Explore the winding passages, castle towers, and trapdoors of the literary Gothic genre. Emerging in cultures around the world and morphing throughout its long history, the Gothic is like a many-armed creature from the deep, sprouting subgenres such as horror and offshoots like vampire tales. In this program, we’ll trace the history of literary Gothic, learn to spot its identifying characteristics, and develop a deeper appreciation for this fascinating and nuanced genre.
The gothic genre has profoundly influenced the novel as we know it today and learning the language of the gothic helps deepen one’s understanding of other genres, from the detective tale to science fiction, to horror, and even romance.