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 ▸

What the significance of the presentation and description of Curly's Wife in Of Mice and Men?


How does Priestley explore the importance of social class in ‘An Inspector Calls’? Write about: • some ideas about social class in the play • how Priestley presents the importance of social class.


I’m struggling to understand the significance of context in An Inspector Calls. How do I write about context in my essay?


'Jekyll becomes dependant on Hyde because he can express his concealed pleasures.' How far do you agree with this view?


We're here to help

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

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences