Isolation in Gothic Literature

A common element used in Gothic literature are feelings of despair and isolation. This can make the reader feel sympathy for a character even if they may not deserve it. Gothic literature strives to create a dark and menacing setting and by adding intense feelings and depressing moods, it adds to the aura of terror and mystery. This is why dark castles, towers, mysterious corridors, etc are so popular in Gothic literature. Mary Shelley's use of an ice glacier is an example of isolation in Frankenstein. It wasn't a dark castle of mysterious corridor, but it did give off a feeling of loneliness and despair.

Source: Suite 101

Gothic Fiction in Frankenstein

There are many gothic elements within the story of Frankenstein, the author of this book Mary Shelley uses vivid images and moods to describe the story bit by bit. Shelley uses many elements such as rain and thunder during Victor's creation of his monster. Another really gothic image is the way the monster was created (with other human limbs) these discriptive images really are dark and evil sounding. After the monster is created, Victor has terrible images of Elizabeth dying in his arms, and maggots start to come out of her body. I think the main gothic elements simplified are the emotions and overall feelings of gloom and despair throughout, the supernatural and the tragedy.

When we look at Shelley's piece of literature we see a lot of dark elements to this book, and these can be easily picked up throughout the book because of images that are easy to spot .

Gothic Fiction

Gothic Fiction is a type of literature that strives off of darkness, fear and even terror. One of the first Gothic books ever written was by Horace Walpole in 1764. A common feature in gothic novels back than was the reoccuring use of ruins of destoryed buildings in gothic novels often signified the decay of human creations. The decay of human creations was used by a lot of writers because of their Anti-Catholicism. However Gothic and Romanticism have been often combinded at times in novels but represent the Yin and Yang of two distinct characteristics. Many features of a Gothic book would include :
Death, Decay, Darkness, haunted houses, ghosts and etc...

Many famous Arthors such as Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Pole used a lot of gothic based themes in their stories that have carried on today too modern society.

Origin of Gothic

Gothic Literature, also known as Victorian Literature, is a literary genre that is believed to have been started by a man named Horrace Walpole. He is the first author to have ever written gothic literature with his novel The Castle of Ortranto. Horrace dreamed that he was in a dark castle and creepy castle, and standing on the uppermost banister of a long and winding staircase was a gigantic hand in full armor. This was the inspiration for the first ever gothic novel. The word "Gothic" was invented by writers of the Italian Renaissance who blamed the general “ugly” nature of 15th century art and architecture on people from the northern tribes of Germany barbarian tribes known collectively as “the Goths”.

The typical characteristics of a graphic novel are terror and mystery. Themes of death and decay especially that of the human body, are a big part of gothic literature as well. Ghosts, haunted houses, family curses, and insanity also play a part in gothic literature. They add a sense of suspense and fear. Edgar Allen Poe is considered the "master" of gothic literature with his stories such as "The Black Cat" and "A Tell Tale Heart". A more modern gothic author would be Stephen King. For example his short novel Christine and the movie The Shining are considered to be pure Goth. It just goes to show that gothic literature has not died and is still relevant in today's society. (Source: Eerie Books)

Definition of Gothic.

"Gothic" is a genre of fiction with an atmosphere of mystery, horror, and usually a pseudo-medieval setting. It was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. (Source: Oxford Dictionary)

Gothic writing creates feelings of dread and mystery, and usually contains at least some of the following elements: a castle, a ruined building, a dark corridor, shadows, extreme landscapes (extreme cold, say, or thick forests), crypts, spooky attics, shadows, a flickering candle, a passionate, driven hero (and maybe a passionate, driven villain as well), a woman who needs to be rescued, horrifying events or the threat of horrifying events. (Source: Brooklyn College)