ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Southern Gothic is a mode or genre prevalent in literature from the early 19th century to this day. Characteristics of Southern Gothic include the presence of irrational, horrific, and transgressive thoughts, desires, and impulses; grotesque characters; dark humor, and an overall angst-ridden sense of alienation.

Detailed explanation-2: -Common themes of Southern Gothic include storytelling of deeply flawed, disturbing or eccentric characters who may be involved in hoodoo, decayed or derelict settings, grotesque situations, and other sinister events relating to or stemming from poverty, alienation, crime, or violence.

Detailed explanation-3: -Specifically southern gothic includes characters archetypes such as the innocent and an off-kilter character. Southern gothic comments on southern culture and its moral shortcomings such as social issues like racism. The setting is a very important aspect of the genre as it sets the tone and the mood of the story.

Detailed explanation-4: -Characteristics of the Genre Although inspired by Gothic literature, Southern Gothic does not dwell on suspense and the supernatural. Rather, there is a dark humor in the stories. It follows the idea of exposing the problems of society, but does so by developing complex characters.