, in of itself, is considered to be sci-fi. But, it also parallels Frankenstein and the speculation of how humans came to be through scientific means as you were saying. (Or, in Well's story, what the future might look like as evolution plays out). Just interesting how ideas can bleed so easily throughout the ages and how they are all so intertwined. Some of what Wells includes as Gothic elements are a confined space (underground) as well as feelings of discomfort at the brute-like "humans" living in the underground spaces, much like what one first feels at encountering Frankenstein's monster. Edit: you mentioned "The Yellow Wallpaper!???" Ahhh!!! I just ordered the story not that long ago, as it kept coming up, and I had to know what the hype was about. And I am obsessed!!!! Love that little book to pieces! It was such a short, easy read, too.

  • @grahamturner1290
    @grahamturner1290 Жыл бұрын

    An absorbing analysis, thank you! 😊

  • @cerberus6654
    @cerberus6654 Жыл бұрын

    That was enjoyable. I think you could have also included the novella 'Justine' by the Marquis de Sade and the novel 'Salammbo' by Flaubert. Talk about heroines in distress!

  • @HollyFormolo
    @HollyFormolo11 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the inspiration as I'm adding more books to my wish-list now

  • @Wes_LeVoLibrary
    @Wes_LeVoLibrary Жыл бұрын

    Very thorough. Great work.

  • @jamesnetwall1193
    @jamesnetwall119311 ай бұрын

    Excellent video. Ty!

  • @nicolascaldasabreu258
    @nicolascaldasabreu258 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing video , congratulations 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • @EpicGeopolitics
    @EpicGeopolitics4 ай бұрын

    This was awesome. Many thanks for making this. Really thorough introduction and i really reckon ima go check these novels out. Dorian Grey was my gateway novel!!! Looking forward to more releases from your channel!!

  • @art.and.lit.matters
    @art.and.lit.matters Жыл бұрын

    Stunning job. Just subscribed.

  • @SueLyons1
    @SueLyons1 Жыл бұрын

    👍 'horror... freezes and annihilates the senses' 👍

  • @mr.bmt216a2
    @mr.bmt216a2 Жыл бұрын

    GOTHIC ... amazing !

  • @lucagrochi7556
    @lucagrochi7556 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this work; also, your voice is beautiful

  • @carbonc6065
    @carbonc60657 ай бұрын

    Not too bad ... Thanks for the upload.

  • @aderemigbolahan3542
    @aderemigbolahan3542 Жыл бұрын

    What's the first Gothic poem?

  • @luigibeyer

    @luigibeyer

    Ай бұрын

    The Caste of Otranto

  • @pierremercier4724

    @pierremercier4724

    7 күн бұрын

    @@luigibeyer The Caste of Otranto is a novel, luigbeyer, not a poem.

  • @Aluenvey
    @Aluenvey10 ай бұрын

    Hurray, Gothic literature. Something actually Gothic.

  • @marcpadilla1094
    @marcpadilla1094 Жыл бұрын

    This is a PHD video. Am i right. Kids a great writer. Tropes n stuff. Trope, trope,trope. We love tropes. Ear truffles.

  • @thomante
    @thomante11 ай бұрын

    O how one's tradition & pedigree of invasion & oppression are born aloft!

  • @midnightstarlis6405
    @midnightstarlis6405 Жыл бұрын

    any gothic literatures/novels/fictions you book lovers want to recommend me? 🥹💞

  • @ValzainLumivix

    @ValzainLumivix

    Жыл бұрын

    J. S. Le Fanu, Wilkie Collins, Edgar Allan Poe, Dickens, are some good places to start.

  • @arthurr.r.lucasspublicdoma5621

    @arthurr.r.lucasspublicdoma5621

    8 ай бұрын

    The works of Ann Radcliffe, the Brontes, Frankenstein, Dracula, The Castle of Otranto, The Monk, etc.