English 360 - Creeps and Castles:Gothic Fiction

Institution:

Hiram College

Subject:

Description:

Populated by gloomy castles, ghastly ghosts, and other creepy characters and events, Gothic novels inspire shivering suspense and terror in their readers. Taking its name from the medieval period of achitecture, Gothic fiction is often set in this murky past. The genre developed in the late 18th century as a way to represent and make sense of the political, social, and even psychological changes underway in Britain during this period. Gothic writers explore the seamy underside of life, calling into question the push for progress and order occurring in Britain during this period. Britons' claims for civilization are repeatedly undermined by the images of villians and damsels in distress, crime and manipulation evident in these novels. At the same time, however, these texts often displace this disorder by location it in a distant time and or place. In this course, we will trace the rise of this genre and tie it to the social context that inspired it. We will follow the changes in Gothic fiction as it enters the Victorian period and consider the uses of the Gothic that continue into the present.

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

WWW.HIRAM.EDU

Phone Number:

(330) 569-3211

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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