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Gothic Literature, Horror vs Terror, and the Sublime, Study notes of English Literature

The concept of gothic literature, delving into its association with the macabre, the mysterious, and the pleasurably terrifying. It highlights the gothic's connection to the subconscious, with key themes being psychological projections of fears, desires, and anxieties. The document also discusses the byronic hero, a variation of the romantic hero-archetype, characterized by their unconventional relationship with societal norms. Additionally, it differentiates between the concepts of horror and terror, with horror being the revulsion felt after a frightening experience and terror being the dread and angst felt before it. Finally, the document introduces the idea of the sublime, as developed by edmund burke, where a sublime experience makes one feel insignificant in the face of the violence of nature.

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Gothic Literature and the Sublime
Gothic and the Subconscious
The Gothic is a literary movement that explores terrifying experiences in
ancient castles and ruined abbeys. It is associated with the macabre, the
mysterious, and the pleasurably terrifying. At its core, the Gothic speaks to
the subconscious, as its key themes are psychological projections - the
expression of fears, desires, and anxieties.
One of the central figures in Gothic literature is the Byronic hero, named
after the English Romantic poet Lord Byron. The Byronic hero is a variation
of the Romantic hero-archetype, characterized by an unconventional
relationship with societal norms. These characters are not idealized
individuals; rather, they are flawed, arrogant, ruthless, and manipulative, yet
remarkably smart and charming.
Horror vs. Terror
The Gothic genre distinguishes between two related but distinct concepts:
horror and terror.
Horror
Horror is the revulsion felt after witnessing or experiencing something
frightening. It is the visceral reaction to the horrifying.
Terror
Terror, on the other hand, is the dread and anguish felt before the horrifying
experience. It is the anticipation and apprehension of the impending danger
or threat.
The Sublime
The concept of the sublime was developed by the philosopher Edmund
Burke. He argued that a sublime experience is one that evokes a sense of
insignificance in the face of the vastness or power of nature. One of his
examples is the experience of storms, in which an individual feels utterly
small and powerless in the face of the violence of nature.

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Gothic Literature and the Sublime

Gothic and the Subconscious

The Gothic is a literary movement that explores terrifying experiences in ancient castles and ruined abbeys. It is associated with the macabre, the mysterious, and the pleasurably terrifying. At its core, the Gothic speaks to the subconscious, as its key themes are psychological projections - the expression of fears, desires, and anxieties.

One of the central figures in Gothic literature is the Byronic hero, named after the English Romantic poet Lord Byron. The Byronic hero is a variation of the Romantic hero-archetype, characterized by an unconventional relationship with societal norms. These characters are not idealized individuals; rather, they are flawed, arrogant, ruthless, and manipulative, yet remarkably smart and charming.

Horror vs. Terror

The Gothic genre distinguishes between two related but distinct concepts: horror and terror.

Horror

Horror is the revulsion felt after witnessing or experiencing something frightening. It is the visceral reaction to the horrifying.

Terror

Terror, on the other hand, is the dread and anguish felt before the horrifying experience. It is the anticipation and apprehension of the impending danger or threat.

The Sublime

The concept of the sublime was developed by the philosopher Edmund Burke. He argued that a sublime experience is one that evokes a sense of insignificance in the face of the vastness or power of nature. One of his examples is the experience of storms, in which an individual feels utterly small and powerless in the face of the violence of nature.