Gothic Literature!

[Nossa]

Hello everyone,
I have one question...what's the difference between the Gothic fiction and the horror fiction? I mean, I do know what Gothic is, but I can't seem to know which novels are considered Gothic, so that I can really differenciate!
I don't know if that made sense..lol..but I was hoping someone can help me, maybe even recommend some gothic stories for me to read!

[THX-1138]

Gothic novels includes gothic settings (old mansions,old abbey) i think

[jane-charlotte]

The historical understanding of Gothic as a literary genre--or sub-genre, depending on who you talk to--incorporates at once setting, plot, and symbolics. In other words, a gothic tale uses symbolism within all elements of its storytelling to communicate its spiritual and political message. Ghostly settings, such as dark mansions, forests, mountians, caves, and night only play one part--though a major one--in forming the Gothic. Moreover, the Gothic encourages a Romantic view of nature and culture, seeing the supernatural in all things and seeking to interact with the suublime and the beautiful. The fright and horror associated with gothic stems from the interactions with the Sublime supernaturals--a terrible and powerful force that elevates humanity or the character to a higher place of sensation. Much more can and should be said about it, but Maggie Kilgour writes about it more thoroughly in "The Rise of the Gothic Novel". It is a good and informing read.
Also try "Art of Darkness: A poetics of Gothic" by Anne Williams.
Our current Horror films and books do not attempt to commune with the supernatural so much as it tries to shock the senses for thrill.

[jane-charlotte]

Also here are some stories to consider:
The Italian By Ann Radcliffe
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (she is the queen of gothic)
Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte
Jane Eyre By Charlotte Bronte
The Woman in White By Wilkie Collins
The Phantom of the Opera By Gaston Leroux
Manfred By Lord Byron
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
there are others but this is a good start....

[Nossa]

Thank you SO much :D

[crisaor]

For a few more titles, you can check out Stoker's Dracula and Shelley's Frankenstein, along with some of Poe's and Byron's works.

[Sana Koulagasi]

The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne deals with the Gothic fiction