Gothic texts

• The Castle of Otranto

  First gothic text, written by Walpole in 1764
• Theory link to The castle of Otranto

  Freud
• Tropes in The Castle of Otranto

  • Supernatural
  • Tyranny
  • Prophecy
• Vathek

  Written by William Beckford in 1782, the Caliph Vathek embarks on a quest for supernatural powers, descending into moral and spiritual corruption.
• Tropes in Vathek

  • Orientalism
  • Supernatural
• The Mysteries of Udolpho

  Written by Ann Radcliffe in 1794, the dawn of female gothic. The novel follows Emily St. Aubert, who endures the death of her parents and is taken to the remote castle of Udolpho by her evil guardian, Montoni. She uncovers family secrets and faces supernatural apparitions.
• Tropes in The Mysteries of Udolpho

  • Supernatural
  • Family
  • Innocent heroine
• The Italian


  Written by Anne Radcliffe in 1797, Vivaldi falls in love with Ellena, but their romance is thwarted by his family's opposition and the sinister monk Schedoni.
• Tropes in The Italian

  • Forbidden love
  • Persecution
  • Hidden identities
• The Vampyre

  Written by John Polidori in 1818, this short story is about Aubrey, a young Englishman who travels with the mysterious Lord Ruthven. Aubrey discovers Ruthven is a vampire, leading to tragic consequences.
• Tropes in The Vampyre

  • Aristocratic villain
  • Vampires
  • Mysterious stranger
• Frankenstein

  Written by Mary Shelley in 1818, Victor Frankenstein creates a living being from dead tissue, only to be horrified by the creature he brings to life. The creature, rejected by society, seeks revenge on his creator.
• Tropes in Frankenstein

  • Isolation
  • Revenant
  • Revenge
  • Playing god
  • Monstrosity
• Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque

  A collection of Poe's short stories, including "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Masque of the Red Death," featuring themes of horror, madness, and decay.
• Tropes in Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque

  • Madness
  • Decay
  • Supernatural
  • Psychological terror
  • Grotesque imagery
• Carmilla

  Written by Le Fanu in 1871, a vampire tale about Laura, who befriends Carmilla, an enigmatic young woman. Laura falls ill and realises Carmilla is a vampire preying on her.
• Tropes in Carmilla

  • Seduction
  • Isolation
  • Supernatural
  • Vampirism
  • Female friendship
• The Picture of Dorian Gray

  Written by Oscar Wilde in 1890, Dorian Gray remains youthful while his portrait ages and reflects his moral corruption. His pursuit of pleasure leads to his downfall.
• Theory link

  Freud, Darwin, Nordau
• Tropes in The Picture of Dorian Gray

  • Immortality
  • Revenant
  • Doppelganger
  • Decadence
• Rebecca

  Written by Daphne de Maurier in 1938, a young woman marries the wealthy widower Maxim de Winter and moves to his estate, Manderley, where she is haunted by the memory of his first wife, Rebecca.
• Tropes in Rebecca

  • Revenant
  • Sublime
  • Psychological horror
• Outer Dark

  Written by Cormac McCarthy in 1968, Rinthy gives birth to her brother Culla's child, and he abandons the baby. Rinthy searches for her child while Culla is pursued by three mysterious strangers.
• Tropes in Outer Dark

  • Inceset
  • Desolation
  • Existential dread
  • Moral ambiguity
• Salem's Lot

  Written by Stephen King in 1975, Ben Mears returns to Jerusalem's Lot, only to discover that the town is being overtaken by vampires led by the ancient vampire Kurt Barlow.
• Gothic tropes in Salem's Lot

  • Vampires
  • Isolation
  • Revenant
  • The other
• Interview with the Vampire

  Written by Anne Rice in 1976, the vampire Louis recounts his life story to a reporter, detailing his transformation, relationships with other vampires, and existential struggles.
• Tropes in Interview with the Vampire

  • Vampires
  • Immortality
  • The other
  • Romance
• Beloved

  Written by Toni Morrison in 1987, Sethe, an escaped slave, is haunted by the ghost of her dead daughter, Beloved. The novel explores themes of slavery, trauma, and motherhood.
• Tropes in Beloved


  • Supernatural
  • Horror
  • Trauma