February 15

Gothic Fiction

“Gothic fiction, which is largely known by the sub-genre of Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature and film that combines fiction and horror, death, and at times romance or happiness.” (Wikipedia)


The Gothic world is full of dark scenery, melodramatic narratives, and an atmosphere of mystery, fear and dread. Real is blended with the imaginary world. There may be a large, ancient house that conceals a terrible secret, or the place where an other-worldly mysterious person lives. Fear is created by the suspense and unpredictability associated with the paranormal and unknown.


Gothic literature is the world of ‘The Other’, where people have other sides or other personas. Sometimes the stories contain monsters, such as vampires, who bring suffering and death to the forefront.


Elements of Gothic fiction are prevalent in several classics of 19th-century literature:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Fall of the House of Usher and many other tales by Edgar Allan Poe

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Dracula by Bram Stoker

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

In some more modern Gothic novels, there may be a mix of emotions. There may be touches of the supernatural, romance, or a deliciously terrifying blend of horror and romance.

You’ll find Gothic novels in our Library using the heading Gothic Fiction Year 10 under LISTS.