Gothic Features Flashcards
1
Q
What is a motif?
A
an element of idea that recurs throughout a work of literature and adds depth to stories meanings
2
Q
What are common motifs of Gothic?
A
- strange settings
- supernatural
- omens/curses/visions
- ingenues/women in distress
- mystery and suspense
3
Q
What is an archetype?
A
Archetypes can be used to create familiarity, convey meaning and subvert expectations
4
Q
What is an trope?
A
common conventions in a particular genre that can be known as plot cliches
5
Q
What are some examples of tropes?
A
- the fall: the fall from grace/prosperity that afflicts the protagonist/ingenue
- destruction: often fire or other elemental powers
- death: a constant companion of the gothic, where the monster archetype tends to die
6
Q
Archetypal conventions:
A
- haunted house
- vampires
- magicians
- madwomen
- secrets
