The Castle of Otranto Flashcards
Who wrote it?
Horace Walpole
How do objects influence the course of the novel?
They intervene as terror or melancholy (the falling helmet and the sighing painting)
How is his writing gothic?
He has a delight for disorder
What is the novel’s relation to gothic history?
It is considered to be the very first gothic novel
How can the gothic be seen in relation to the Enlightenment?
As a response to it: science vs mysticism
When did Walpole claim authorship?
After the novel was published and received by the public.
What is the origin of the novel?
A dream
Are there freudian elements in the novel?
Yes, in the form of phallic figures like the fatal helmet.
What is the novel a veiled criticism of?
The divine rights of kings
In what way is Theodore the traditional gothic hero?
He is selfless and sacrificial.
How is Manfred the gothic arch villain?
He is immoral, and his actions are chaotic and disastrous
What is desired all throughout the plot?
Fecundity, so that Manfred may continue his lineage
Who is the symbol of fecundity?
Isabella, who is desired by both Theodore and Manfred
