"What we may now see as 'classical Gothic' then will normally involve dynastic disorders, set at some temporal and spatial distance and in a castle or manorial locale; defense or usurpation of an inheritance will threaten (and not infrequently inflict) violence upon hapless (usually female) victims amid a supernatural ambience. Often (but not always) the heroin will be saved, the villain unmasked, and the supernatural phenomenon dispersed (explained or confirmed)”When creating our own definitions and categorizations of the gothic, look for similar structure, style, setting, themes, characterization, and common sources.
Dualistic clashes represented in gothic literature:
- Supernatural -- Natural
- Mysticism -- Materialism
- Faith -- Reason
- Religion -- Science
- Life -- Death
- Victim -- Villain
- Forgiveness -- Vengeance
- Inheritance -- Usurpation
- Desire -- Repression
Early Gothic Texts:
Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto, published in 1764, was the first English novel to be marketed as "Gothik," a term which had been previously applied more exclusively to art and architecture.
The plot of this novel reflects many of the aspects stated in Cornwell's definition of early gothic literature: A deposed heir returns to reclaim his rightful rulership from an illegitimate usurper, virgins have their chastity threatened by the villain, the setting features both a castle and monastery, and seemingly supernatural occurrences shape the events of the story.
This novel's popularity ushered in more gothic texts, including most prominently Anne Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho and Matthew Lewis's The Monk:
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