The Parodies of Gothic Conventions in "Northanger Abbey" by Jane Austen

Bachelor Thesis , 2009 , 52 Pages , Grade: 1

Didactics for the subject English - Literature, Works

The parody of Gothicism emerged as a reaction against its conventions, just as Gothic novel itself was directed against the rationality of Neoclassicism. At first, the Gothic novel gained great interest of the readers, the genre developed rapidly and many writers, like Clara Reeve, Mary Shelley or Charles Maturin contributed to this kind of fiction. However, the set of conventions established by Horace Walpole and then developed by Mrs. Radcliffe, became a point of reference for Jane Austen to create
a novel titled Northanger Abbey, which became an outstanding parody of the conventions. Thus, Jane Austen reused many Gothic elements, retold the story in a parodying way in order to show the silliness and artificiality of the genre.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER I Conventions of the Gothic Novel.
• Gothic as a reaction against Neoclassicism.
• The Castle of Otranto as the first example of the Gothic novel and the development of the genre
• Ann Radcliffe as a conventional Gothic writer and The Mysteries of Udolpho as a representative of the conventional Gothic fiction ....
• The plot......
• The setting..
• The Gothic atmosphere.
• The characters.
• CHAPTER II Northanger Abbey as the Parody of Gothic Fiction.
• The origins of Northanger Abbey.
• The nature of parody.
• Jane Austen's methods of parody in Northanger Abbey
• The characters.
• The heroine
• The hero
• The villain .
• The minor characters
• The setting.
• The plot..
• CONCLUSION
• STRESZCZENIE W JĘZYKU POLSKIM..
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This dissertation aims to analyze the parody of Gothic conventions in Jane Austen's novel Northanger Abbey. It explores the origins and development of the Gothic genre, focusing on the key features that became conventionalized in the genre. The dissertation then examines how Austen utilizes parody to subvert these conventions, creating a humorous and insightful critique of the Gothic novel.

• The emergence and development of the Gothic novel
• The conventions of the Gothic novel, including setting, characters, and plot
• Jane Austen's use of parody in Northanger Abbey
• The specific ways in which Austen parodies Gothic conventions in the novel
• The significance of Austen's parody in relation to the Gothic genre and the development of the novel

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The first chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the Gothic genre, tracing its origins and development. It examines the key features that define the Gothic novel, including the use of dark and mysterious settings, supernatural elements, and characters with complex motivations. The chapter also explores the influence of key Gothic writers, such as Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe, and Matthew Gregory Lewis, highlighting the conventions that emerged in their works.

The second chapter focuses on Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, analyzing the novel as a parody of Gothic fiction. It examines the origins of the novel and explores the concept of parody, highlighting the ways in which Austen uses humor and satire to subvert the conventions of the Gothic genre. The chapter then delves into the specific methods Austen employs to parody Gothic conventions, including her characterization of the heroine, hero, villain, and minor characters, as well as her manipulation of setting and plot.

Schlüsselwörter

The key words and focus themes of the text include Gothic novel, parody, Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, conventions, setting, characters, plot, satire, humor, and literary criticism. The dissertation explores the ways in which Austen's novel subverts the conventions of the Gothic genre, offering a humorous and insightful critique of the genre's tropes and conventions. It examines the specific methods Austen employs to achieve this parody, highlighting the significance of her work in relation to the development of the novel and the evolution of the Gothic genre.

• College: University of Gdansk
• Course: English Literature
• Grade: 1
• Author: MA Magdalena Przytarska (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 52
• Catalog Number: V286240
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656865209
• ISBN (Book): 9783656865216
• Language: English
• Tags: parodies, gothic, conventions, northanger, abbey, jane, austen