Gothicism a Sub-genre for Romantic Writer

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Gothicism is a sub- genre for many Romantic writers. This genre includes Gothic conventions such as macabre emotions of terror, fear, paranoia, mystery, ancient prophecy, omens and the supernatural(Shodganda, 2014, p. 39). Gothic literature constitutes of horror and romance as a primary theme. The nature of the French Revolution in 1789 encouraged many writers to explore the morbid aspects of Gothic literature. Furthermore, the revolution had a significant impact on Romantic writers because they were concerned with the turbulent effects of the events and its aftermath. However, there has been arguments on how Romanticism is related to Gothic literature. This paper will therefore discuss the relationship between Romanticism and Gothic literature through the works of Mary Shelley and Lord Byron. These writers explored the notions of Gothic literature in their work. Their thorough examination within their text has enabled readers to examine and interpret the relationship between Romanticism and Gothic Literature.

Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein (1818) is a prime example of Gothic and Romantic literature. The multi-narrative employs different examples of Gothic elements such as gloomy weather and a distressing setting. During the Romantic era, many writers placed extreme assertion on emotion and individualism. However, not only does Shelley continuously express these characteristics in her novel but she also conveyed torment and anger in her texts. Therefore, she subverts these Gothic conventions . The effect in this creates tension and defamiliarization to the reader’s emotional response . In addition to this, the novel deals with ominous settings. For example, ‘The surface is very uneven, rising like the waves of a troubled sea, descen...

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