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 do I write a good introduction for an exam essay?


Are we meant to sympathise with the speaker of Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess'?


How do I comment on Williams use of staging in an essay on A Streetcar Named Desire?


How does Elizabeth Bishop create a tone that is both serious and amusing in One Art?


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 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy