The “Gothic and “The Fall of the House of Usher”
Gothic literature: a genre which combines elements of horror, mystery and romance.
Below are some of the common features of gothic literature. Explain where you see examples of these conventions (note that they may not be identical to the
definitions given) in “The Fall of the House of Usher” (if it is present) and comment on the effect this feature has on either characters or themes in the story.
Convention
1.
Setting: ancestral home: The action takes
place in and around an old ancestral home,
sometimes seemingly abandoned, sometimes
occupied.
The gothic setting often contains secret
passages, trap doors, secret rooms, dark or
hidden staircases, and possibly ruined
sections. The setting may be near or
connected to caves, which lend their own
haunting flavour with their branchings,
claustrophobia , and mystery. (In a modern
film, the setting may be in an old home or
mansion – or even a new house- where
unusual camera angles, sustained close ups
during movement, and darkness or shadows
create the same sense of claustrophobia and
entrapment.)
2. An atmosphere of mystery and suspense.
The work is pervaded by a threatening
feeling, a fear enhanced by the unknown.
Often the plot itself is built around a mystery,
such as unknown parentage, a disappearance,
Where it occurs in the story
(examples)
The effect (ie. Why has the writer
used it?)
or some other inexplicable event. The
following three elements contribute to this
atmosphere.
3. An ancient prophecy is connected with the
setting or its inhabitants (either former or
present). The prophecy is usually obscure,
partial, or confusing. “What could it mean?”
In more watered down modern examples,
this may amount to an urban legend.
4. Omens, portents (signs)and visions. A
character may have a disturbing dream or
vision, or some phenomenon may be seen as
a portent for other events. For example, if
the portrait of a character falls from the wall
and the frame breaks this may
foreshadow/suggest his death.
In modern accounts this may be seen when a
character sees a murder a shadowy figure
seeming to stab another shadowy figure but
is unsure as to whether they were dreaming.
5. Supernatural or unexplainable events.
Dramatic events often occur in gothic
literature. Ie. Giants, ghosts, hovering items,
objects coming to life. In some stories there
is a natural explanation in others the cause
remains unexplained/supernatural.
6. High, overwrought emotions. The narration
may be highly sentimental, and the characters
are often overcome by anger, sorrow,
surprise and terror. Characters are seen to
suffer from raw nerves and a feeling of
impending doom. Crying and emotional
speeches are common as are breathlessness
and panic.
In gothic films you will also find that screaming is
common.
7. Women in distress. As a tool to appeal for
sympathy female characters often face events
that leave them fainting, terrified, screaming
or in tears. A lonely or oppressed heroine is
often a central figure and her sufferings are
more pronounced leaving them a central
focus. Women suffer all the more because
they are frequently abandoned, left alone and
have no protector.
8. Women threatened by a powerful,
impulsive, tyrannical man. One or more
male characters has the power to demand
that female characters do the intolerable
(usually they are the father, king, lord of the
manor, guardian).
Other signatures of the gothic genre:
-The quest- often a character needs to endure a journey and obtain an item.
-The presence of the double- this can be in the form of twins, brothers, sisters, reflections- the double is often used to reflect upon the role of good and evil, the
two sides of the human character (public and private), or foreshadow an incident.