Gothic novels in english literature plan introduction the Rise of Gothic Fiction in England

Gothic Novel: Characteristics

At its heart, Gothicism is fascinated with death and all its trappings – the afterlife, decay, and the undead. The Gothic also speaks to our secret fears, beliefs, and superstitions of the unknown, such as wearing garlic at the threat of a vampire, or pouring salt at your door to prevent spirits from entering the house.
Typical characteristics of the Gothic novel include:
The fantastic: something supernatural or distanced from reality.
The Gothic novel evolved during the 18th century after the publication of Walpole’s Castle of Otranto (1764) and continued into the 19th century with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818). Other 19th century Novelists who were influenced by 18th-century Gothic literature included Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, the Brontë sisters, and Bram Stoker.
Gothic fiction grew incredibly popular between 1764 and the 1840s. Its readership was mainly female at first, but it grew to include readers of all genders hailing from all walks of life. It offered an escape from the increasingly industrialised world and has since continued as a reaction to the materialism of everyday life.
Materialism: a concern with physical or 'material' objects such as money, clothes, houses, or cars.
American Gothic literature is primarily associated with Edgar Allan Poe. Poe’s mystery tales take on Gothic influence with a vengeance; they are occasionally ironic, mostly macabre, and filled with vivid imagery. Some of his most iconic stories include:

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  'The Fall of the House of Usher' (1839).
  
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  'The Masque of the Red Death' (1842).
  
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  'The Cask of Amontillado' (1846).
  
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  'The Black Cat' (1843).
  

Recurring themes are live burial, isolation and superstition, infused with Poe’s unique mastery of atmosphere and suspense.

Examples of Gothic Subgenres

A fictional narrative is usually a blend of many genres. A paranormal tale may feature elements of romance, or a fantastical story may be peppered with elements of mystery and thriller. With the Gothic genre too, elements and tropes of other genres are highlighted, creating subgenres within the umbrella genre of Gothic fiction. Some of the important types of Gothic fiction include Gothic Romance, Gothic Horror and Modern Gothic.