This atmosphere is achieved through a combination of:
* Setting: Often set in dark, decaying, or isolated locations like crumbling castles, abandoned monasteries, or mysterious mansions.
* Characters: Characters are often deeply flawed, driven by passions, and sometimes even supernatural.
* Plot: Plots often involve the exploration of dark themes like death, madness, forbidden love, the supernatural, and the fragility of human nature.
* Themes: Themes of horror, suspense, the supernatural, the dark side of human nature, and the power of fate.
* Style: The writing style is often dramatic and suspenseful, using vivid imagery, foreshadowing, and an emphasis on the senses to create an immersive experience.
The Gothic novel aims to create a feeling of unease and fascination with the dark and mysterious, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and a lingering question about the nature of reality.
Here are some examples of Gothic novels:
* "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley
* "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
* "The Castle of Otranto" by Horace Walpole
* "The Mysteries of Udolpho" by Ann Radcliffe
* "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë
It's important to remember that the definition of Gothic literature can be fluid, with different authors incorporating elements and themes in unique ways. However, the focus on creating a chilling and disturbing atmosphere remains a core characteristic.