Abstract

This paper analyzes the story Castle of Otranto written by Horace Walpole. Castle of Otranto is counted as one of the masterpieces of Horace Walpole. The paper explores different aspects of the story. The paper highlights the characters of the story and also describes the story line. In this context, it also points out the structure of the story and tries to investigate the message that was presented in the writing of Horace Walpole.

Castle of Otranto

Introduction

Horace Walpole (1717-1797) born in London, son of Prime Minister Robert Walpole. After a long trip to Europe with his friend the poet Thomas Gray-trip marked the end of their relationship, he returned to England and entered Parliament in 1741. It was a bit ambitious political and innovative architect. His most famous novel, in which he was rewarded in creating a new style, is The Castle of Otranto. The first edition of this work, published in 1764, refers to a translation of a work found, without the signature of Walpole. In the second edition, it was recognized as the author Horace Walpole. Walpole presented the original edition of the Castle of Otranto as the translation of a manuscript printed in Naples in 1529 newly rediscovered in the library "of an old Catholic family in northern England." This manuscript was supposed to derive from an even older story that could go back to the Crusades. Walpole who, in subsequent editions, acknowledged his role in the composition of the work, it was scorned by many critics who had praised, and their "ingenious translator" when they had believed genuine (Mellor and Mary, 196).

Discussion

It is generally regarded as the first gothic novel, initiating a literary genre which would become extremely popular in the later 18th century and early 19th century.The Castle of Otranto has a list of occurrences of the castle in the family of Manfred, then the Prince of Otranto, from the death of his only son Conrad. Family history, their tragedies and their lust for power, mixed with a spirit world, fantasy, and gloomy dungeons, plus some surrealistic. The novel is set in Italy during the middle ages and is a precursor of the so-called "Gothic novel", the gothic horror novel. It is set in a different time to the Gothic period, so called gothic romantic works of terror is a mistake. It was written in one sitting because of a copyright nightmare, and perhaps that is so brief and action-packed. Walpole is not interested to look at every detail, but to describe a story full of closely spaced events. To have been written, as the flap, "a stretch", the prose is very well maintained, the dialogues seem romantic, Sir Walter Scott wrote about the similarities between this novel and books of chivalry, and the scenario is the one that later became the classic dark castle dungeon, armor and paintings whose image is out of the canvas. It also enjoys one of the first manifestations of what later was called surrealism in literature, will be recovered at the ...