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LITR 4328 American
Renaissance Research Posts 2015 (research post assignment) Research Post 1 |
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Tanah Broussard
Where and Why Gothic Literature?
When we hear the word Gothic, the first thing that comes to mind is a
dark, fearful and mysterious setting, leading to the unknown. In today’s
society, we are still told ghost stories, read abnormally gloomy stories, and
watch surreal horror movies that all have a common theme. We as readers have a
slight awareness about the meaning of the term gothic, but have we ever stopped
to think about when this term came about, or why, and why it is still a theme
people are drawn to today?
Gothic is a term that has been used for many years, and is still frequently used
today. Stated in our class notes, “Images
associated with the gothic stretch back to Christian
visions of hell, devils, and demons, with Lucifer as the original Byronic
hero: proud, rebellious, attractive, and
dangerous to know. As the gothic develops, such
imagery becomes secularized but
may still evoke the supernatural”, explaining that Gothic has been around for
longer than we ever estimated. Though the term has been around forever, the
concreate recognition of the word came about in the eighteen centuries.
Andrew Smith states, “The cultivation of a Gothic style was given new impetus in
the mid-eighteen centuries with the emergence of the Enlightenment beliefs that
extolled the virtues of rationality” (Smith, 1).
In
class notes, the term Gothic is defined as “a term
for aspects of medieval art first applied to pointed architecture in the early
seventeenth century. . . . The gothic revival [in architecture in the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries] in its literary aspects was closely
associated with the green copses, disordered stone piles, enchanting shadows and
sweet melancholy of these ruined buildings.” This type of setting occurred
multiple times in the literature selections we have reviewed in class. Poe’s
work makes a perfect example for the term Gothic. In line 5.1 of “The Raven”,
Poe states, “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood
there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams
no mortals ever dared to dream before;…”
which gives the readers the sense of suspense and the unknown. It also uses
words such as “peering” and “darkness” which transpires to the common theme of
gothic literature. By creating this Gothic setting, you pull the readers in, and
leave them wanting more. “In the past half-centuries, Gothic literature has
continued to supply readers with escapist fiction as well as challenges to mind
and heart”. (Snodgrass, 3).
In conclusion, Gothic literature is a genre that is here indefinitely. Writers
have been producing works on Gothic literature for many years, and readers will
continue to read it this genre for years to come. It is appealing, grotesque,
and mysterious. These qualities draw us in, and allow us to be consumed in this
particular genre of writing. .
Works
Cited
Smith, Andrew. Gothic Literature.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh Company Press, 2007. Web. 23 March 2015.
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=NdQhHKM50pUC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=gothic+literature&ots=cgtp_cdoyr&sig=qhd7IpJ-fYP3FnlS8M2zJiK7w3I#v=onepage&q=gothic%20literature&f=false
http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/texts/AmClassics/poems/PoePoems/PoeRaven.htm
http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/terms/G/gothic.htm
Snodgrass, Mary. Encyclopedia of Gothic
Literature. New York: Mary
Ellen Snodgrass, 2005. Web. 21 March 2015.
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