American Gothic Elements

Name and Surname: Buse Akpolat

The Name of the Course: Cultural Institution

Assignment Subject: In English Literature there was a time called Victorian era when gothic elements are integrated into novels. From that time to the modern ages you will see the gothic characteristics such as settings, characters and plot. “Gothic Novels in English Literature”

Word Count:

IMITATION OF MEDIEVALISM Once upon a time, in 18th century England there was a time everybody wanted to believe that there were supernatural and mysterious beings, and they started to think about beyond their imagination. They wrote novels about these beliefs. By then, these novels were called as “Gothic”. Before this story, people used the term “Goth” to depict some architectural structures. These

Jane Austen is always regarded as the best female novelist of her own time. She is good at social comedy and human relations. However, she plays with gothic fiction and “Northanger Abbey” is often considered as a parody of gothic novels. To mock the Gothic romance in a certain way Jane Austen uses mainly two methods. First of all, she creates a logical and reliable domestic story with many domestic characters. But all these characters are antagonists of main characters we recognize from Gothic novels. And therefore the readers are capable of revealing the underlying comedy if they read closely enough by over thinking. The second thing is that she inserts a small adventure including gothic elements into the novel. Romance and satire are depicted in “Northanger Abbey” clearly. This novel is also considered as a didactic novel. Jane Austen both teaches young ladies how to live, and she shows authors, readers and critics what a good book is made of as well. She is like a master playing with Gothic elements by teasing them at the same