The Gothic Forms of Victorian Poetry

The Gothic Forms of Victorian Poetry explores how Gothic tropes from 1790s novels and tales were re-emerged in major Victorian poems from the 1830s to 1870s, transfigured into poetic forms that we recognize and teach today as canonically Victorian.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2024
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

A solitary damsel confined within the walls of a castle or convent cell, her world reduced to the confines of her prison. The muffled sound of a prisoner's voice reaching her ears through the thin walls, a haunting reminder of her isolation. The framed image of a woman, shrouded in mystery and a sinister past, hung on the wall, casting a shadow over her solitary existence. These familiar tropes from the 1790s novels and tales, once relegated to the realm of low-brow Gothic romance, unexpectedly resurfaced in the pages of major Victorian poems from the 1830s to 1870s. What was once considered mere sensationalism found its way into the poetic realm, transfigured into poetic forms that we now recognize and teach as canonical Victorian.

The Gothic Forms of Victorian Poetry delves into a poetics of Gothic enclosure that played a significant role in defining key poetic forms of the nineteenth century. This poetic tradition emerged as a response to the social and cultural constraints of the Victorian era, where women were confined to the domestic sphere and men held dominion over the public realm. Within the confines of the Gothic genre, writers sought to explore the complexities of female identity, the power of the supernatural, and the boundaries between life and death.

One of the most notable features of Gothic poetry was the dramatic monologue, a form that allowed the speaker to express their inner thoughts and emotions in a powerful and intimate way. The monologue often took the form of a conversation between the speaker and an unseen listener, creating a sense of claustrophobia and isolation. This form was particularly popular in the works of Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, and Edgar Allan Poe, who used it to explore themes of love, loss, and the supernatural.

Another prominent feature of Gothic poetry was the use of female confinement and the damsel in distress trope. Women were often portrayed as trapped in restrictive environments, such as castles or convent cells, and were subjected to male domination and control. However, Gothic poetry also offered a subversive critique of these tropes, challenging the notion that women were solely victims and that they could be powerful and independent agents.

The supernatural was another key element of Gothic poetry, with writers exploring the boundaries between life and death and the power of the occult. This theme was often depicted in the form of ghosts, vampires, and other supernatural creatures, who inhabited the margins of society and threatened to disrupt the natural order. The supernatural was used to explore themes of morality, ethics, and the human condition, with writers questioning the nature of good and evil and the role of the individual in the face of overwhelming forces.

Gothic poetry also played a significant role in the development of Pre-Raphaelite picture poems, which were a form of visual art that combined poetry with imagery. These poems often depicted scenes of horror and the supernatural, using vivid imagery and sensory language to create a powerful and immersive experience for the reader. The Pre-Raphaelites, including William Blake, John Keats, and Edward Gorey, were influenced by Gothic poetry and used it to create works that were both visually stunning and emotionally charged.

In conclusion, the Gothic Forms of Victorian Poetry offers a fascinating exploration of the intersection between literature, art, and social and cultural norms of the nineteenth century. By transfiguring familiar tropes from Gothic romance into poetic forms, writers were able to challenge the boundaries of the genre and explore the complexities of female identity, the supernatural, and the human condition. Gothic poetry continues to resonate with readers today, offering a window into the rich and complex world of nineteenth-century literature and art.

Weight: 532g
Dimension: 154 x 234 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474487184