The Castle of Otranto

Introduction

(1764)

Walpole's Castle of Otranto is generally regarded as the first Gothic novel. It initiated a literary genre which would become extremely popular in the later 18th and early 19th century, with authors such as Ann Radcliffe, Bram Stoker, and Edgar Allan Poe.

Sonnet to the Right Honourable Lady Mary Coke

THE gentle maid, whose hapless tale
These melancholy pages speak;
Say, gracious lady, shall she fail
To draw the tear adown thy cheek?

No; never was thy pitying breast
Insensible to human woes;
Tender, tho' firm, it melts distrest
For weaknesses it never knows.

Oh! guard the marvels I relate
Of fell ambition scourg'd by fate,
From reason's peevish blame.
Blest with thy smile, my dauntless sail
I dare expand to Fancy's gale,
For sure thy smiles are Fame.

H. W.

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Recent Forum Posts on The Castle of Otranto

Gothic literature

It is said that Warpole created the first truly gothic novel. What conventions of his novel do you think really made it so different to what was generally being created at the time? What made the text recognised as Gothic? just wondering...

Posted By GOD101 at Wed 18 Feb 2009, 6:43 AM in The Castle of Otranto || 2 Replies

I wonder your opinions

Our introduction to novel instructor wants us to read "the castle of otranto" for the course. have you read it? what do you think about it and what do you know? I'll start to read prefaces and the first chapter. I'll turn here to post my comments. see you :)))

Posted By frida_kahlo at Tue 16 Sep 2008, 5:46 PM in The Castle of Otranto || 0 Replies

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