Gothic Gothic UnitUnitElements, Elements,

Vocabulary, & Vocabulary, & Author Author

InformationInformation

Elements of Gothic Elements of Gothic LiteratureLiterature

Setting: castle or large Setting: castle or large house/mansionhouse/mansion

Atmosphere: mysterious, gloomy and Atmosphere: mysterious, gloomy and suspensefulsuspenseful

Ancient prophecy Ancient prophecy Omens, portents (unpleasant Omens, portents (unpleasant

events), and visionsevents), and visions Supernatural or unexplainable eventsSupernatural or unexplainable events Characters: Distressful, threatened Characters: Distressful, threatened

womenwomen

Romance Elements of Romance Elements of Gothic LitGothic Lit Powerful lovePowerful love

Unreturned loveUnreturned love

Tension between true love and Tension between true love and father’s controlfather’s control

Parted loversParted lovers

Rival lovers or multiple suitorsRival lovers or multiple suitors

Gothic ColorsGothic ColorsRed:Red: blood, passion, emotion, blood, passion, emotion,

danger, or daring; firedanger, or daring; fire

Black:Black: death, ignorance, or evil death, ignorance, or evil

White: purity, innocence or White: purity, innocence or enlightmentenlightment

Purple:Purple: royalty or bruising/pain royalty or bruising/pain

Gothic SeasonsGothic Seasons Spring: birth, new beginningSpring: birth, new beginning

Summer: maturity, knowledgeSummer: maturity, knowledge

Autumn: decline, nearing death, growing Autumn: decline, nearing death, growing oldold

Winter: death, sleep, hibernation, or Winter: death, sleep, hibernation, or stagnation stagnation

Gothic WeatherGothic Weather Fog/Mist: isolation and unclear thinkingFog/Mist: isolation and unclear thinking

Storms: violent emotionsStorms: violent emotions

Lightning: spark of lifeLightning: spark of life

Morning: uncorrupted timesMorning: uncorrupted times

Snow: hidden featuresSnow: hidden features

Thunder: angerThunder: anger

Rain: sadness/despairRain: sadness/despair

Edgar Allen PoeEdgar Allen Poe 1809-1849, Boston, Massachusetts1809-1849, Boston, Massachusetts

Addicted to gambling & alcoholAddicted to gambling & alcohol

Married his cousin, Virginia Clemm (13)Married his cousin, Virginia Clemm (13)

Wrote dark, twisted talesWrote dark, twisted tales

Death is unknown – possibly alcohol, drug, or Death is unknown – possibly alcohol, drug, or illness-relatedillness-related

Buried in Old Westminster Burying Ground of Buried in Old Westminster Burying Ground of Baltimore in an unmarked grave (later moved to Baltimore in an unmarked grave (later moved to the Poe Memorial Grave)the Poe Memorial Grave)

The “Poe Toaster” visits Poe’s grave on The “Poe Toaster” visits Poe’s grave on birthdays and leaves a ½ filled bottle of cognac birthdays and leaves a ½ filled bottle of cognac and 3 rosesand 3 roses

DoppelgängerDoppelgänger A ghostly counterpart of a living A ghostly counterpart of a living

person (a.k.a. a double or alter-ego).person (a.k.a. a double or alter-ego).

MasochistMasochist A person that enjoys having pain A person that enjoys having pain

inflicted on them.inflicted on them.

NecromancyNecromancy The black art of communicating with The black art of communicating with

the dead.the dead.

RevenantRevenant The return of the dead to terrorize or The return of the dead to terrorize or

to settle some score with the living.to settle some score with the living.

SadistSadist A person that gains gratification by inflicting A person that gains gratification by inflicting

physical or mental pain on others.physical or mental pain on others.

SomnambulismSomnambulism SleepwalkingSleepwalking..

ActivityActivity Respond to the following in a creative way:Respond to the following in a creative way:

who is your famous/celebrity who is your famous/celebrity dopplegangerdoppleganger??

who is a well-known who is a well-known masochistmasochist from a movie, book, or tv show? from a movie, book, or tv show?

Give an example of Give an example of NecromancyNecromancy from a tv show or movie. from a tv show or movie.

Provide an example of a Provide an example of a revenantrevenant from a film, show or book. from a film, show or book.

who is a well-known who is a well-known sadistsadist from a movie, book, or tv show? from a movie, book, or tv show?

give an example of give an example of somnambulismsomnambulism from tv/movies/books. from tv/movies/books.