Gothic elements include the following:
1. Setting in a castle or old mansion. The action takes place in and around an
old castle or an old mansion, or the ruins of an old castle or mansion. Sometimes the
edifice is seemingly abandoned, sometimes occupied, and sometimes it's not clear
whether the buildidng has occupants (human or otherwise). The castle often contains
secret passages, trap doors, secret rooms, trick panels with hidden levers, dark or
hidden staircases, and possibly ruined sections.
Translated into the modern novel or filmmaking, the setting is usually an old house
or mansion--or even a new house--where unusual camera angles, sustained close ups
during movement, and darkness or shadows create the same sense of claustrophobia
and entrapment. The house might be already dark, perhaps because it was
abandoned, or it might at first seem light and airy, but either night comes and people
turn off the lights to go to bed, or at some dramatic point the lights will fail (often
because of a raging storm). (And, as movie goers know well, while the scenes and
dialog form the rational (or irrational) movement in the film, the music controls the
emotional response to what is seen and spoken.)
The goal of the dark and mysterious setting is to create a sense of unease and
foreboding, contributing toward the atmospheric element of fear and dread.
Darkness also allows those sudden and frightening appearance of people, animals,
ghosts, apparent ghosts, or monsters.
2. An atmosphere of mystery and suspense.The work is pervaded by a
threatening feeling, a fear enhanced by the unknown. This atmosphere is sometimes
advanced when characters see only a glimpse of something--was that a person
rushing out the window or only the wind blowing a curtain? Is that creaking sound
coming from someone's step on the squeaky floor, or only the normal sounds of the
night? Often the plot itself is built around a mystery, such as unknown parentage, a
disappearance, or some other inexplicable event. People disappear or show up dead
inexplicably. Elements 3, 4, and 5 below contribute to this atmosphere.
3. An ancient prophecy is connected with the castle or its inhabitants (either
former or present). The prophecy is usually obscure, partial, or confusing. "What
could it mean?" In more watered down modern examples, this may amount to merely
a legend: "It's said that the ghost of old man Krebs still wanders these halls." Ancient,
undecipherable maps showing the location of amazing treasure represent another
variant of the ancient prophecy aspect.
4. Omens, portents, visions. A character may have a disturbing dream vision, or
some phenomenon may be seen as a portent of coming events. For example, if the
statue of the lord of the manor falls over, it may portend his death. In modern fiction,
a character might see something (a shadowy figure stabbing another shadowy figure)
and think that it was a dream. This might be thought of as an "imitation vision."
Sometimes an omen will be used for foreshadowing, while other writers will tweak
the reader by denying expectation--what we thought was foreshadowinig wasn't.
5. Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events. Dramatic, amazing events
occur, such as ghosts or giants walking, or inanimate objects (such as a suit of armor
or painting) coming to life. In some works, the events are ultimately given a natural
1. Setting in a castle or old mansion. The action takes place in and around an
old castle or an old mansion, or the ruins of an old castle or mansion. Sometimes the
edifice is seemingly abandoned, sometimes occupied, and sometimes it's not clear
whether the buildidng has occupants (human or otherwise). The castle often contains
secret passages, trap doors, secret rooms, trick panels with hidden levers, dark or
hidden staircases, and possibly ruined sections.
Translated into the modern novel or filmmaking, the setting is usually an old house
or mansion--or even a new house--where unusual camera angles, sustained close ups
during movement, and darkness or shadows create the same sense of claustrophobia
and entrapment. The house might be already dark, perhaps because it was
abandoned, or it might at first seem light and airy, but either night comes and people
turn off the lights to go to bed, or at some dramatic point the lights will fail (often
because of a raging storm). (And, as movie goers know well, while the scenes and
dialog form the rational (or irrational) movement in the film, the music controls the
emotional response to what is seen and spoken.)
The goal of the dark and mysterious setting is to create a sense of unease and
foreboding, contributing toward the atmospheric element of fear and dread.
Darkness also allows those sudden and frightening appearance of people, animals,
ghosts, apparent ghosts, or monsters.
2. An atmosphere of mystery and suspense.The work is pervaded by a
threatening feeling, a fear enhanced by the unknown. This atmosphere is sometimes
advanced when characters see only a glimpse of something--was that a person
rushing out the window or only the wind blowing a curtain? Is that creaking sound
coming from someone's step on the squeaky floor, or only the normal sounds of the
night? Often the plot itself is built around a mystery, such as unknown parentage, a
disappearance, or some other inexplicable event. People disappear or show up dead
inexplicably. Elements 3, 4, and 5 below contribute to this atmosphere.
3. An ancient prophecy is connected with the castle or its inhabitants (either
former or present). The prophecy is usually obscure, partial, or confusing. "What
could it mean?" In more watered down modern examples, this may amount to merely
a legend: "It's said that the ghost of old man Krebs still wanders these halls." Ancient,
undecipherable maps showing the location of amazing treasure represent another
variant of the ancient prophecy aspect.
4. Omens, portents, visions. A character may have a disturbing dream vision, or
some phenomenon may be seen as a portent of coming events. For example, if the
statue of the lord of the manor falls over, it may portend his death. In modern fiction,
a character might see something (a shadowy figure stabbing another shadowy figure)
and think that it was a dream. This might be thought of as an "imitation vision."
Sometimes an omen will be used for foreshadowing, while other writers will tweak
the reader by denying expectation--what we thought was foreshadowinig wasn't.
5. Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events. Dramatic, amazing events
occur, such as ghosts or giants walking, or inanimate objects (such as a suit of armor
or painting) coming to life. In some works, the events are ultimately given a natural
