Gothic novel-a general overview

γοτηιχ νοϖελ

In the 2nd half of 18th century the so called Gothic Novel had an extreme popularity. The interest in such novel was common to different level of society, from the literary gentry to the working class and the gothic influence did not cease in the following centuries. Even today we have horror novel is thank to the gothic novel of 18th century. The gothic novel had tree importantconnotations and it is:
1. MEDIEVAL: in fact the adjective gothic was related to the architecture style of Middle Age in which most of the novels are set
2. IRREGULAR and BARBAROUS: as opposed to classicism
3. WILD and SUPERNATURAL: in sense of mysterious and fearful

The most common features of Gothic Novel are:
➢ Great importance given to terrifying description in factthey aimed at thrilling the reader rather than amusing or educating him
➢ Ancient settings for instance mysterious abbey, isolated castle or secret room
➢ Sense of mystery pervading everything
➢ Use of supernatural being as vampires, monster or ghost
➢ Heroines persecuted
➢ Satanic, terrifying male characters, who were the victims of their negativeimpulses and who had no command on them
➢ Exaggerated reactions of the character in front of mystery situation or event
➢ Very complicated plots which are set in past time, unknown or foreign countries, which episodes full of horrible murders, extraordinary situation and supernatural events
➢ Natural phenomena (moonlight, fog, thunderstorms)

In gothic Novel we findthe gothic symbol of the wanderer (vagabondo), the vampire, character sick for hidden knowledge, that reflect the wish to go beyond the God, beyond nature and human limits. These figures are all individualists, more over some character in the gothic novels are prototypes of outsider, of the outcast from society because of his difference.

The first novel of this kind was in 1764 “The castle ofOtranto” by Horace Walpole followed by “Vatrek” by William Beckford (1786) then in 1794 “The mystery of Udolpho” by Ann RadCliff then in 1796 “The Monk” by Matthew Lewis, and at the end in 1818 “Frankestein” by Mary Shelley.

HISTORICAL NOVEL

The Historical Novel is represented by Walter Scott (1771-1832) who is considere the creator of this genre. Scott moved away from the gothic fiction ofthe early romantic age, although as in gothic novel the plot looses linearity, the characters lives a lot of adventures and some what unreal experiences; from realistic mainstream of Augustan Age took as main subject the past of his country that was Scotland. he presented Scotland trough a series of extraordinary and various adventures.
He was born in Edinburgh and spent most of his childhood inthe Highlands, since he suffered for poliomyelitis he was sent to his grandfather’s farm in Scotland border: this experience was very important because he started to collect Folktales and ballades and he read a lot of history and legends of Scotland and listened to tales and story from the peasants and humble people accumulating an extraordinary knowledge in this field. then he studied law at theuniversity in Edinburgh and worked as an apprentice in his father legal office. he had a good job which gave him a good salary and left him time to writing. He begun to write poetry inspired to the Scottish folklore but then he devoted him to fiction, he started a literary career as novelist and between 18414-1832 he wrote 30 novels, some of which dealing with Scottish history and some dealingwith French history.
His first novel, Waverley, was set during the jacobite rebellion of 1745 and appeared anonymously and obtained an immediate success starting the vogue for the historical novel. Waverley was followed by “Rob Roy” (1817) and “Ivanhoe” (1819).
Ivanhoe is set in the time of the crusades when Richard Lion Hearted returns from holy land. It is the story of the hostilities between...