VictorianLiterature維多利亞文學-PPTcatalogVictorianLiterature

1.HistoricalBackground2.Realism3.CharlesDickensHistoricalBackground◆Itwasanextendedperiodof

peace,prosperity,progress,

andessentialsocialreforms

forBritain;however,itwascharacterizedby

poverty,injustice,andsocialunrest.◆（Page201）◆TheindustrialRevolution◆Therisingbourgeoisie◆Thepowerfulproletariat◆Theprivilegesofroyalty◆Englandbecametheworld'sworkshopandLondontheworld'sbank.ThecenterofWesterncivilizationmovedfromParistoLondon.Victorianeraliterature◆AsisquiteevidentfromthetitlethekindofliteraturethatevolvedduringthereignofQueenVictoriaisfamouslyknownastheVictorianeraliterature.◆TheliteratureoftheVictorianage(1832/1837-1901)

enteredanewperiodaftertheromanticrevival.Theliteratureofthiserawasprecededbyromanticismandwasfollowedbymodernismorrealism.◆Hence,itcanalsobecalledafusionofromanticandrealiststyleofwriting.Victorianageisdividedintothreestages:◆TheEarly-Victoriannovel.Theprimarywriterwas

CharlesDickens.Themes:socialandhumanitarian;◆TheMid-Victoriannovel.Leadingwriters:

Brontesisters

andRobertStevenson.

Themes:RomanticandGothictraditionsandpsychologicalvein;◆TheLate-Victoriannovel.Prominentwriters:

ThomasHardyandOscarWildeThemes:asenseofdissatisfactionwithvaluesoftheage.

WhatarethethemesofVictorianpoetry?◆ThepoetryoftheVictorianeraincludesthethemesofsocialinjustice,ofromanticlove,andofthelossofinnocence.◆ElizabethBarrettBrowning

writesabout

socialinjusticeandaboutromanticlove,and

AlfredLordTennyson

writesabout

thelossofinnocence.VictorianPoetryCharacteristics◆PoetrywasoneofthemostpopulargenresoftheVictorianperiod.TheRomanticpoets,particularlyWilliamWordsworth(wholivedthroughthebeginningoftheperiod,dyingin1850)werereveredandwidelyquoted.

Lyrics◆VictorianPoetrywasalsodifferentfromthealreadystatedstyle.Muchoftheworkofthetimeisseenasabridge

betweentheromanticeraandthemodernistpoetry

ofthenextcentury.◆Thereclaimingofthepast

wasamajorpartofVictorianliteratureandwastobefoundinboth

classicalliterature

andalso

themedievalliterature

ofEngland.TheVictoriansloved

theheroic,chivalrousstoriesofknights

ofoldandtheyhopedtoregainsomeofthatnoble,courtlybehaviourandimpressituponthepeoplebothathomeandinthewiderempire.VictorianNovelRealismasaliterarytechnique◆Realismcanbesimplybeunderstoodasthetendencyamongwritersandpoets

todescribethingsrealistically,thatis,

withoutanyexaggerationsordistortions.◆Inliterature,writersuserealismasa

literarytechnique

todescribestoryelements,suchassetting,characters,themes,etc.,withoutusing

elaborateimagery,orfigurativelanguage,suchassimilesandmetaphors.◆Example:Iwanderedlonelyasacloud/OmyLuveisared,redrose.HistoryofRealisticVictorianNovels◆Thisformofliteratureusedjournalistictechniquesinordertomaketheliteraturesomethingclosertoreallifewithfactsandgeneralstereotypesofhumannature.◆Theattentiontodetailwasmadetojustreportthefacts,notcommentingorjudgingonthesceneorcharacter.(reviewPrideandPrejudice)◆Thenovelswereaboutthecommonman,whichalsohappenedtobethestrugglesofthelowerclass.Exampleofrealisticnovel◆InCharlesDickensGreatExpectations,thenovelgoesthroughaboynamedPip’slife,asheunexpectedlycomesintomoneyandisaskedtobecomeagentleman.◆ThenovelfollowsPip’sstruggles,andfocusesontellingthewholetruthaboutthecharacter,bothhisgoodandbadactionsandthereasonsbehindthem.Hewasmeanttobeaverytangible（真實的）person,onethattheaveragepersonofthistimecouldrelateto.◆Pipwaswrittentobevery“real”,withallhisflawsandpositiveattributes.RealismandNaturalism◆RealismandNaturalismaretwodistinctartmovementswhichbeganinthenineteenthcentury.Theyhavecertainpointsofdifference.◆Realismisamovementthatcentresonthetendencytodepicttherealityoftheworld,ormorecommonlysaidtoshow"thingsastheyare".◆Naturalismisthephilosophythatbelievesthatnatureistheonlyrealityandthenaturalorderistheonlytrueorderoftheworld.UnlikeRomanticismwhichemphasizedonthesupernatural,Naturalismstressedonthenaturallaws.RealismandRomanticism◆AReactionAgainstRomanticism◆Romanticismhademphasisedthefacultiesofimaginationandtheneedtorepresentthingswithacolouringofimagination.ThesupernaturalhadbeenafavouriteamongRomanticslikeColeridge,ByronandMaryShelley.◆Realistssoughttochallengethis.Theysawsuchidealismasdevoidoftruth.Theywantedtopresentliteratureasamirrorimageoftheworld,oratleastreplicatetherealworldascloselyaspossible.◆Thus,themovementofRealismbeganwithwriterstryingtopresentfactualtruthsandobjectiverealities.Variants◆Realism,whichaimstoportrayrealisticeventshappeningtorealisticpeopleinarealisticway,wasthedominantnarrativemodeoftheVictoriannovel-butithadmanyvariants.Satiricalrealism◆WilliamMakepeaceThackeray'sVanityFair(1847-48]bestexemplifiessatiricalrealism,amodethatemphasizestheworstqualitiesofeachcharacterandsuggeststhattheworld,or“VanityFair,"isadarkandunfairplace.◆ThenovelfollowstheadventuresofBeckySharpe,aschemingandamoralheroinewhomanipulatesallthosearoundher(anddoesverywellforherself),incontrasttoAmeliaSedley,atrustingandvirtuousyoungwomanwhostrugglestofindhappiness.Psychologicalrealism◆Psychologicalrealismemphasizesportrayingtherichinnerlifeofcharacters-theirthoughts,feelings,motivations,anxieties,etc.◆InGeorgeEliot'sMiddlemarch(1871-72)forinstance,sheportraystheprogressofseveralmarriagesinasmallprovincialtown.DorotheaBrooke,theheroine,isanidealistwhomarriesanelderlyscholar,Casaubon,inthehopesofhelpinghimwithhiswork.ButshebecomesdisillusionedandfindsherselfattractedtohisnephewWillLadislaw.Socialrealism◆Socialrealismfocusesonthefoibles(小缺點)，eccentricities(怪癖),andremarkablecharacteristicsofpeople,whoarefrequentlycaricatured(滑稽、夸張的喜劇描寫).Oftencomic(andsometimestragicomic),itisbestexemplifiedbytheworkofCharlesDickens.InnovelslikeOliverTwist(1837-39)inwhichDickensusestheplight(困境)oftheorphanOlivertocritiqueaheartlessorphanageoverseenbyeccentricbumblers,Dickensbothcriticizedthesocialsystemandcreatedavibrantworldofmemorablecharacters.◆Criticizesocialinstitutions(example:workhouse)◆InhismasterpieceBleakHouse(1852-53)Dickenstakesaimatthebureaucraticexcessesofthecourtsystemasseeninthenever-endingcourtcaseJarndyceV.Jarndyce.(BleakHouse)Industrialnovels◆TherapidtransformationofBritainintoanindustrialsocietypromptedsomewriterstowritenovelswhichexposedthedifficultplightoftheworkingclass.◆InDickens'HardTimes(1854),themillworkerhero,StephenBlackpool,facesostracismafterhisrefusaltojointhemillworkers’union.◆ElizabethGaskell'sNorthandSouth(1855)usestheviewpointofMargaretHale,anemigrantfromsouthernEnglandtoanorthernindustrialcity,toaddresstheplightofmillworkers.Review：RealisticGenre◆Realismemergedinliteratureinthesecondhalfofthenineteenthcentury,mostpredominantlyinnovels.◆Realismwascharacterizedbyitsattentiontodetail,aswellasitsattempttorecreaterealityasitwas.Asaresult,plotwasnolongerthecentraltothefocusoftheauthor,butrathercreatinginterestingandcomplexcharacterstookprecedence.◆Realismalsoplacedanemphasisondescribingthematerialandphysicaldetailsoflife,asopposedtothenaturalworldascharacterizedbytheRomanticperiod.CharlesDickensNovelsThePickwickPapers

1837OliverTwist

1838TheLifeandAdventuresofNicholasNickleby

1839TheOldCuriosityShop

1841BarnabyRudgeATaleoftheRiotsof'Eighty

1841LifeandAdventuresofMartinChuzzlewit

1844DombeyandSon

1848DavidCopperfield

1850BleakHouse

1853HardTimes

1854LittleDorrit

1857ATaleofTwoCities

1859GreatExpectations

1861OurMutualFriend

1865TheMysteryofEdwinDrood

unfinished;1870WrittenMemoryOneofthemostfamousrealisticwriters,CharlesDickens,directedhisattentionmoretowardsrevelationtheoriesthantherepresentational.Onthetopicofrealitybeingunderstoodaswhatisimmediatelyavailabletoone’ssenses,Dickensfurtherhighlightedtheimportanceofmemory,whichhedescribedasakindofvision,orwayofseeingtheworld.Moreover,inhisnarrative-stylenovelGreatExpectations,memoryisakeyconceptinthestory,asPiprecallsalloftheeventsfrommemory.Somereaderscomplainaboutthefactthatthenoveldoesnotofferanyone’sperspectiveotherthanPip’s,butitishighlylikelythatDickenschosetodothisonpurpose.Heviewedmemoryandrevelationtheoriesasveryimportanttorealisticliterature,andanarrativecouldbedescribedasakindof“writtenmemory.”(differentfromJaneAusten:comments;memory)LimitationTowritethenovelfromsuchaperspectivebegsanimportantandhighlyrelevantquestionfromthereaders:HowdoweknowthatPip’sdescriptionsandthoughtsareaccuraterepresentationsofreality?Thehonestansweristhatwesimplydonot,andthiskindofambiguityleadstoveryinterestingdiscussionsaboutVictorianRealism.Howtodepictthecompletetruthinliteraryworks?reviewCharacteristicsofVictorianLiteratureItislargelycharacterizedbythestruggleofworkingpeopleandthetriumphofrightoverwrong.Thenovelreplacedthepoemasthemostfashionablevehicleforthetransmissionofliterature.Thenovelasagenrerosetoentertaintherisingmiddleclassandtodepictthecontemporarylifeinachangingsociety.Thenovelshaveastressonrealismandanattempttodescribethedailystrugglesofordinarymenthatthemiddleclassreadercouldassociatewith.GothicElementsinJaneEyre《簡·愛》中的哥特元素Gothicisaliterarygenrethatisconnectedtothedarkandhorrific.ItbecamepopularinthelateVictorianEra,followingthesuccessofHoraceWalpole'sTheCastleofOtranto,in1764.Sincethattime,gothicliteraturehasbecomeawidespreadinfluence.Someelementsthataretypicallygothicincludeancientprophecies,mysteryandsuspense.CharlotteBronte,theauthorofJaneEyre,visions,violence,andagloomyanddesolatesetting.CharlotteBronte,theauthorofJaneEyre,wasgreatlyinfluencebythegothicmovement.Thisisobvioustoanyonewhohasreadherwork.JaneEyre,inparticular,fallsintothetraditionofthelateeighteenthandnineteenthcenturygothicnovels.GothicelementscanbeseeninthemysterybehindThornfieldandRochester'spast.Thereisalsoaprevalentthemeofthesupernatural,suchastheappearanceofMr.Reed'sghost,theghoulishandsinisterlaughterofBerthaMason,andRochester'sdisembodiedvoicecallingouttoJane.Furthermore,thereisagreatdealofsuspensethatisgeneratedbytheviolentbehaviourofBerthaMason.Thegothicelementsofmystery,violenceandthesupernaturalhavethestrongestpresenceinJaneEyre.ThemysterybehindThornfieldandRochester'spastisastrongthemeinthenovel.WhenJanefirstarrivedatThornfield,alreadyshecouldsensethatsomethingwaspeculiarabouttheplace.Shehearsa"distinct,mirthlesslaugh”comingfromthethird-floorofthehouse.Mrs.Fairfax,thehousekeeper,informsJanethataservantnamedGracePoolelivesupthere.Sheisalsoratherunbalanced.Janefindstheservant'sbehaviourverystrangeanddisturbing.However,JaneseriouslystartstoquestionthestorybehindGracePoolewhentheservantsnuckintoRochester’sroomandsetthebedcurtainsablaze.JanefindsRochester'sreactiontotheincidenttobepeculiarinitself,sinceafterthefirewasputout,heimmediatelywentupstairstothethirdfloor.However,whatJanefindsmostdisturbingisthatGracecontinuestoworkatThornfieldevenaftershesupposedlytriedtokillRochester.ShewonderswhatpowerthisstrangewomanhasoverRochester,andfurthermore,whyshehadtriedtokillhiminthefirstplace.JaneisconvincedthatRochestermaynotbetellingherthewholetruthregardingGracePoole.HerbeliefsareconfirmedwhensheseesthebleedingMason,oneoftheguestsatthehouse.JanenowrealizesthatGraceisadangerousperson,althoughshestilldoesnotknowhowMasonandRochesterarerelatedtoher.ThenightthatthestrangewomancomesintoJane'sroomfurtherarouseshersuspicionofRochester.Whenshetellshimabouttheincident,Rochestertriestoconvinceherthatitmusthavebeenadream.However,Janeiscertainthatitwasnot.ThemysteryofThornfieldisrevealedwhenMasondeclaresthatthestrangewomanisRochester'swife,BerthaMason.RochesterhadkeptheruponthethirdfloorandpaidGracePooletolookafterher.ShewastheonewhostartedthefireandtoreJane'sweddingveil.MasonisconnectedtothismysterybecauseheisBertha'ssolerelative.ThemysteryofThornfieldHallandRochester'sdarkpastisakintothegothictraditionthatdrawoutfearandexcitementinthereader.Thethemeofthesupernaturalisconsistentthroughoutthenovel.Janehadherfirstsupernaturalencounterwhenshewasjusttenyearsold.Aspunishmentforstrikinghercousin,JohnReed,herauntlockedherupinaspareroominthehouse.Itwascalledthe'red-room'becauseofthecolouronthewallsandthemahoganyfurniture.Whatissignificantaboutthered-roomisthefactthatJane'sunclehaddiedinit.Whileshewasimprisoned,Janehearsstrangenoises,andthetensioninthissceneincreasesashermindbecomesmorefranticandsuperstitious.A"singularnotiondawnedupon[her]",andshewasconvincedthattheroomwashauntedbyherlateuncle.Indeed,shesays,"...IthoughtMr.Reed'sspirit,harassedbythewrongsofhissister'schild,mightquititsabode...andrisebeforemeinthischamber.”"(10)Thisprovidesthescenewithitsgothicelements.Asound“"liketherushingofwings"fillsherears,andshefaints.Thescenewithinthered-roomisalsoloadedwithgothicimagery.Theroomitselfisdescribedasa'vault,whichgivesitprison-likequalities.The"silent"atmosphere,the"chillair”,andthegatheringof“quietdust”allcontributetothegothicsetting.Likeoldcastlesandcrumblingruins,thered-roomhasadarkandominousfeeling.Thecolouronthewallsisreminiscentofblood.Bronte'sdescriptionoftherainandwindspaintavividpictureoftheviolentstormragingoutside.Alloftheseelements-adarkandforebodingroomwhereafamilymemberdied,thecolourred,ghosts,andtheviolentstorm-areessentiallygothic.Anotherinstanceofthesupernaturaloccursneartheendofthenovel,whenJanehearsRochester'svoicecallingherfromafar:"Imighthavesaid,"Whereisit?”foritdidnotseemintheroom,norinthehouse,norinthegarden;itdidnotcomeoutoftheair,norfromundertheearth,norfromoverhead.Ihadheardit-where,orwhenceforeverimpossibletoknow!Anditwasthevoiceofahumanbeing-aknown,loved,wellrememberedvoice-thatofEdwardFairfaxRochester;anditspokeinpainandwoe,wildly,eerily,urgently.”(401)Lateron,RochestertellsJanethatafewnightsbeforeherarrival,hecalledouthernameandthoughtthatheheardheranswer.Janedidnotwishtoupsethiminhisfragilestate,soshedoesnottellRochesteraboutthevoicethatbroughthertoFerndeaninthefirstplace.However,itstillimpliesthatJaneandRochesterhavesomesortofconnectionthattranscendsphysicalboundaries.Themanifestationofvoicesisatraditionalgothictheme.Theghoulishlaughtercomingfromthethirdfloorisdescribedasnothinglessthansupernatural.AccordingtoJane,"thelaughwasastragic,aspreternaturalalaughasanyleverheard."(99)Inthenovel,BerthaMasonisalsoportrayedassomesortofsupernaturalbeing.WhenJaneseesBerthainherroom,shethoughtthatitwas"thefoulGermanspectre-thevampire".Sheisoftendescribedaslessthanhuman.WhenRochesterunlockedthedoortoBertha'sroom,Janesawthatshe“grovelled,seeminglyonallfours;itsnatchedandgrowledlikesomestrangewildanimal.”"(278)Bronteusesviolencetogeneratesuspense,whichisanothercharacteristicofagothicnovel.ThefirstinstanceofviolenceoccurswhenBerthacameintoRochester'sroomandsetthebedcurtainsonfire.TheviolentanddestructivesideoffireisaprevalentthemeinJaneEyre.AnotherviolentsceneoccursinthefirethatconsumedThornfieldManor.Afterhemadesurethatalltheservantswereoutofthehousesafely,Rochesterwentbackinsidetosavehisderangedwife.Butsomehow,Berthafoundherwaytotheroofandshethrewherselfdownintothefire.ThemostnotoriousinstanceofviolenceinthenoveloccursonthethirdfloorofThornfieldManor.MasonhadcomeintoBertha'sroomandshehadsavagelyattackedhim.WhenJanesawMason,hisarmwasbleeding.Rochesterhadaskedhertotendtohiswoundswhilehewenttofetchthesurgeon.Berthaviolentandwildbehaviourgeneratessuspense,aswellaspropelstheplotforward.Thegothicelementsofmystery,violenceandthesupernaturalareclearlypresentinCharlotteBronte’snovel,JaneEyre.BerthaMasonisoneofthekeyfiguresthatfacilitatethegothicelementsintheplot.HerviolentbehaviourcreatessuspenseandaddstothemysteryofThornfield.Rochester'spastisamysteryaswell.However,thereaderdiscoversintheendthatmysteryofhispast,andthemysteryatThornfieldisinterconnectedthroughBerthaMason.Anotherimportantaspectofagothicnovelisthesupernatural.JaneencountersthesupernaturalthroughMr.Reed’sghost,aswellasthedisembodiedvoiceofRochester.Bothinstancesprovethatthereisaforceinnaturethattranscendsphysicalboundaries.Berthacanalsobeassociatedwiththesupernaturalthoughhereerielaughter.Bronteisabletointegrategothicelementswithotherliterarygenres.Infact,JaneEyreisactuallyamixtureofthreegenres:Gothic,Romance,andBildungsroman.TheskillfulintegrationofthesegenresistheveryreasonwhyJaneEyreisatimelessclassic.VictorianLiteraturePopularFemaleNovelistsCharlotteBronteandGeorgeEliotManywomenoftheVictorianErapublishedtheirworkanonymouslyorunderpseudonymstoensurethattheirworkswouldbegiventhesamemeritthatworksbymaleauthorsweregranted.Usinggenderambiguouspseudonyms,whichalloftheBrontesistersdid.allowedfemalenoveliststhefreedomtocreatecharactersexactlythewaytheywantedwithoutfearofbeingdisrespectedornottakenseriouslybecausetheywerecreatedbywomen.Reasonsbehindthepopularityoffemalenovelists:Oppressionsufferedbymiddle-classwomenIdeaof"NewWomen"Oppressionsufferedbymiddle-classwomenUnmarried,middle-classwomeneitherhadtoturntoprostitutionorbeagovernessinordertoearnaliving.However,agovernesshasnosecurityofemployment,receivedminimalwages,andwasisolatedinthehouseholdwiththelabelofbeingsomewherein-betweenafamilymemberandaservantThelargeamountofmiddle-classwomenwhohadtoresortthemselvestotheambiguousroleofgovernessleadtoariseinpopularityofthegovernessnovelbecauseitexploredawoman'sroleinsociety.Ideaof"NewWomen.asignificantculturaliconduringtheVictorianEraTheNewWomanwastheoppositeofthestereotypicalVictorianWomanwhowasuneducated,reliantentirelyonaman,andledanentirelydomesticlife.Instead,theNewWomanwasintelligent,independent,educated,andself-supporting.Theystrivetoredefineawoman'sroleinmarriageandothersocietalnorms,aswellasfixtherelationshipsbetweenthesexesandsupportwomen'sprofessionalaspirations.RiseofFeminismandImportantFemaleNovelistsVotingandpropertyrightsEducationopportunitiesEmploymentrestrictionsManywomendecidedtoaddresstheissuesinwritingandpublishingtheirworkinordertomaketheirvoicesheardanddemandequality.TheBronteSistersThefamousBrontesisterslivedatHaworthParsonagefrom1820to1861intheWestRidingofYorkshire.Charlotte,EmilyandAnneBronteweretheauthorsofmanyfamousandlovedbooksintheEnglishlanguage.Theirformerhomeisnowamuseumcontainingmanyoftheitemsusedbythefamily.CharlotteBronteCharlotteBronteworkedasateacherandgovernessbeforecollaboratingonabookofpoetrywithhertwosisters,EmilyandAnne,whowerewritersaswell.In1847,BrontepublishedthesemiautobiographicalnovelJaneEyre,whichwasahitandwouldbecomealiteraryclassic.HerothernovelsincludedShirleyandVillette.ShediedonMarch31,1855,inHaworth,Yorkshire,England.CharlotteBronteInhernovels,Brontecreatedstrongfemaleheroineswhopossessedfreethought,intellect,andstrongmoralcharacter.Shewroteforthewomenshesawasbeingoppressedbysociety,whichincludedteachers,governesses,andspinsters.Shefeltthatallofthesewomenwereimprisonedbysocietyorcircumstancesbeyondtheircontrol,andBrontewasimpelledtospeakoutfortheminherwriting.JaneEyreThemostpopularexampleofagovernessnovelwouldbeCharlotteBronte'snovelJaneEyre.afictionalautobiographyoftheorphanJaneEyreasshematuresandbecomesagovernessatThornfieldmanor.Janeisrebellious,resourceful,andbravewoman,despitealltheobstaclesthatstandinherwayinamale-dominatedsocietyJaneultimatelyfallsinlovewithRochester,butbreaksawayfromsocietybecauseshemarrieshimoutofloveandnotforthelabelsorsecurityofamanandmoneythatitprovides.JanerespectsRochesteranddoesn'tcompromisehermoralsorherpersonalityjusttosatisfyhim,whichBrontebelievedtobeveryimportant.EmilyBronteEmilyJaneBrontelivedaquietlifeinYorkshirewithherclergymanfather;brother,BranwellBronte;andtwosisters,CharlotteandAnne.Thesistersenjoyedwritingpoetryandnovels,whichtheypublishedunderpseudonyms.As"EllisBell,"EmilywroteWutheringHeights(1847)—heronlypublishednovel—whichgarneredwidecriticalandcommercialacclaim.WutheringHeightsPublishingasEllisBell,Brontepublishedherdefiningwork,WutheringHeights,inDecember1847.ThecomplexnovelexplorestwofamiliestheEarnshawsandtheLintons——acrosstwogenerationsandtheirstatelyhomes,WutheringHeightsandThrushcrossGrange.Heathcliff,anorphantakeninbytheEarnshaws,isthedrivingforcebetweentheactioninthebook.HefirstmotivatedbyhisloveforhisCatherineEarnshaw,thenbyhisdesireforrevengeagainstherforwhathebelievedtoberejection.DeathandLegacyAtfirst,reviewersdidnotknowwhattomakeofWutheringHeights.ItwasonlyafterBronte'sdeaththatthebookdevelopeditsreputationasaliterarymasterwork.ShediedoftuberculosisonDecember19,1848,nearlytwomonthsafterherbrother,Branwell,succumbedtothesamedisease.HersisterAnnealsofellillanddiedoftuberculosisthefollowingMay.GothicLiteratureThetermGothicoriginateswiththearchitecturecreatedbytheGermanicGothtribesthatwaslaterexpandedtoincludemostmedievalarchitecture.Thegenreof"GothicLiterature"emergedasthedarkestformofDarkRomanticisminitsextremeexpressionsofelaboratetalesofmystery,suspense,andsuperstition.TheheightoftheGothicperiod,whichwascloselyalignedwithRomanticism,isusuallyconsideredtohavebeentheyears1764toabout1840,however,itsinfluenceextendsto20th-centuryauthors.GothicLiteratureKeyElementsMostGothicliteraturecontainscertainkeyelementsthatinclude:Atmosphere:TheatmosphereinaGothicnovelisonecharacterizedbymystery,suspense,andfear,whichisusuallyheightenedbyelementsoftheunknownorunexplained.Setting:AsGothicarchitectureplaysanimportantrole,manyofthestoriesaresetinacastleorlargemanor,whichistypicallyabandonedoratleastrun-down,andfarremovedfromcivilization(sonoonecanhearyoushouldyoucallforhelp).agloomyanddesolatesetting.Othersettingsmayincludecavesorwildernesslocales,suchasamoororheath.Someelementsthataretypicallygothicgenreelementsincludeancientprophecies,mysteryandsuspense,supernaturalevents,dreamsandvisions,violence.GothicElementsinJaneEyreandWutheringHeightsThemysterybehindThornfieldandRochester'spastisastrongthemeinthenovel.WhenJanefirstarrivedatThornfield,alreadyshecouldsensethatsomethingwaspeculiarabouttheplace.Shehearsa'"distinct,mirthlesslaugh"comingfromthethird-floorofthehouse.Mrs.Fairfax,thehousekeeper,informsJanethataservantnamedGracePoolelivesupthere.Sheisalsoratherunbalanced.Janefindstheservant'sbehaviourverystrangeanddisturbing.However,JaneseriouslystartstoquestionthestorybehindGracePoolewhentheservantsnuckintoRochester’sroomandsetthebedcurtainsablaze.GothicfigureTheGothicfigurethatinhabitsthehallsofThornfieldisofcourseBerthaMason.Thewomanisscary.WefirstgetaglimpseofherwhenshetearsJane'sweddingveil,thenightbeforeJaneissettomarryRochester.Sheappearsasaghostlikefigurethatprophesisesthefailureofthemarriage,andofcourse,itdoesnotgoahead.NaturalismNaturalismisaliterarygenrethatstartedasamovementinlatenineteenthcenturyinliterature,film,theater,andart.Itisatypeofextremerealism.Naturalismisalate19th-centuryliterarymovementinwhichwritersfocusedonexploringthefundamentalcausesfortheircharacters’actions,choices,andbeliefs.Thismovementsuggestedtherolesoffamily,socialconditions,andenvironmentinshapinghumancharacter.Thus,naturalisticwriterswritestoriesbasedontheideathatenvironmentdeterminesandgovernshumancharacter.Wealsoseeuseofsomeofthescientificprinciplesinnaturalisticworks,andhumansstrugglingforsurvivalinhostileandaliensociety.Infact,naturalismtookitscuefromDarwin'stheoryofevolution,whichholdsthatlifeislikeastruggleandonlythefittestsurvive.ThomasHardyHardybeganhiswritingcareerasanovelist,publishingDesperateRemediesi