What are common characteristics of Gothic literature?

Gothic literature differs from text to text, as pieces need only contain a few of the classic elements in order to be classed as Gothic.

These elements include, but are not limited to: 

• Heroes and heroines, or damsels in distress 

• Elements of the supernatural

• The use of "doubles" i.e. characters which mirror other characters, storylines which mirror other storylines 

• The uncanny ("I feel like I've seen this before")

• Dark, stormy,and gloomy settings; such as a haunted castle, an abandoned house, or some spooky moors 

Think Frankenstein, Jekyll & Hyde, Dracula, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights - that sort of thing - and you're on the right track.