Early Gothic 1764-88

Question 1

1764

Answer 1

Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto labelled as a Gothic novel, elements of family secrets, haunted castles and the supernatural

Question 2

1773

Answer 2

Aikin’s On the Pleasure derived from objects of terror argues that observing the pain of others leads to pleasure and social betterment

SENTIMENTALISM

Question 3

1774

Answer 3

Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther sought to overthrow the enlightenment cult of rationalism

Question 4

1777

Answer 4

Reeve’s The Old English Baron as a response to Otranto, Gothic within the bounds of reality

Question 5

1783

Answer 5

American revolution led to increased belief in Enlightenment

Question 6

1786

Answer 6

Beckford’s Vathek was influenced by Orientalism, themes of sensuality and the supernatural

Question 7

1788

Answer 7

Doctor’s mob riot in Manhattan where anatomists stole bodies for dissection

Question 8

OVERALL

Answer 8

• Discussion of morality, philosophy and religion
• Villains as metaphors for a kind of human temptation which needed to be overcome
• Focus on repressed societal fears