GOTHIC TROPES
3rd person narrator presents an omniscient narrator who is essentially watching over the characters and telling the story from afar
elicits feelings of unease/tension etc. reader is left unaware of character’s true emotions often told in a passive voice
Structure discontinuities/delays in narrative = builds inner tension shifts in voice = creates confusion sentence lengths
convoluted or simple discourse
1st person narrator told thru singular character heightens the emotional experience of the reader as our emotions are based on
their experiences (vicarious attachment) [can create an unreliable narrator]
Setting metaphors + personification = atmosphere of dread visibility + darkness = obscurity of danger stressing the
physicality of the environment with violent/powerful imagery manifestation of the character’s feelings setting becomes a
metonymy/reflection of inner thoughts everything mirrors something = rhetoric of contrasts
Mystery/suspense usually created in the middle of an extract deliberate obscuration/reader is left in the dark an inherent
gothic trope in not having full knowledge of their surroundings usually leads to the reader’s realisation of the character’s
vulnerability in an unknown setting
Terror Anne Radcliffe, it is primarily concerned with a greater psychological and intellectual response reflects the
powerlessness of individuals in the face of more dominant forces -> common sources include grotesque, light/dark, sublime settings
etc.
Horror deals with alarmingly concrete imagery, a more physical response, lurking force (personification), character’s inability to
communicate their emotions, loss of control
Stream of consciousness literary style whereby the narrative form reflects the thoughts of the character
Unreliable narrator one whose account is limited either by their absence from certain events or their biased perspective
Epistolary narrative told in form of letters advantage = insight!! better than unreliable narrator
Chinese box structure the central story is framed by another but is completely separate
Men gothic heroes that battle evil and act in a chivalrous way toward women promethean hero, Byronic hero, satanic hero
Women heroines that demonstrate chastity and moral purity = damsel in distress or sexualised deceiver = female fatale
Villain from foreign countries (Orientalism) or possess supernatural powers
TEXTS
Uncanny Dracula, Pic of Dorian Grey, Treasure of abbot thomas
Monster Dracula, Lady of House of Love, Frankenstein, Treasure of Abbot Thomas
Obscurity Jane Eyre – revelation of bertha
Psyche pic of d grey – pic in attic, tiger’s bride – animal within
Sexual Deviancy Dracula, COW
Science Dracula – blood transfusion, Frankenstein – artificial creation
Women Snow Child
Foreign setting Dracula – Transylvania
Labyrinth setting Dracula doors doors doors
Supernatural Dracula, Lost Hearts
Liminal Id Dr Jekyll + Mr Hyde
Doppelganger Dr J + MH
Light vs dark the small hand susan hill
Fear of unknown tale of abbot thomas
Return of repressed Dracula harker
Madness crescendo of horror in tell tale heart
3rd person narrator presents an omniscient narrator who is essentially watching over the characters and telling the story from afar
elicits feelings of unease/tension etc. reader is left unaware of character’s true emotions often told in a passive voice
Structure discontinuities/delays in narrative = builds inner tension shifts in voice = creates confusion sentence lengths
convoluted or simple discourse
1st person narrator told thru singular character heightens the emotional experience of the reader as our emotions are based on
their experiences (vicarious attachment) [can create an unreliable narrator]
Setting metaphors + personification = atmosphere of dread visibility + darkness = obscurity of danger stressing the
physicality of the environment with violent/powerful imagery manifestation of the character’s feelings setting becomes a
metonymy/reflection of inner thoughts everything mirrors something = rhetoric of contrasts
Mystery/suspense usually created in the middle of an extract deliberate obscuration/reader is left in the dark an inherent
gothic trope in not having full knowledge of their surroundings usually leads to the reader’s realisation of the character’s
vulnerability in an unknown setting
Terror Anne Radcliffe, it is primarily concerned with a greater psychological and intellectual response reflects the
powerlessness of individuals in the face of more dominant forces -> common sources include grotesque, light/dark, sublime settings
etc.
Horror deals with alarmingly concrete imagery, a more physical response, lurking force (personification), character’s inability to
communicate their emotions, loss of control
Stream of consciousness literary style whereby the narrative form reflects the thoughts of the character
Unreliable narrator one whose account is limited either by their absence from certain events or their biased perspective
Epistolary narrative told in form of letters advantage = insight!! better than unreliable narrator
Chinese box structure the central story is framed by another but is completely separate
Men gothic heroes that battle evil and act in a chivalrous way toward women promethean hero, Byronic hero, satanic hero
Women heroines that demonstrate chastity and moral purity = damsel in distress or sexualised deceiver = female fatale
Villain from foreign countries (Orientalism) or possess supernatural powers
TEXTS
Uncanny Dracula, Pic of Dorian Grey, Treasure of abbot thomas
Monster Dracula, Lady of House of Love, Frankenstein, Treasure of Abbot Thomas
Obscurity Jane Eyre – revelation of bertha
Psyche pic of d grey – pic in attic, tiger’s bride – animal within
Sexual Deviancy Dracula, COW
Science Dracula – blood transfusion, Frankenstein – artificial creation
Women Snow Child
Foreign setting Dracula – Transylvania
Labyrinth setting Dracula doors doors doors
Supernatural Dracula, Lost Hearts
Liminal Id Dr Jekyll + Mr Hyde
Doppelganger Dr J + MH
Light vs dark the small hand susan hill
Fear of unknown tale of abbot thomas
Return of repressed Dracula harker
Madness crescendo of horror in tell tale heart
