Today's resurgence of interest in horror stories featuring vampires, werewolves, and zombies harkens back to the classic Gothic mystery genre. Initially established in the 1700's, Gothic mysteries combine elements of romance and horror, typically in some type of haunted setting, drawing the reader into a love story with supernatural elements.
A tortured hero characterizes the story. His torments are often related directly to the horror abounding in his world, perhaps as he is some type of supernatural entity himself. The romance plays out between the hero and an innocent but flawed maiden, who finds herself both frightened by and drawn to him. He will oftentimes find himself at odds with his own community in efforts to shield or protect his love from the horror within.
Abandoned homes, haunted forests, and ancient burial grounds are the type of settings in which these stories occur, creating a dark atmosphere of mystery. The writing itself is flowery, and dialogue is romantic and somewhat old-fashioned.
Original stories of this genre often featured anti-religious sentiments, and, in particular, sentiments against the Catholic church. Public opinion at the time was widely against Catholicism, and character would find events in their lives at serious odds with their religious beliefs, crippled with indecision in their hesitation to defy the Church.
While the novel is the most widely accepted format for this genre, Gothic mysteries can be found in short stories and even poetry as well. The shorter works of Edgar Allen Poe remain classic examples of Gothic horror.
Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' by Victor Hugo, and Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights' are just three well-known, highly regarded examples of Gothic mysteries. In recent times, series like Stephanie Meyer's 'Twilight' and the vampire books by Anne Rice draw from classic Gothic roots in order to create atmospheric, mysterious romances set in vividly strange worlds readers tend to find irresistible.
A tortured hero characterizes the story. His torments are often related directly to the horror abounding in his world, perhaps as he is some type of supernatural entity himself. The romance plays out between the hero and an innocent but flawed maiden, who finds herself both frightened by and drawn to him. He will oftentimes find himself at odds with his own community in efforts to shield or protect his love from the horror within.
Abandoned homes, haunted forests, and ancient burial grounds are the type of settings in which these stories occur, creating a dark atmosphere of mystery. The writing itself is flowery, and dialogue is romantic and somewhat old-fashioned.
Original stories of this genre often featured anti-religious sentiments, and, in particular, sentiments against the Catholic church. Public opinion at the time was widely against Catholicism, and character would find events in their lives at serious odds with their religious beliefs, crippled with indecision in their hesitation to defy the Church.
While the novel is the most widely accepted format for this genre, Gothic mysteries can be found in short stories and even poetry as well. The shorter works of Edgar Allen Poe remain classic examples of Gothic horror.
Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' by Victor Hugo, and Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights' are just three well-known, highly regarded examples of Gothic mysteries. In recent times, series like Stephanie Meyer's 'Twilight' and the vampire books by Anne Rice draw from classic Gothic roots in order to create atmospheric, mysterious romances set in vividly strange worlds readers tend to find irresistible.
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