elements of the gothic mary shelley’s frankenstein english 12 ap
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Elements of the GothicElements of the Gothic
Mary Shelley’s Mary Shelley’s FrankensteinFrankenstein
English 12 APEnglish 12 AP
On the Gothic…On the Gothic…
““Gothicism insists that what Gothicism insists that what is customarily hallowed as is customarily hallowed as real by society and its real by society and its language is but a small language is but a small portion of a greater reality of portion of a greater reality of monstrous proportion and monstrous proportion and immeasurable power” immeasurable power”
(Bayer-Berenbaum).(Bayer-Berenbaum).
On the Gothic…On the Gothic…
Gothic is a Gothic is a genre which genre which fulfills the fulfills the “strange “strange human craving human craving for feeling for feeling afraid” afraid” (Woolfe).(Woolfe).
The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason
Sometimes referred Sometimes referred to as the to as the Neoclassical PeriodNeoclassical Period
Represented:Represented: Renewed focus on Renewed focus on
classics (Rome)classics (Rome) Focus on science Focus on science
and philosophyand philosophy
The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason
Rome and Roman culture Rome and Roman culture represented civilization and represented civilization and order.order.
The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason
Rene Descartes:Rene Descartes: Cogito ergo Cogito ergo
sum.sum. I think therefore I think therefore
I am.I am. The rational The rational
being, was a being, was a supreme being.supreme being.
Origins of the Gothic…Origins of the Gothic…
The Gothic The Gothic movement movement represented a represented a reaction to the reaction to the Age of Reason & Age of Reason & EnlightenmentEnlightenment
Origins of the Gothic…Origins of the Gothic…
Gothic is a Gothic is a reference to the reference to the “Goths” – the “Goths” – the Visigoths and Visigoths and Ostrogoths who Ostrogoths who sacked and sacked and destroyed the destroyed the Roman Empire.Roman Empire.
Origins of the Gothic…Origins of the Gothic…
This destruction This destruction represented the represented the overthrow of overthrow of reason in favor reason in favor of the wild, of the wild, barbarous, and barbarous, and chimerical – the chimerical – the GothicGothic
Origins of the Gothic…Origins of the Gothic…
The Age of Reason The Age of Reason sparked not only a sparked not only a resurgence of resurgence of classical thought, classical thought, but classical but classical architecture as architecture as well.well.
Simple lines and Simple lines and shapesshapes
Origins of the Gothic…Origins of the Gothic…
The Gothic style The Gothic style of architecture of architecture incorporated incorporated elaborate elaborate designs: designs: vaulted ceilings, vaulted ceilings, flying flying buttresses, etc..buttresses, etc..
Origins of the Gothic…Origins of the Gothic… The Gothic literary movement followed The Gothic literary movement followed
suit… abandoning the rational for the suit… abandoning the rational for the irrational and mysterious…irrational and mysterious…
The Gothic NovelThe Gothic Novel
The height of the The height of the Gothic movement Gothic movement in literature was in literature was from 1790-1830.from 1790-1830.
The Gothic The Gothic movement has movement has never completely never completely dissipated – dissipated – Stephen King, etc…Stephen King, etc…
Elements of the Gothic Elements of the Gothic NovelNovel
The gothic genre is The gothic genre is characterized by a series of characterized by a series of commonly held characteristics.commonly held characteristics.
A novel need not present all of A novel need not present all of the following characteristics to the following characteristics to labeled “Gothic.”labeled “Gothic.”
The SettingThe Setting
SettingSetting Typically set in Typically set in
mansions or mansions or medieval castles medieval castles containing containing secret passages secret passages and trap doors.and trap doors.
The SettingThe Setting
Gothic novels Gothic novels may also be may also be set in wild set in wild landscapes or landscapes or wastelands.wastelands.
The SettingThe Setting
Evokes an Evokes an atmosphere horror atmosphere horror and dreadand dread
Portrays Portrays deterioration of the deterioration of the worldworld
Emphasis on Emphasis on decay, ruin, and decay, ruin, and death.death.
Gothic CharactersGothic Characters
ProtagonistProtagonistIsolated from societyIsolated from societyCharacterized by fall from Characterized by fall from
gracegraceSuccumbed to temptationSuccumbed to temptationSaved by union with loved oneSaved by union with loved one
Gothic CharactersGothic Characters
VillainVillainEpitome of evil Epitome of evil Characterized Characterized
by Fall from by Fall from Grace, or Grace, or inherent inherent malevolencemalevolence
Gothic CharactersGothic Characters
The WandererThe Wanderer Epitome of Epitome of
isolationisolation Wanders the earth Wanders the earth
in perpetual exilein perpetual exile ““Exile” typically a Exile” typically a
form of divine form of divine punishmentpunishment
Gothic CharactersGothic Characters
Women in DistressWomen in DistressLonely, pensive, and Lonely, pensive, and
oppressed heroineoppressed heroine““Damsel in Distress”Damsel in Distress”Threatened by Threatened by
powerful, impulsive, powerful, impulsive, tyrannical maletyrannical male
Gothic CharactersGothic Characters
Doubles or Doubles or DoppelgangersDoppelgangers
Meaning "double Meaning "double walker" a doppelganger walker" a doppelganger is a shadow-self that is a shadow-self that accompanies every accompanies every human. human.
Doppelgangers can be Doppelgangers can be mischievous or mischievous or malicious.malicious.
Supernatural EventsSupernatural Events
Characterized by supernatural Characterized by supernatural events: ghosts, chimerical events: ghosts, chimerical creatures, objects coming to lifecreatures, objects coming to life
Marked by unnatural events, or Marked by unnatural events, or acts of natureacts of nature
ToneTone
Highly sentimentalHighly sentimental Characters often overcome by Characters often overcome by
anger, sorrow, surprise, anger, sorrow, surprise, and/or fearand/or fear
ToneTone
Characters Characters suffer from raw suffer from raw nerves and nerves and impending doomimpending doom
Manic Manic depressive depressive qualityquality
ThemeTheme
Cosmic Cosmic Struggle: polar Struggle: polar opposites opposites struggle struggle
Over-Reacher: Over-Reacher: Sin of Pride, Sin of Pride, Delusions of Delusions of GrandeurGrandeur
ThemesThemes
Guilt: hero Guilt: hero haunted by haunted by guiltguilt
Violence Violence against against InnocentsInnocents
DeathDeath
Structure and LanguageStructure and Language
StructureStructure Story within a story within a storyStory within a story within a storyLanguageLanguage Florid language is employedFlorid language is employed Detailed description of setting, Detailed description of setting,
characters, actions, etc.characters, actions, etc.Aids the establishment of toneAids the establishment of tone