Feedback from various Gothic related presentations...

Gothic women->

Basically, there were two different portrayals of Gothic women. Early Gothic women were depicted as the weaker, helpless, vulnerable characters that were in need of a hero/man for protection and saviour. When events occurred they left the women fainting, screaming, helpless and lonely; basically implying that they are threatened and need protection. Whereas modern Gothic woman were more alluring, voluptuous, seductive and superior to men in the fact that their sexually aggressiveness was threatening.

Origins of the Gothic->

Particular motifs within the Gothic included ghosts, forbidden knowledge, double gangers and supernatural events. Key characteristics that cropped up are heroes, tyrants and bandits. The literature side of Gothic was mirrored by the movement of Architecture which had a big influence on the writers. The first Gothic novel is the Castle of Otranto which was written in 1765 by Horace Walpole. The themes in Gothic literature are often supernatural, featuring dark secrets, ghosts deriving from the main characters experiences, magic and dreams and visions.

Gothic male protagonists->

The Gothic male protagonist is often driven by their own selfish needs to rebel against society. This breaking rule theme helps excite the reader. Their actions move the story along as they are usually quite intelligent such as Frankenstein. The male protagonists are often not always a hero but they have evil intentions. There is often a dark disturbance which is unleashed upon unexpected victims. Examples of male protagonists are Ambrosio in Monk, Dr Jekyll and Dracula.

Gothic short stories, novels and poems->

These often have an underlying meaning to society.

Examples of short stories, novels and poems are-

·         Monk

·         The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

·         Castle of Otranto

·         Dracula

·         Turn of the Screw

·         Frankenstein

·         The Picture of Dorian Gray

·         The Raven

·         Masque of Red Death

·         Call of Cathulu

·         Monkey’s Paw

·         Woman in Black

·         Phantom of the Opera

And, Gothic settings which was our presentation, the content is in my last post :):)