Index of Gothic Horror Tropes: Difference between revisions
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A list of tropes found within the [[Gothic Horror]] genre. While you don't need all of them to write a gothic horror novel, the more you have the better. [[Horror]] has some things that are universal to all genres of horror but not everything on that page is used in gothic horror. |
A list of tropes found within the [[Gothic Horror]] genre. While you don't need all of them to write a gothic horror novel, the more you have the better. [[Horror]] has some things that are universal to all genres of horror but not everything on that page is used in gothic horror. |
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Other genres that might employ heavy use of these tropes: |
Other genres that might employ heavy use of these tropes: |
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* [[Gaslamp Fantasy]] |
* [[Gaslamp Fantasy]] |
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* [[Fairy Tale]] |
* [[Fairy Tale]] |
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* [[Gothic Punk]] |
* [[Gothic Punk]] |
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* [[Mystery]] - depends on the subgenre |
* [[Mystery]] - depends on the subgenre |
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* [[Punk Punk]] |
* [[Punk Punk]] |
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* [[Romance Novel|Romance]] - depends on the subgenre |
* [[Romance Novel|Romance]] - depends on the subgenre |
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* [[Steampunk]] - mostly the mad scientist tropes unless the author feels like leaning towards fantasy instead of scifi. If the latter is this case these tropes will be given priority over more stereotypical fantasy elements. |
* [[Steampunk]] - mostly the mad scientist tropes unless the author feels like leaning towards fantasy instead of scifi. If the latter is this case these tropes will be given priority over more stereotypical fantasy elements. |
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* [[Supernatural Fiction]] |
* [[Supernatural Fiction]] |
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* [[Urban Fantasy]] |
* [[Urban Fantasy]] |
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* [[Vampire Fiction]] |
* [[Vampire Fiction]] |
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* [[Weird West]] |
* [[Weird West]] |
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* [[Werewolf Works]] |
* [[Werewolf Works]] |
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Note:Zombies didn't start appearing until the 1920s, but many older creatures were absorbed into the zombie mythos. So use caution when adding zombie examples. |
Note:Zombies didn't start appearing until the 1920s, but many older creatures were absorbed into the zombie mythos. So use caution when adding zombie examples. |
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== Public Domain Characters == |
== Public Domain Characters == |
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* [[Archangel Gabriel]] |
* [[Archangel Gabriel]] |
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* [[Carmilla]] |
* [[Carmilla]] |
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* [[Dracula]] |
* [[Dracula]] |
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* [[Faust]] |
* [[Faust]] |
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* [[Frankenstein's Monster]] |
* [[Frankenstein's Monster]] |
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* [[The Grim Reaper]] |
* [[The Grim Reaper]] |
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* [[Headless Horseman]] |
* [[Headless Horseman]] |
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* [[Jack the Ripper]] |
* [[Jack the Ripper]] |
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* [[Mummy]] |
* [[Mummy]] |
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* [[Satan]] |
* [[Satan]] |
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* [[Sweeney Todd]] |
* [[Sweeney Todd]] |
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* [[Wolf Man]] |
* [[Wolf Man]] |
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== Characterization Tropes/Stock Characters == |
== Characterization Tropes/Stock Characters == |
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* [[Byronic Hero]] |
* [[Byronic Hero]] |
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* [[Corrupt Church]] |
* [[Corrupt Church]] |
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* [[Dhampyr]] |
* [[Dhampyr]] |
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* [[Evil Prince]] |
* [[Evil Prince]] |
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* [[Evil Sorceror]] |
* [[Evil Sorceror]] |
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* [[Femme Fatale]] |
* [[Femme Fatale]] |
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* [[Grande Dame]] |
* [[Grande Dame]] |
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* [[The Grotesque]] |
* [[The Grotesque]] |
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* [[The Highwayman]] |
* [[The Highwayman]] |
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* [[The Igor]] |
* [[The Igor]] |
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* [[The Ingenue]] |
* [[The Ingenue]] |
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** [[Rags to Riches]] |
** [[Rags to Riches]] |
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* [[Jekyll and Hyde]] |
* [[Jekyll and Hyde]] |
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* [[Lesbian Vampire]] |
* [[Lesbian Vampire]] |
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* [[Lunacy]] |
* [[Lunacy]] |
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* [[Looks Like Orlok]] |
* [[Looks Like Orlok]] |
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* [[Mad Scientist]] |
* [[Mad Scientist]] |
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* [[Madwoman in the Attic]] |
* [[Madwoman in the Attic]] |
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* [[Nun-Too-Holy]] |
* [[Nun-Too-Holy]] |
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* [[Pirate]] |
* [[Pirate]] |
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* [[Religion of Evil]] |
* [[Religion of Evil]] |
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* [[Servile Snarker]]s |
* [[Servile Snarker]]s |
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* [[Undeathly Pallor]] |
* [[Undeathly Pallor]] |
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* [[Woman Scorned]] |
* [[Woman Scorned]] |
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* [[Wicked Witch]] |
* [[Wicked Witch]] |
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== Cultural Tropes == |
== Cultural Tropes == |
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* [[All Women Are Prudes]]/[[All Women Are Lustful]] |
* [[All Women Are Prudes]]/[[All Women Are Lustful]] |
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* [[Arranged Marriage]] |
* [[Arranged Marriage]] |
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* [[Brain Fever]] |
* [[Brain Fever]] |
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* [[Death by Childbirth]] |
* [[Death by Childbirth]] |
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* [[Gorgeous Period Dress]] |
* [[Gorgeous Period Dress]] |
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* [[High-Class Glass]] |
* [[High-Class Glass]] |
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* [[Of Corsets Sexy]] |
* [[Of Corsets Sexy]] |
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* [[Opera Gloves]] |
* [[Opera Gloves]] |
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* [[Parasol of Prettiness]] |
* [[Parasol of Prettiness]] |
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* [[Parental Marriage Veto]] |
* [[Parental Marriage Veto]] |
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* [[Romanticism]] |
* [[Romanticism]] |
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* [[Romanticism Versus Enlightenment]] |
* [[Romanticism Versus Enlightenment]] |
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* [[Royalty and Nobility Tropes]] |
* [[Royalty and Nobility Tropes]] |
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* [[Victorian Novel Disease]] |
* [[Victorian Novel Disease]] |
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== Fictional Species == |
== Fictional Species == |
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* [[Our Angels Are Different|Angels]] |
* [[Our Angels Are Different|Angels]] |
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* [[Our Banshees Are Louder|Banshees]] |
* [[Our Banshees Are Louder|Banshees]] |
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* [[Our Demons Are Different|Demons]] |
* [[Our Demons Are Different|Demons]] |
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* [[Our Dragons Are Different|Dragons]] |
* [[Our Dragons Are Different|Dragons]] |
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* [[Eldritch Abomination]]s |
* [[Eldritch Abomination]]s |
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* [[Fair Folk]] |
* [[Fair Folk]] |
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* [[Our Gargoyles Rock|Gargoyles]] |
* [[Our Gargoyles Rock|Gargoyles]] |
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* [[Our Ghosts Are Different|Ghosts]] |
* [[Our Ghosts Are Different|Ghosts]] |
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* [[Our Ghouls Are Different|Ghouls]] |
* [[Our Ghouls Are Different|Ghouls]] |
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* [[Our Gods Are Greater|Gods]] |
* [[Our Gods Are Greater|Gods]] |
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* [[Hell Hound|Hellhounds]] |
* [[Hell Hound|Hellhounds]] |
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* [[Necromancer]]s |
* [[Necromancer]]s |
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* [[Our Zombies Are Different|Revenants]] |
* [[Our Zombies Are Different|Revenants]] |
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* [[Dem Bones|Skeletons]] |
* [[Dem Bones|Skeletons]] |
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* [[Horny Devils|Succubi]] |
* [[Horny Devils|Succubi]] |
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* [[The Undead]] |
* [[The Undead]] |
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* [[Our Vampires Are Different|Vampires]] |
* [[Our Vampires Are Different|Vampires]] |
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* [[Our Werewolves Are Different|Werewolves]] |
* [[Our Werewolves Are Different|Werewolves]] |
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* [[Ghost Lights|Will-O-Wisps]] |
* [[Ghost Lights|Will-O-Wisps]] |
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* [[Witch Species|Witches]] |
* [[Witch Species|Witches]] |
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== Location == |
== Location == |
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* [[Ruritania]] |
* [[Ruritania]] |
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* [[Southern Gothic]] |
* [[Southern Gothic]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Überwald]] |
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== Magic == |
== Magic == |
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* [[Alchemy Is Magic]] |
* [[Alchemy Is Magic]] |
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* [[Ars Goetia]] |
* [[Ars Goetia]] |
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* [[Cold Flames]] |
* [[Cold Flames]] |
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* [[Psychic Powers]] |
* [[Psychic Powers]] |
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== Settings == |
== Settings == |
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* [[Afterlife Express]] |
* [[Afterlife Express]] |
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* [[Ancient Tomb]] |
* [[Ancient Tomb]] |
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* [[Bedlam House]] |
* [[Bedlam House]] |
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* [[Big Fancy House]] |
* [[Big Fancy House]] |
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* [[Boarding School of Horrors]] |
* [[Boarding School of Horrors]] |
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* [[Creepy Cathedral]] |
* [[Creepy Cathedral]] |
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* [[Creepy Cemetery]] |
* [[Creepy Cemetery]] |
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* [[Dances and Balls]] |
* [[Dances and Balls]] |
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* [[Don't Go in The Woods]] |
* [[Don't Go in The Woods]] |
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* [[Eldritch Location]] |
* [[Eldritch Location]] |
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* [[Evil Tower of Ominousness]] |
* [[Evil Tower of Ominousness]] |
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* [[Ghost Ship]] |
* [[Ghost Ship]] |
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* [[Haunted Castle]] |
* [[Haunted Castle]] |
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* [[Haunted House]] |
* [[Haunted House]] |
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* [[It Was a Dark and Stormy Night]] |
* [[It Was a Dark and Stormy Night]] |
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* [[Mad Scientist Laboratory]] |
* [[Mad Scientist Laboratory]] |
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* [[Old Dark House]] |
* [[Old Dark House]] |
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* [[You All Meet in An Inn]] |
* [[You All Meet in An Inn]] |
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== Plot Elements == |
== Plot Elements == |
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** [[Scrapbook Story]] |
** [[Scrapbook Story]] |
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* [[Based on a Dream]] |
* [[Based on a Dream]] |
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* [[Bizarrchitecture]] |
* [[Bizarrchitecture]] |
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* [[Blood Bath]] |
* [[Blood Bath]] |
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* [[Burn the Witch]] |
* [[Burn the Witch]] |
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* [[Love At First Sight]] |
* [[Love At First Sight]] |
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* [[Luke, I Am Your Father]] |
* [[Luke, I Am Your Father]] |
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* [[Malevolent Architecture]] |
* [[Malevolent Architecture]] |
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* [[Melancholy Moon]] |
* [[Melancholy Moon]] |
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* [[Not Quite Dead]] |
* [[Not Quite Dead]] |
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* [[Ominous Fog]] |
* [[Ominous Fog]] |
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* [[Psychological Horror]] |
* [[Psychological Horror]] |
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* [[Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil]] |
* [[Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil]] |
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* [[Scarpia Ultimatum]] |
* [[Scarpia Ultimatum]] |
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* [[Supernatural Aid]] |
* [[Supernatural Aid]] |
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* [[A Storm Is Coming]] |
* [[A Storm Is Coming]] |
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* [[Strapped to An Operating Table]] |
* [[Strapped to An Operating Table]] |
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* [[Torches and Pitchforks]] |
* [[Torches and Pitchforks]] |
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* [[The Tragic Rose]] |
* [[The Tragic Rose]] |
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* [[Villainous Crush]] |
* [[Villainous Crush]] |
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* [[Weird Moon]] |
* [[Weird Moon]] |
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== Soundtrack/Music == |
== Soundtrack/Music == |
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* [[For Doom the Bell Tolls]] |
* [[For Doom the Bell Tolls]] |
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* [[Ominous Latin Chanting]] |
* [[Ominous Latin Chanting]] |
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* [[Ominous Pipe Organ]] |
* [[Ominous Pipe Organ]] |
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== Themes == |
== Themes == |
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== Time Period == |
== Time Period == |
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* [[The Cavalier Years]] - the first gothic horror story came out towards the end of this era |
* [[The Cavalier Years]] - the first gothic horror story came out towards the end of this era |
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* [[The Edwardian Era]] - the genre was on its death bed by then but there were still authors willing to write in it |
* [[The Edwardian Era]] - the genre was on its death bed by then but there were still authors willing to write in it |
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* [[The Gay Nineties]] |
* [[The Gay Nineties]] |
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* [[Middle Ages]] - used to be a popular setting for gothic fiction authors but nowadays is associated with [[Standard Fantasy Setting|"Tolkienesque"]] [[Medieval European Fantasy|elements]]. |
* [[Middle Ages]] - used to be a popular setting for gothic fiction authors but nowadays is associated with [[Standard Fantasy Setting|"Tolkienesque"]] [[Medieval European Fantasy|elements]]. |
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* [[Regency England]] |
* [[Regency England]] |
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* [[The Spanish Inquisition]] |
* [[The Spanish Inquisition]] |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Horror Tropes]] |
[[Category:Horror Tropes]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] |
Revision as of 16:54, 11 April 2017
A list of tropes found within the Gothic Horror genre. While you don't need all of them to write a gothic horror novel, the more you have the better. Horror has some things that are universal to all genres of horror but not everything on that page is used in gothic horror.
Other genres that might employ heavy use of these tropes:
- Cosmic Horror Story
- Dark Fantasy
- Gaslamp Fantasy
- Fairy Tale
- Gothic Punk
- Mystery - depends on the subgenre
- Punk Punk
- Romance - depends on the subgenre
- Steampunk - mostly the mad scientist tropes unless the author feels like leaning towards fantasy instead of scifi. If the latter is this case these tropes will be given priority over more stereotypical fantasy elements.
- Supernatural Fiction
- Urban Fantasy
- Vampire Fiction
- Weird West
- Werewolf Works
Note:Zombies didn't start appearing until the 1920s, but many older creatures were absorbed into the zombie mythos. So use caution when adding zombie examples.
Public Domain Characters
- Archangel Gabriel
- Carmilla
- Dracula
- Faust
- Frankenstein's Monster
- The Grim Reaper
- Headless Horseman
- Jack the Ripper
- Mummy
- Satan
- Sweeney Todd
- Wolf Man
Characterization Tropes/Stock Characters
- Byronic Hero
- Corrupt Church
- Dhampyr
- Evil Prince
- Evil Sorceror
- Femme Fatale
- Grande Dame
- The Grotesque
- The Highwayman
- The Igor
- The Ingenue
- Jekyll and Hyde
- Lesbian Vampire
- Lunacy
- Looks Like Orlok
- Mad Scientist
- Madwoman in the Attic
- Nun-Too-Holy
- Pirate
- Religion of Evil
- Servile Snarkers
- Sexy Priests and Naughty Nuns
- Sinister Minister
- Stalker with a Crush
- Undeathly Pallor
- Woman Scorned
- Wicked Witch
Cultural Tropes
- All Women Are Prudes/All Women Are Lustful
- Arranged Marriage
- Brain Fever
- Death by Childbirth
- Gorgeous Period Dress
- High-Class Glass
- Of Corsets Sexy
- Opera Gloves
- Parasol of Prettiness
- Parental Marriage Veto
- Romanticism
- Romanticism Versus Enlightenment
- Royalty and Nobility Tropes
- Victorian Novel Disease
Fictional Species
- Angels
- Banshees
- Demons
- Dragons
- Eldritch Abominations
- Fair Folk
- Gargoyles
- Ghosts
- Ghouls
- Gods
- Hellhounds
- Necromancers
- Revenants
- Skeletons
- Succubi
- The Undead
- Vampires
- Werewolves
- Will-O-Wisps
- Witches
Location
Magic
Settings
- Afterlife Express
- Ancient Tomb
- Bedlam House
- Big Fancy House
- Boarding School of Horrors
- Creepy Cathedral
- Creepy Cemetery
- Dances and Balls
- Don't Go in The Woods
- Eldritch Location
- Evil Tower of Ominousness
- Ghost Ship
- Haunted Castle
- Haunted House
- It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
- Mad Scientist Laboratory
- Old Dark House
- You All Meet in An Inn
Plot Elements
- All Girls Want Bad Boys
- All Hallow's Eve
- Always Night
- Anachronic Order
- Based on a Dream
- Bizarrchitecture
- Blood Bath
- Burn the Witch
- Chess with Death
- The Dark Arts
- Deal with the Devil
- Demonic Possession
- Dramatic Thunder
- Empathic Environment
- Evil Is Sexy
- Exorcism
- Freak Lab Accident
- Ghost Story
- Ghostly Chill
- Haunted Fetter
- Heel Realization
- If I Can't Have You
- Incest Is Relative
- Let's Split Up, Gang!
- Love At First Sight
- Luke, I Am Your Father
- Malevolent Architecture
- Melancholy Moon
- Not Quite Dead
- Ominous Fog
- Psychological Horror
- Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil
- Real After All
- Red Sky, Take Warning
- Scarpia Ultimatum
- Supernatural Aid
- A Storm Is Coming
- Strapped to An Operating Table
- Torches and Pitchforks
- The Tragic Rose
- Villainous Crush
- Weird Moon
Soundtrack/Music
Themes
- Be Careful What You Wish For
- Freud Was Right *groan*
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane
- The Power of Love
- Science Is Bad
- Sex Is Evil
- Things Man Was Not Meant to Know
Time Period
- The Cavalier Years - the first gothic horror story came out towards the end of this era
- The Edwardian Era - the genre was on its death bed by then but there were still authors willing to write in it
- The Gay Nineties
- Middle Ages - used to be a popular setting for gothic fiction authors but nowadays is associated with "Tolkienesque" elements.
- Regency England
- The Spanish Inquisition
- Victorian Britain