File n°2 – Gothic Fiction through Time
Theme: The World of Imagination  The Uncanny, Supernatural and Fantasy
Issue: How was Gothic Fiction reinterpreted and how were Gothic motifs revisited throughout the
centuries? / Can there be delight in horror? / What are the main characteristics of Gothic Fiction?
Documents studied in class
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DOCUMENTS FROM LAST YEAR =
- WALPOLE, Horace. (1764). The Castle of Otranto. Extract from Chapter 1.
- STEVENSON, Robert Louis. (1886). Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Extract from Chapter 10.
- POE, Edgar Allan. (1839). The Fall of the House of Usher. Extract from the short-story.
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DOCUMENTS FROM THIS YEAR =
- COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor. (1798). The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Extract from the poem.
- SHELLEY, Mary. (1818). Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. Extract from Chapter 5.
- AUSTEN, Jane. (1818). Northanger Abbey. Extract from Part 2, Chapter 6.
 LET’S RECAP
Founding texts – establishing the basic tenets of Gothic literature
The Castle of Otranto  often regarded as the first true Gothic Novel, it initiated a literary genre
which would become extremely popular in the late 18th century and early 19th century.
Contemporary readers found the novel electrifyingly original and thrillingly suspenseful, with its
remote setting, its use of the supernatural, and its medieval trappings.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner  has been acclaimed to be one of the many original works of
Gothic literature because of its supernatural, horrific and romantic elements that are brought
together within its narrative and language.
Revisited Gothic – Gothic literature evolving with new themes and concerns
Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus  an exemplar of philosophical gothic introducing the
theme of the dangers of science and the characters of the obsessed scientist – who was to become
the mad scientist- and the archetypal monster.
Northanger Abbey  referred to as "Gothic parody" because it satirizes the form and conventions of
the Gothic novels that were popular during the time when Austen wrote Northanger Abbey. In
particular, Austen is said to have targeted Anne Radcliffe.
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde  going further with the theme of the double (the
doppelganger), the conflict between good and evil
The Fall of the House of Usher  focusing less on the traditional elements of Gothic stories and more
on the psychology of the characters as they often descended into madness.
Choosing your personal document:
Extract from a critic, an adaptation (movie, song, graphic novel…), an illustration (painting, book
cover…), a review
Another book by an author previously mentioned (show the link between both works) or another
book reminding the theme tackled in the works previously mentioned
An extract from a contemporary work (poetry, novel, musical, movie…) showing how gothic
literature influenced it