The Castle of Ontranto uses ominous settings, such as the dungeon in Manfred’s castle. Many of the aesthetics that are involved in the Gothic literature are based on the visuals. By creating a mood with the atmosphere, the authors can create a better response from the readers. “The key characteristics of the novel is not its devices, but its atmosphere (Keech 135). The settings of these novels create an atmosphere of evil and terror by using dark and gloomy landscapes, collapsing and ruined old abbeys and buildings, such as castles. This genre used these dark settings in a dramatic style that helped the plots of these novels create a sense of suspense and terror. The next element of Gothic literature was the atmosphere. These fears are created by the mystery of the supernatural and ghostly encounters. In both novels, Walpole and Radcliffe elements of horror and terror that create psychological suspense. Incorporating this element helped create fear within the readers. The first element that makes up the gothic novel is the horror and terror that are within the novels.

Using the ideas of political elements created the feelings of anxiety. The authors used their writings for political statements of corruption mixed with the elements of fantasy. The main function of Gothic literature was to reconstruct the ideas of the past. Authors wanted the reader to feel a constant sense of anxiety and terror. The function of the Gothic genre was to give the readers a different type of emotion.

Using the ideas of horror and terror, nature and the supernatural, and male/female roles and characteristics, Gothic literature was created.

His novel set the standards future novels in this genre. Horace Walpole’s novel The Castle of Ontranto is regarded as the beginning of Gothic literature. Beginning in the early eighteenth century, these elements began a new genre that incorporated the ideas of the supernatural, horror, and dark events and sceneries. In Gothic literature, novels use a wide range of themes that center around gothic elements.

Gothic literature themes