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.

EC
Answered by Elizabeth C. English Literature tutor

3882 Views

See similar English Literature GCSE tutors

Related English Literature GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Explain the importance of Love as a theme in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.


How do I make sure that my answer has met all the Assessment Objectives?


Referring to HG Wells' 'Time Machine', how does the author in lines 12-25 of the extract use language and structure to show the narrator's thoughts and feelings about the people he meets? (Edexcel GCSE 2018)


How do I write a good introduction for an exam essay?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning