The Romantic period & Gothic Literature

Historical overview 

Romantic & Gothic Literature 

The gothic literary movement is part of the larger Romantic Movement. Gothic literature shares many of the characteristics of romanticism, such as the emphasis on emotions and the imagination. Gothic literature goes beyond the melancholy evident in most romantic works, however, it gets into the areas of horror and decay, becoming preoccupied with death. 

 Both DRACULA by Bram Stoker and WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emlily Bronte, are such powerful examples of gothic literature, as they both illustrate the features of romantic and gothic literature. However, they also share some relevant differences as the novel Dracula belongs to a gothic-fiction period and Wuthering Heights remebles as a gothic critique to the social injustice during the Romantic period in literature.
One of the most defining characteristics on romanticism is the tendency to exalt both nature and the supernatural. 
Some of the Gothic elements are:
  • Setting (Time & Place)
  • Weather Conditions
  • Ancient prophecy
  • Supernatural events
  • People in distress
  • Mystery and suspense
  • Gothic vocabulary
  • Social injustice


TASK

Find as much gothic elements as you can encounter while reading the novel and jot them down. Then, share and discuss them in class. 




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