Course Description

This course is a survey of Gothic literature written during England's 19th century. The course will begin with the origins of the genre, its major conventions, and go on to trace the changes in the genre as measured by its historical and social contexts. Important Gothic texts, including the pre-Victorian work Frankenstein and canonical Victorian texts Dracula and Jane Eyre, will be studied in order to identify the components of 19th century British Gothic literature. Topics include vampirism, haunted mansions and female imprisonment.