Gothic Conventions

Gothic Protagonist- The principle character often defined by his actions. Often his role is to defeat the monster. There are two types of Gothic Protagonists:

• Archetypal- Tend to have a secret, influenced by past events, foreshadowed by doom
• Byronic Hero- Arrogant, sexually attractive/seductive, outcast

Supernatural- Gothic works usually have various supernatural beings or powers.

Eponymous- The central protagonist who gives their name to the title. Note that 'Frankenstein' is the name of the Scientist (Victor,) and not the monster. 

Binary Opposites- Contrasting pairs.

Id- The unorganised part of the personality structure that contains basic and instinctual drives, for example, sexual urges. 

Predator- A villain who is rapacious and wants to corrupt the innocent victim.

Introspective- Inward-looking, self-examining.

The Double- The physical doubling of a character/ particular aspects of a character. For example, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Transgression- An act that goes against a law, rule or code of conduct- an offence.

Vertiginous- Tending to induce dizziness. 

Topography- Natural and man-made features of a geographical area.

Sublime- A powerful feeling of awe and terror inspired by nature. 

Metamorphosis- The transformation of one being into another. 

Revenant- A visible ghost or reanimated corpse that was believed to return from the grave to terrorize the living.

Entrapment- Confined/ trapped. Can come in two forms:

• Physical- eg shackled to a floor
• Psychological- eg a feeling that there's no way out

Intertextuality- The way that similar/related texts influence/reflect/differ from each other. 

Melodrama- An exaggeration of plot and characters to appeal to the emotions.

Ethereal- Heavenly, unearthly.

Myth- A traditional story. Typically involves two things:

• Supernatural beings
• A clear fascination with the past

Sensational- Designed merely to appeal to the emotions. The aim is to induce the audience with fear.

Apostrophe- A poetic device when the persona addresses an absent being or something inanimate as if it were living.