Literature has the dual purposes of instruction and entertainment. Gothic mystery is perhaps rather limited in its ability to instruct beyond teaching young women to be suspicious of plausible but dark strangers who live in castles. However, as entertainments they have proved their popularity over many years.
The Castle of Otranto was the first novel in this genre, published in 1764 and written by Horace Walpole. Many similar works by other authors followed. Novels, poems, plays, films and even architectural features that belong in the genre have particular features which make them identifiable.
It is well known that literary works of a dramatic nature must have conflicting emotions of fear and pity to make them arresting. Readers or viewers advance towards the character who inspires pity and retreat from the fearsome villainous anti-hero. In this genre these features are well defined or exaggerated so that the works catch the imagination and arouse extreme emotional involvement.
Mysteries do not have to be extreme but they must involve the unknown. As readers are taken through a process of revelation their curiosity is both stimulated and satisfied. Literary works in which curiosity is mixed in with pity and fear are potently interesting. Readers can easily become addicted romping through stories rapidly.
Early examples of the genre were often set in castles. These are buildings that are supposed to be safe, and yet they can often be seen as frightening places especially when they have towers and passages that are often dark. In contemporary tales writers may abandon the castle for a large building built for one purpose but serving another such as an abandoned factory.
Metonymy is a literary device much favored in the Gothic mystery. A thing that is part of an experience comes to stand for the whole of it. So, a gloomy castle comes to symbolize the terror of a whole experience. Every time the scene is repeated the emotions associated with it become more intense. In the context of a Gothic mystery clouds floating across a dark sky can trigger terror.
The Castle of Otranto was the first novel in this genre, published in 1764 and written by Horace Walpole. Many similar works by other authors followed. Novels, poems, plays, films and even architectural features that belong in the genre have particular features which make them identifiable.
It is well known that literary works of a dramatic nature must have conflicting emotions of fear and pity to make them arresting. Readers or viewers advance towards the character who inspires pity and retreat from the fearsome villainous anti-hero. In this genre these features are well defined or exaggerated so that the works catch the imagination and arouse extreme emotional involvement.
Mysteries do not have to be extreme but they must involve the unknown. As readers are taken through a process of revelation their curiosity is both stimulated and satisfied. Literary works in which curiosity is mixed in with pity and fear are potently interesting. Readers can easily become addicted romping through stories rapidly.
Early examples of the genre were often set in castles. These are buildings that are supposed to be safe, and yet they can often be seen as frightening places especially when they have towers and passages that are often dark. In contemporary tales writers may abandon the castle for a large building built for one purpose but serving another such as an abandoned factory.
Metonymy is a literary device much favored in the Gothic mystery. A thing that is part of an experience comes to stand for the whole of it. So, a gloomy castle comes to symbolize the terror of a whole experience. Every time the scene is repeated the emotions associated with it become more intense. In the context of a Gothic mystery clouds floating across a dark sky can trigger terror.
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