Genre

1. Genre It has been argued that Wuthering Heights incorporates conventions from both Romantic literature (which is not the same as the ‘romance’ genre!) and the Gothic novel. So… which is it? Romantic or Gothic?

2. Romantic Literature The Romantic period flourished in England during the 18th and 19th Century. It was most prominently embodied by six great poets--Coleridge, Wordsworth, Black, Keats, Shelley and Byron—as well as the works of the Bronte sisters and Percy Shelley’s wife Mary. It stood in contrast to the Enlightenment movement which preceded it and continued to influence English authors well into the 20th century. It’s conventions include…

3. A Love of Nature Romantic authors placed a high value on the natural world : landscapes, animals and elements such as trees. Nature held the possibility of perfect beauty, as well as overwhelming majesty and the ability to inspire human beings. Many times, the authors would imbue the natural world with human qualities: passion, expression and an emotional life. Romantic writers also stressed mankind’s ability to perceive and interact with the natural world. For example, Shelley’s poem “Mont Blanc” expounds upon the greatness of the titular mountain, but stresses the human eye necessary to perceive its wonders.

4. Elevation of the Common The protagonists of Romantic works often came from humble backgrounds, and Romantic literature stressed the greatness which could be found in any object or person. Their purpose was to shatter assumptions about who or what we could be: to remove the sheen of familiarity and see things in an entirely new light. A pauper could be a hero in Romantic literature, and even something as common as a bird or a tree could help us perceive the brilliance of the universe.

5. Libertarianism Works of the Romantic movement emphasized the virtues of human freedom: the ability to cast off shackles of convention and expectation and fully explore one’s capability. Individuals had the right to self-determination, and deserved respect and dignity. This applied to a given figure’s physical existence--he had the freedom to explore exotic lands, for example –but more importantly, it applied to his mind and imagination.

6. Spontaneity English Romantic literature eschewed previously established rules of construction and formality. Wordsworth stressed the notion of spontaneity in Romantic English poetry: the overflow of emotions resulting from an instant moment of inspiration. While subsequent introspection may refine the initial vision, that spontaneity held the core of truth, and thus became an inseparable part of the creative process.

7. The Supernatural Magic and otherworldly forces often played a role in Romantic literature. It claims that we are surrounded by things we cannot see and thus do not choose to believe. But by opening ourselves up to those possibilities, we can see things that should not exist. Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” for example, is rife with unseen forces tormenting its protagonist, while Blake’s “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell” contains multiple references to forces not of the Earth.

8. The Gothic Novel The gothic novel was invented almost single-handedly by Horace Walpole, whose The Castle of Otranto (1764) contains essentially all the elements that constitute the genre. Walpole's novel was imitated not only in the eighteenth century and not only in the novel form, but it has influenced the novel, the short story, poetry, and even film making up to the present day. It’s conventions include…

9. Setting in a castle The action takes place in and around an old castle, sometimes seemingly abandoned, sometimes occupied. The castle often contains secret passages, trap doors, secret rooms, dark or hidden staircases, and possibly ruined sections. The castle may be near or connected to caves, which lend their own haunting flavour with their branchings, claustrophobia, and mystery. (Translated into modern filmmaking, the setting might be in an old house or mansion--or even a new house--where unusual camera angles, sustained close ups during movement, and darkness or shadows create the same sense of claustrophobia and entrapment.)

10. An atmosphere of mystery and suspense The work is pervaded by a threatening feeling, a fear enhanced by the unknown. Often the plot itself is built around a mystery, such as unknown parentage, a disappearance, or some other inexplicable event. The next 3conventions listed help contribute to this atmosphere.

11. An ancient prophecy …is connected with the castle or its inhabitants (either former or present). The prophecy is usually obscure, partial, or confusing. "What could it mean?" This may amount to merely a legend: "It's said that the ghost of old man Krebs still wanders these halls."

12. Omens, portents and visions A character may have a disturbing dream vision, or some phenomenon may be seen as a portent of coming events. For example, if the statue of the lord of the manor falls over, it may portend his death. In modern fiction, a character might see something (a shadowy figure stabbing another shadowy figure) and think that it was a dream. This might be thought of as an "imitation vision."

13. Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events. Dramatic, amazing events occur, such as ghosts or giants walking, or inanimate objects (such as a suit of armour or painting) coming to life. In some works, the events are ultimately given a natural explanation, while in others the events are truly supernatural.

14. Women in distress. As an appeal to the pathos and sympathy of the reader, the female characters often face events that leave them fainting, terrified, screaming, and/or sobbing. A lonely, pensive, and oppressed heroine is often the central figure of the novel, so her sufferings are even more pronounced and the focus of attention. The women suffer all the more because they are often abandoned, left alone (either on purpose or by accident), and have no protector at times.

15. Women threatened by a powerful, impulsive, tyrannical male. One or more male characters has the power, as king, lord of the manor, father, or guardian, to demand that one or more of the female characters do something intolerable. The woman may be commanded to marry someone she does not love (it may even be the powerful male himself), or commit a crime.

16. High, even overwrought emotion. The narration may be highly sentimental, and the characters are often overcome by anger, sorrow, surprise, and especially, terror. Characters suffer from raw nerves and a feeling of impending doom. Crying and emotional speeches are frequent. Breathlessness and panic are common. In the filmed gothic, screaming is common.

17. The metonymy of gloom and horror. Metonymy is a subtype of metaphor, in which something (like rain) is used to stand for something else (like sorrow). For example, the film industry likes to use metonymy as a quick shorthand, so we often notice that it is raining in funeral scenes. Note that the following metonymies for "doom and gloom" all suggest some element of mystery, danger, or the supernatural.

18. Metonyms

19. The vocabulary of the gothic. The constant use of the appropriate vocabulary set creates the atmosphere of the gothic. Using the right words maintains the dark-and-stimulated feel that defines the gothic. Here as an example are some of the words (in several categories) that help make up the vocabulary of the gothic in The Castle of Otranto:

20. Gothic Language

21. Answer This! • In groups find 5 pieces of evidence from Wuthering Heights that supports the claim that Wuthering Heights is an example of Romantic Literature. • Now find 5 pieces of evidence which supports the claim Wuthering heights is a Gothic novel. • Can you find any evidence that would negate either of these claims?