Conventions of gothic horror genre

Premature Burial
Twincest
Castle in Ruins
Misogyny
Guilt
Drugged beverages
Dream experiences
Unbridled space
Sin of pride / Delusions of grandeur
Diseases that cause death (often occurring because of sexual passion)
gender stereotyping

Rejects reason
Explores unreasonable universes
Champions are malevolent and wicked


GOTHIC LITERATURE: Poetry, short stories, or novels designed to thrill readers by providing mystery and blood-curdling accounts of villainy, murder, and the supernatural. As J. A. Cuddon suggests, the conventions of gothic literature include wild and desolate landscapes, ancient buildings such as ruined monasteries; cathedrals; castles with dungeons, torture chambers, secret doors, and winding stairways; apparitions, phantoms, demons, and necromancers; an atmosphere of brooding gloom; and youthful, handsome heroes and fainting (or screaming!) heroines who face off against corrupt aristocrats, wicked witches, and hideous monsters. Conventionally, female characters are threatened by powerful or impetuous male figures, and description functions through a metonymy of fear by presenting details designed to evoke Horror, disgust, or terror.