ipl-logo

Supernatural Elements In Matthew Lewis The Monk

1178 Words5 Pages

The term Goth or gothic has had many changes and renditions over the years, all of which depict a darker execution of the human mind. Regarding modern, the term gothic is a popular style or lifestyle developed that follows elements of high emotion, which relate to dark undertones. This subculture of gothic was highly influenced by gothic fiction, a writing style that carried elements of horror and romance. The term Gothic fiction is characterized by elements of horror, death, terror and gloom with romantic undertones that coincide with strong emotions. Matthew Lewis offered the first characteristics to follow the genre of Gothic fiction in his explicit novel of monastic violence and perversions entitled The Monk published in 1796. Lewis's portrayal …show more content…

One of the earliest examples of supernatural themes within the novel is seen in the horrific prophecy of Antonia’s future. “That destruction o’er you hovers. Lustful Man and crafty Devil Will combine to work your evil. And from earth by sorrows driven. Soon your Soul must speed to heaven.” (Lewis, page 30) Such a prediction is dismissed by Antonia, of which she later pays the price for this with her life after being raped and murdered by Bleeding Nun, a haunting figure, is another example of supernatural in the text. The supernatural imagery is described as being "above nature or belonging to a higher realm or system than that of nature" The story of the Bleeding Nun is a horrifying element that also foreshadows the struggles of Agnes. Lewis never truly explains the depiction of supernatural elements in the novel, but rather uses these elements to emphasize qualities of certain characters, such as foreshadowing and mocking female terror and the wickedness of male horrors. Upon the Bleeding Nun’s first meeting with Raymond "Immediately thick clouds obscured the sky: The winds howled around us, the lightning flashed, and the Thunder roared tremendously. ”(Lewis, page 33) In this description of the haunting figure, Lewis used the imagery of nature to increase the horror of the character. But not only does Lewis implement the eeriness of supernatural to dictate the horror in his novel, but he also uses consequences of his characters

Show More
Related
526 Words | 3 Pages

The term Gothic was originally used as an architectural term and it refers to medieval buildings, such as castles and cathedral. Its an style of writing that is characterized by elements of fear, horror, death and gloom. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the house of Usher” is an good example of Gothic Literature because it has a gloomy mood. “ The storm had been a welcome diversion.

Read More
953 Words | 4 Pages

The author’s utilization of incantation provides a magical connotation. The storm casts a hex that conjures “the monstrous red thing that struck Piggy,” (163). The color red resembles danger which is shown through its hostility. Concurrently, the word monstrous has a frightful connotation attached to it. The object’s imagery is similar to a giant boulder, huge and intimidating.

Read More
579 Words | 3 Pages

One of the greatest fiction writers of all-time is C.S. Lewis. Lewis is not only great because of his writing skills, but also because of how he inputs his Christian faith into his different writings. In one of his most famous writings, and the classic novel, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, author C.S Lewis is trying to teach youth readers lesson’s about Christianity through some of the characters in this story, more specifically, Edmund and Aslan. One lesson that he can teach children a lesson about sin. In the story, Edmund betrays his brother and sisters and joins the side of the White Witch.

Read More
806 Words | 4 Pages

The terror of the unknown and the uncertainty of what lies beyond are embodied by Lord Ruthven's vampiric nature and his fear of death. As the aristocracy faced waning power and the prospect of revolution, the novel also portrays the political and social turmoil of the moment. Lord Ruthven is a representation of the future's unpredictability and lack of control. The greater cultural crisis of the day, as well as people's dread of the future and change, are all reflected in the story. The theme of the supernatural and the real portrays the supernatural element in a manner that is both distressing and fascinating, capturing the imagination of its readers.

Read More
1603 Words | 7 Pages

The Gothic Influence Although the word “Gothic” is often associated with supernatural creatures or haunted, abandoned places, the word actually originates from an elaborate style of architecture. The reason that the word “Gothic” has become associated with these ideas of horror and death is because the architecture was thought of the ideal place for mysterious, suspenseful, and dark stories to occur. These types of stories became known as the Gothic genre. The Gothic literary genre often includes elements of fear, death, and strong emotions, and is set in set in a dark or mysterious place.

Read More
576 Words | 3 Pages

The existence of the supernatural has pervaded and consumed the minds of those who ponder of things beyond our control . Many have been frightened by the moments of loneliness in your own home and by the hearing of perceived paranormal noises . The book The Scarlet Letter has some series or suspicions of supernatural occasions or individuals. In the book we come across some very intriguing characters. Pearl is a young girl who is very wise for her age, Mistress Hibbins, and the actual scarlet letter itself.

Read More
1270 Words | 6 Pages

We will contrast the ways that the supernatural is used and presented—and later enforced or dispelled—to discern the role it has on both novels. Starting with Lewis’ The Monk we see the supernatural at first only as an inkling that grows stronger and larger as the story goes on. There are hints of prophecies with gypsies and such, but it is not only until we are introduced to it with the narrative of The Bleeding Nun—told by Raymond de las Cisternas—that it is predominant in the plot. This passage seems completely unrelated to the main story, at first, but in it we are introduced to the supernatural as a force that is prevalent in the novel’s reality and that it can in fact, impact a character’s actions. We are introduced to it in detail, as the image of the Nun is clearly seen by Raymond: “[a] figure entered, and drew near my bed. . .

Read More
1143 Words | 5 Pages

His beliefs that the passage is a parody of a true gothic theme how the domestic incident and the terrifying short story suggest the familiar Gothic themes of confinement and rebellion, forbidden desire and "irrational" fear. Both include such Gothic staples as the distraught heroine, the forbidding mansion, and the powerfully repressive male antagonist. If we focus on the issue of the Gothic world and its release of imaginative power, however, the stories form a dramatic

Read More
1237 Words | 5 Pages

As a “Reverend Mother” (265), Consoltata appears like a goddess in the women’s lives. Her power of raising the dead bodies and seeing “best in the dark” (241) has sparks Lone’s thoughts towards Consolata unusual forces. As a wise woman, Consolata has finally finds the therapy that would heal the psychological and physical traumas these women faced. As a matter of fact, Yue-Ting in describing Consolata, he says that she is “an example influenced by magic realism rooting from Latin American Literature” (978).Consequently, she creates what Morrison calls the “Loud Dreaming,” in which, the female characters’ past is substituted by brighter future as they have been purified and cleansed by the falling rain. In the “Loud Dreaming,” Consolata asks the women to recline on the floor, surroundedby the lighted candles while repeating sacred words that say, “My child body, hurt and soil, leaps into the arms of a woman who teach me my body is nothing my spirit is everything” (Morrison 263).

Read More
459 Words | 2 Pages

Gothic literature is a style of literature that takes place in the past, most of the time it has someone who dies and it has a creepy vibe/tone behind it . Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” is a good example of Gothic literature because it shows how a man goes to visit an old friend and see how his friend and his friends twin sister die. “The whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day. ”(13)

Read More
558 Words | 3 Pages

This relates to the gothic novel type because of the darker side to his madness. Here is a small list of some gothic themes that can relate to the story. First would be a presence of a castle or dark light

Read More
1959 Words | 8 Pages

In any novel, mystery and suspense is a popular characteristic, but contributes very well to what secures a gothic theme to a novel. Here, mystery and suspense are built throughout the novel based on the predicament of the characters. Initially, mystery is built very early on in the story, where the reader is interested to know who the

Read More
1029 Words | 5 Pages

Gothic Literature is a genre that was popular between 18th to 19th centuries in North Germany. It is always being associated with Dark Romanticism which the emphasize was more on nature, terror and death, horror and many more. It involves dark and gloomy setting and also unexplainable things that are beyond human senses and reason such as ghosts and monsters. The main characters, on the other hand, are always ineffectual which they do not give much effect on the story plot. This can be seen through Washington Irving’s “Rip van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” which can be considered as American gothic work in terms of its description of setting, the involvement of supernatural element in the story and also the characteristics of the main character.

Read More
211 Words | 1 Pages

Lewis remarkable use of vivid details formed lifelike, down to earth characters, lifestyles and speech patterns in which successfully simulated the people and period of the time. Meanwhile, his satirical views gave Americans insight on their

Read More
974 Words | 4 Pages

As a historical term, Gothic derives from “Goth,” the name of one of the northern Germanic tribes that invaded the Roman Empire. As an architectural and artistic term, Gothic is used to refer to the medieval art of painting and architectural style which expands through Europe between twelfth and sixteenth

Read More

More about Supernatural Elements In Matthew Lewis The Monk

Related Topics

Open Document