Gothic features

Question 1

Presence of the past

Answer 1

An often-used Gothic approach is to show how the past of a building or community can resonate in the imagination of its present-day inhabitants

Question 2

Unusual narrative voice/viewpoint

Answer 2

Writers of Gothic literature often make use of multiple narrators, unusual viewpoints and/or narrative voices

Question 3

Suspense

Answer 3

This style of writing is full of suspense in order to build tension and to strengthen the reader’s emotional response

Question 4

The supernatural

Answer 4

This is often a feature whereby the reader is invited to suspend their disbelief and read the story as a kind of metaphor

Question 5

Dark humour

Answer 5

Human resistance against horror often can involve the use of dark humour as a coping mechanism

Question 6

Female victimhood

Answer 6

These are the stereotypical ‘damsels in distress’
However, it is also important to consider any subversion of this feature, such as a male character becoming the victim