Outline two gothic concepts with reference to at least one gothic text

One major gothic concept is Horror, the fear generated through physical shock. This is closely related to the male gothic, with Lewis' "The Monk" (1796) pioneering the use of grotesque imagery to shock readers. This sensationalist approach to the genre discredited its legitimacy, with contemporary audiences critiquing the 'Penny Dreadful' salacious concept as a gratuitous derailing of plot and character.Another major gothic concept is Terror, the fear generated through the uncertain and obscure. This mental and more insular fear is closely related to the female gothic and the work of Ann Radcliffe, particularly "The Mysteries of Udolpho" (1794), where our heroine Emily must discover the secrets of her captor's past. This concept is best generated through the use of setting (fog, darkness) and a 1st person narrative, so the reader inhabits the narrator's uncertain mental state and is equally affected by fear.

Related English Literature GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How does Bennett use Mrs Lintott to comment on the role of women in 1980s Britain in The History Boys?


How do I write a poetry comparison essay?


What is the best way to revise for an English exam?


How to analyse a poem?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences