The Sublime: |
Dictionary definition(s): adjective, (1) elevated or lofty in thought, language, etc. (2) impressing the mind with a sense of grandeur or power; inspiring awe, veneration, etc. (3) supreme or outstanding. (4) complete; absolute; utter.
A somewhat controversial term, understanding the basic idea of sublime is essential to an understanding of Gothic poetics, and, especially, the attempt to defend or justify the literature of terror. Basically, the sublime is an overpowering sense of the greatness and power of nature, which can be uplifting, awe-inspiring, and/or terrifying, caused by experience of beauty, vastness, or grandeur. Sublime moments lead us to consider the place of humanity in the universe and the power exhibited in the world. |
Dreams: |
Weather: |
Weather is used in a number of ways and forms, some of these being:
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Mist: |
Used to obscure objects (related to the sublime) by reducing visibility or to prelude the insertion of a terrifying person or thing.
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Storms: |
Frequently accompany important events. Flashes of lightning accompany revelation; thunder and downpours prefigure the appearance of a character or the beginning of a significant event.
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Sunlight: |
Often represents goodness and pleasure, and can bestow these on characters.
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The Supernatural: |
Darkness: |
Ambiguity and Ambivalence: |
Justice: |
Revenge: |
Unreliable Narrator |
Madness or Insanity |