![]() The Supernatural and ParanormalĪ large part of the Gothic literature’s charm stems from supernatural or inexplicable phenomena, such as inanimate objects becoming alive, ghosts, spirits and vampires, like the character of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897). For example, in William Beckford’s novel Vatek (1786), a captivating story of an Arab caliph, the Middle East was chosen as the place of action, which contributed to the growing of interest of the Arab and Oriental culture. Many early writers found charm in exotic, unexplored territories. For example, Mary Shelley placed her characters in macabre cemeteries and gloomy castles, and even created a fantastic monster in her famous novel Frankenstein (1818). Castles, romanticized in the medieval period, played a large role in the early Gothic works. ![]() Authors often used dark forests, gloomy mountainous areas and ominous weather conditions in their novels. The authors of the Gothic genre set the tone by carefully choosing the scene, since the atmosphere and surroundings in the Gothic novel directly affect the feelings of fear and anxiety. Atmosphere and Scene Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, looks Gothic even on the portrait The thrilling events and the intense atmosphere of the novel defined the framework of the Gothic genre for the following years. For example, in Ann Radcliffe’s novel The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794) the plot is built around Emilia Saint-Aubert, an orphan girl who has become an involuntary captive in a secluded castle. ![]() ![]() Many Gothic novels include such elements as a funeral, the flickering flame of candles, ominous potions and other frightening details. Everything that is beyond the bounds of scientific explanation opens the way to the incomprehensible, and the Gothic atmosphere but strengthens the flair of mystery. One of the essential features of a captivating Gothic novel is its ability to arouse the feeling of obscurity and fear. ![]()
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