Abstract

This essay examines the use of the grotesque to create terror in Gothic fiction in the late l8th century and throughout the 19th century. After using Mervyn Peake's Titus Groan and Gormenghast to establish the central role of the grotesque in fully successful Gothic texts, the focus then shifts to a survey of Gothic's early period and its 19th century refinements, demonstrating the role of the grotesque in various key works. In the earlier texts, underdeveloped grotesque characters are crucial to the manufacture of terrifying moments; in the later texts, fully developed grotesques create an ongoing mood of terror. In either case, an emphasis on the grotesque nature of Gothic fiction enables a better understanding of how these works generate their emotional impact in the reader.