Gothic Romanticism

  

As Halloween approaches, it is a time of ghosts, thrills, and horrors. Enjoying the creepy sensations in the form of creepy horror can be a wonderful experience, but sometimes your heart wants something a little pitiful. To appease such nostalgia, I would like to introduce the Gothic Romantic genre. The word goth can evoke images of black-dressed people listening to Cure and Sioux and Banshees, but the term goes back much further than '80s post-punk. The Gothic genre takes its name from Gothic architecture, which features lancet arches and buttresses. This architecture, often seen in old French and English cathedrals, was associated with feelings of creepiness and anxiety, as no one had seen buildings like this before. This feeling of edginess is what Gothic literature attempts to convey. Horace Walpole is often considered the father of Gothic Romanticism with his 1764 publishing of The Castle of Warrantor. By adding something as pure as romance to the setting of the Gothic novel or movie, we are left with a disturbing tale in which we sympathize strongly with the leads’ quest for love. In traditional romance, characters play a vital role, as they move the action along and are what create the actual romance aspect of the story. This idea applies to Gothic Romanticism as well, though the characters commonly come with a bit of a twist. Typically, the lead of a Gothic Romanticism is a woman attempting to discover what is suitable for her heart, and what the guild expects of her. She will commonly have a force, often an overprotective father, standing between her and her love, though she, or someone else, will find a way around him. Regardless of whether the story is in the first or third person, we go through terror alongside her and are meant to empathize with her. Gothic Romanticism is all about getting the right mood across to the reader. The story should focus heavily on the romantic side of the story while evoking tension and interest with some kind of deep element. Here are a few ways to create a mood in this genre. Gothic novels are thrillers, and this is reflected in the mood and tone of the writing. Often this is communicated through objects and sounds in the environment. Typical examples include strong wind and rain, rusty hinges, sighs/groans/cry's of unknown origin, footsteps, chain clashing, abandoned room lights, dimmed lights, no exit rooms, slammed doors, collapsed buildings, and far away There are dog sounds, etc. Or wolves, thunder and lightning, and crazy laughter.