Gothic Fiction

The Setting

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 building looks abandoned, sometimes occupied. The castle often contains secret passages, trap doors, secret rooms, dark or hidden staircases. Claustrophobia, echoes of unusual sounds, or mystery are key elements. And in horror-Gothic, caves are often home to terrifying creatures such as monsters, or deviant forms of humans: vampires, zombies, wolfmen. In films, the setting is usually an old house or mansion--or even a new house--where shadows create the same sense of claustrophobia and entrapment. The house may be dark, maybe because it was abandoned, or the house may be normal, but when night comes and people turn off the lights to go to bed the lights will fail (often because of a raging storm). A mysterious setting and darkness create anxiety.

Adapted from: https://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm

Mystery and Suspense

There is a threatening feeling, a fear increased by the unknown. This atmosphere becomes stressful when a character sees a shadow or hear a creaking sound, when the wind blows or just because of the normal sounds of night. The story is often built around a mystery, such as a disappearance or some other inexplicable event. People disappear or show up dead inexplicably. In modern novels and filmmaking, the inexplicable events are often murders. The bodies are sometimes mutilated in strange or surnatural ways--"What kind of monster could do this?" or "Here's the body, but there's no blood." When the corpses start to appear, suspense is raised: “Who will get killed next?”. Another modern setting is the deserted island, where the characters have arrived by shipwreck or mysterious invitation.

Adapted from: https://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm

Dramatic, amazing events appear, such as ghosts or giants walking, or inanimate objects (such as a suit of armor or painting) coming to life. It can also be an ancient prophecy which is connected with the castle or the inhabitants (former or present). The prophecy is usually obscure, confusing or not complete. Ancient maps showing the location of amazing treasures represent another variant of the ancient prophecy aspect. A character can have troubling dream vision or some phenomenon can foretell coming events. For example, the statue of the lord of the castle falls, it can predict the death of the lord. In modern fiction, the character may see something and think it it just a dream.

The Supernatural

Adapted from: https://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm

The characters are often overcome by anger, sorrow, surprise, fear, and especially, terror. Crying and emotional speeches are frequent. The characters can be breathless and panicked. In the filmed Gothic, screaming is common. The female characters often face events that leave them fainting, terrified, screaming, and/or sobbing. A lonely and oppressed heroine is often the central figure of the novel. One or more male characters has the power to demand that one or more of the female characters do something intolerable. The woman may be commanded to marry someone she does not love (it may even be the powerful male himself), or commit a crime.

Feelings and women

Adapted from: https://www.virtualsalt.com/gothic.htm