Gothikana

Gothic literature is a genre that became popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries due to its attention to atmosphere and penchant for dramatic twists and turns. Gothic novels typically show a strong sense of dread and foreboding, particularly of the influence of the past on the present or the influence of the supernatural—which may or may not be related. Literary critic Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick noted the gothic’s connection to things which cannot be said, such as “unspeakable” horrors or “unutterable” terror (Kosofsky Sedgwick, Eve. The Coherence of Gothic Conventions. 1986. 2nd edition, Taylor and Francis. 2023.) In this aspect, gothic literature is connected to the sublime—though where the sublime focuses on the wonder of majestic sights, tinged with overwhelming sensations and fear, the gothic inverts these to focus on the fear of vast and unknowable nature, with occasional attention to its wondrousness.

Gothic literature is often recognized via its aesthetics. Gothic novels often take place in crumbling castles, in dark and mysterious forests, or in other remote, abandoned locations. These settings, like Verenmore castle, often serve to create a “time slip” effect that highlights how the past and the present intertwine.