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The Tale of Terror: A Study of the Gothic Romance
Paperback
ISBN13: 9780773015708
Publisher: Ottavio Ferrante
Published: Sep 30 2026
Pages: 242
Weight: 0.72
Height: 0.51 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
is a critical examination of the Gothic romance genre, likely written in the early 20th century. The work traces the evolution of supernatural fiction in English literature, focusing on the historical and thematic devel opments from the rise of Gothic fiction in the late 18th century through various notable authors and works, including the American adaptations by Hawthorne and Poe. The opening of the study outlines the deep-rooted history of terror in storytelling, beginning with ancient myths and moving through various literary forms up to the emergence of Gothic fiction. Birk head discusses the significance of fear and supernatural elements, highlight ing works from the likes of Horace Walpole and Mrs. Radcliffe, setting the stage for a broader analysis of how the Gothic genre evolved over centuries. The introduction creates an awareness of how integral the theme of terror has been in both oral tradition and written literature, setting up a nuanced exploration of the genre's influence and its enduring appeal.
history of the tale of terror is as old as the history of man. Myths were created in the early days of the race to account for sunrise and sunset, storm-windsandthunder, theoriginoftheearthandofmankind. Thetales men told in the face of these mysteries were naturally inspired by awe and fear. The universal myth of a great flood is perhaps the earliest tale of ter ror. During the excavation of Nineveh in 1872, a Babylonian version of the story, which forms part of the Gilgamesh epic, was discovered in the library ofKingAshurbanipal(668-626B.C.);andtherearerecordsofamuchearlier version, belonging to the year 1966 B.C. The story of the Flood, as related onthe eleventhtabletoftheGilgameshepic, aboundsinsupernaturalterror. Toseekthe giftofimmortalityfromhisancestor, Ut-napishtim, theheroun dertakes awearyand perilousjourney. Hepassesthemountainguardedbya scorpion manandwoman, wherethesungoesdown;hetraversesadarkand dreadful road, where never mantrod, andatlast crosses the waters of death. During the deluge, which is predicted by his ancestor, the gods themselves are stricken with fear
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