Skip to main content

Infographic: Ten Signs You Are Reading a Gothic Novel

When I first found this infographic, I thought it aid "10 signs you’re living in a gothic novel". That would have ben nifty, but no.

As an established genre, gothic novels follow certain tropes, so much so that Adam Frost and Zhenia Vasiliev were able to create an infographic for The Guardian that lists ten obvious signs of the gothic novel.

When Horace Walpole published his ‘gothic story’ The Castle of Otranto, he launched a literary movement which has sired monsters, unleashed lightning and put damsels in distress for 250 years. A horde of sub-genres has followed, from southern gothic to gothic SF, but are some novels more gothic than others?

Two of the better-known traits include a murderous villain with scary eyes, and being set in a gothic building. (Gothic novels may only have an accidental connection to a certain type of architecture, but that connection is indisputable.)

(click to enlarge)

eBook Friendly

Similar Articles


Comments


Chris Meadows May 27, 2017 um 8:16 pm

I wonder how this book would fit in?

Nate Hoffelder May 28, 2017 um 9:20 am

"a gothic western"?

That’s a good question.


Write a Comment