Gothic Horror Literature

Gothic literature is a type of literature containing both elements of horror and romance. Even though it is in some cases confused with arts involving paranormal romance as explained by some of the horror writers. Well gothic horror is taken to be somewhat more atmospheric genre of literature. This literature has been written in both remote and wild landscapes involving vulnerable heroines along with erotic and violent fantasies as well as uncanny and supernatural occurrences. All this defines gothic literature. Many people still wonder about the main motifs upon which Gothic fiction was founded and the manner in which the literature works reflected the social, cultural and political contexts in which they were placed.

Defining gothic literature

The question is – what does gothic literature mean and what is its significance? In most cases gothic literature has similar features. It is mainly defined through horror along with other features of transitional periods of time, manipulation, fear and marginal places and settings. This is a modern form of literature that represents a family of stories and texts characterized through horrific events and romance. Just like in a family, all members are usually not the same. They don’t actually have one particular common trait but the idea is that, they have some characteristics that overlap based on traits and motifs.

Gothic horror literature is somewhat perverse and strange family of stories that contain peculiar families defined with lots of scenes of incest and rape and further surrounded through marginal, indeterminate and illegitimate members. However, it is never completely clear concerning the legitimacy of membership of what has become a very big Gothic genre. It is made of poems, stories, novels, opera, fashion, music, comics, video games and films. All may not necessarily fit together in one family but have somewhat significant common traits.

Its origin

Gothic horror literature dates back to the 18th century as it is linked to one English author known as Horace Walpole after writing “The Castle of Otranto” novel. The second edition dubbed it a gothic story and this is believed to have been the start of what has now commonly become a gothic horror literature. Over the years, the literature works have continued to feed a certain pleasing kind of terror and an extension of romantic work pleasures that were comparatively new during the time when Walpole wrote his novel. Most importantly, this genre of literature has overly been attributed to romance and horrific thematic concerns.