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1. ISTANBUL YENI YUZYIL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF SCIENCES AND LITERATURE
DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSLATIONAND INTERPRETATION
Final Research Paper
A Journey from Architecture to Literature: Gothic
Sena Belkıs Duman
ETI 352
Research and Interdisciplinarity in Translation
Dr. Başak Ergil
May, 2020

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TableofContents
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
1. GOTHIC .............................................................................................................................6
1.1. Definition and Origin of the word “Gothic” ...............................................................6
1.2. Emergence and History of Gothic...............................................................................7
2. GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE..............................................................................................8
2.1. Definition and History of “Gothic Architecture”........................................................9
2.2. Features of Gothic Architecture................................................................................10
3. EXAMPLE.......................................................................................................................13
3.1. Notre- Dame Cathedral .............................................................................................13
4. GOTHIC LITERATURE..................................................................................................15
4.1. Definition and History of “Gothic Literature” ..........................................................15
4.2. Features of Gothic Literature....................................................................................16
5. EXAMPLE.......................................................................................................................18
5.1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame ................................................................................18
Conclusion ...............................................................................................................................19
References................................................................................................................................21
Appendix..................................................................................................................................22

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List of Figures
Figures Explanation Page
Numbers
Figure 1 Duomo Di Milano Cathedral 10
Figure 2 Milan Cathedral 10
Figure 3 Toledo Cathedral, Spain 11
Figure 4 York Minster, England 11
Figure 5 Sheffield Cathedral, England 11
Figure 6 Saint Etienne Cathedral, Caen 12
Figure 7 General Facades of Gothic Cathedral 12
Figure 8 Rouen Cathadrel 12
Figure 9 Notre- Dame Cathedral, France 13
Figure 10 Twin Tower of Notre- Dame Cathedral 13
Figure 11 The Virgin Mary, Child and Angels at Notre- Dame Cathedral 14
Figure 12 The Doors of Notre- Dame Cathedral 14
Figure 13 The Gallery of Kings 14

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A Journey from Architecture to Literature: Gothic
Introduction
When we look at the history of humanity, curiosity has been effective in many periods of our
lives. It is an important quality that leads to development and innovation. It has contributed to
the invention of many tools that we have been using for years and which make our lives easier.
So, what exactly is curiosity? “Curiosity is a form of research and learning behavior observed
in humans and animals. Curiosity is the name of the emotion that led to this behavior.” (Merak
, 2020) Human beings start to wonder with the desire to learn from birth and this will continue
until life ends. Curiosity also contributes to the formation of new trends by guiding people's
lives and ideas. One of these currents is Gothic. Gothic is also a curiosity. It is a trend that
emerges with the wonder of the mystery, the darkness and the things that do not exist. It is also
to go over fear and question it. People have developed many ideas for centuries with curiosity.
They thought that when they were left in the dark they were not alone and that there were
nonhuman beings. Although this scares them, what they are really curious about is their

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pleasure. There is a sense of fear on the one hand, and a sense of wonder on the other. The
combination of the two contributed to the formation of such a trend. At the same time, Gothic
is unusual. When we look at the structures of ancient times, the decoration was not that
important with the influence of the religious environment. While churches and buildings have
uniform features, many changes occurred with the emergence of the Gothic movement.
However, different works have started to be made. Although these works were made for
different purposes, generally the styles and structures used remained the same. These structures
look like cold and dark, but they want to tell us something. Every person has beliefs that there
is a darkness in which they live and supernatural beings that are not in the world we live in.
Sometimes they are reluctant to express it, but sometimes it strikes out, creating currents like
Gothic. Althoughthis trend has affected other countries, there are differences in structures from
country to country as there are different traditions and architectural features. With the effect of
this, the transition to the Gothic movement started with the changes in the architectural
structures and then led to the emergence of the Gothic literature.
In this article, I will first address the word Gothic and describe its emergence. I will also touch
upon the political and social events in the period when it emerged and discuss how it
contributed to the formation of the Gothic movement. In the second part, I will define the
architecture and explain what the Gothic Architecture is. Then I will explain the emergence
and developments of Gothic architecture and talk about the features of this extraordinary
architecture. I will briefly give information about the history of Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of
the first examples of Gothic architecture, and explain its structural features. In the third part, I
will describe the definition of literature and explain the Gothic literature. I will then consider
the formation of Gothic literature and its connection to Gothic architecture. I will explain the
features of Gothic literature. And thenI will examine the novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,
which has not lost its value from the past to the present and has an important place in Gothic
literature. The purpose of this study is to show that the Gothic movement first started in the
field of architecture and influenced the literature, causing the formation of Gothic literature,
and this trend is much more than thought. Finally, I will summarize the information I obtained.

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1. GOTHIC
Gothic is a style that affects people from past to present. Its unique features make everyone
who sees admires. Although it started many centuries ago, its effect has not changed. While
some think that these structures should not exist, some say that they are free from monotony.
In particular, the structural features of this style are quite different from other styles. With the
advent of Gothic, many changes and developments have occurred both between the social and
the countries. When we look at the structures of the period, we see that it touches not only our
soul but also history. Thus, we can have certain ideas against past events. Besides, Gothic is
the outward reflection of one's inner curiosity and feeling trapped in a corner. Today, the
definition of the word “Gothic”, how it came about, and its history are not fully known by
people. Let's examine these topics in headlines.
1.1. Definition and Origin of the word “Gothic”
First, this word is the beginning of everything; it was derived by adding the suffix “-ikos” to
the word Goth, which is the name of “an ancient German tribe” in French. Thus, the word
gothique, which means "barbaric, primitive", was formed. Then in English, the word gothic,
which means "Goth", is derived. If we look at the definition of “Gothic” in New English
Dictionary; “The term used for architectural style, which is common in Western Europe from
the 12th century to the 16th century. The main feature of the style is pointed arches. It was also
applied in architectural details and decoration.” (Simpson, 1884)
There are different opinions about how the word “Gothic” was formed. According to some
sources, its origin is said to have come from the Germanic tribe that ransacked Rome between
the fourth and fifthcenturies of Southern Scandinavia's Gotland region. The fact that they were
both looters and not Christians made them barbarians in the eyes of the Romans. According to
the Romans, all the tribes living in the north of the Alps were barbarians and the things which
they did were ugly. In order to humiliate them, they placed an insulting meaning on the word
“Gothic”. However, the Goths are nomadic and have no architecture. At the same time, Gothic
was formed 600 years after the Goths disappeared. For this reason, Gothic art has nothing to
do with the barbarian tribes. “Despite these negative meanings and connotations in its origin,
gothic has become the name of a style, an art style, other thanthe usual aesthetic understanding,
and has profoundly influenced many art movements in the following centuries.” (Arargüç,
2016) This word was first used by the Italian painter and architect Giorgio Vasari in the 1530s
to refer to rudeness and barbarism. The Italian artists of the Renaissance made this term quite

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different and remained a word representing the culture of the German peoples, the northern
barbarian. There have been changes over time and people; "In the time of French classicism,
the Gothic was described as tasteless and loaded, and the idea that this art was a barbarian art
was eliminated when first giving the works of the Romans in 1820, but the name Gothic has
settled." (Turani, Sanat Terimler Sözlüğü, 1998) This name, which was settled, was not
changed later and was used for centuries. Many new trends have emerged from the word
“Gothic” and many works have come up without losing their value until today.
1.2. Emergence and History of Gothic
When we look at the emergence of the Gothic, it is said that it was born in the middle of the
12th century and continued until the 16th century. The Gothic, which we see in many parts of
Europe, is thought to have first appeared in France. During the renovation of Saint-Denis
Cathedral by Abbot Suger, it is assumed that the Gothic style began with architecture between
1122 and 1151 with the addition of the eastern part of the building. After 1250, the Gothic
began to spread even more with the power and domination of theFrench Royal in other regions.
When it reached its strongest period between 1250 and 1350, it entered Italy. “The Gothic
understanding, which gained an international quality at the European level between 1380 and
1425, is therefore called International Gothic.” (Ayaydın, 2010, p. 117-124) As can be seen,
Gothic started with a single building built and influenced the whole world.
The main purpose of Gothic is to serve religion rather than art. It can be said that the main
purpose of other art conceptions that have appeared in Europe before is to address religious
feelings. Clergymen have a very effective role in the development of “Gothic Architectural”
understanding. People lost their faith due to poor Crusades and other reasons. It emerged
intending to establish authority over the people who started to break from the influence of the
church. In addition, it is the cities and towns where traders and craftsmen live, providing an
environment for the development of Gothic. This style is more intertwined with the city than
the previous ones. Therefore, when we look at Europe, we see that the Gothic style is generally
used in cathedrals and churches. As we all know, cathedrals and churches have different
purposes.
Firstly, its purpose is to glorify God and to spread Christianity. The cathedrals, built in the
Gothic style, represent the universe. Every architectural feature, such as the glory of the
building, contains a religious message. Sculpting the events mentioned in the Bible, stained

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glass and wall paintings are other architectural elements. At the same time, the rise of these
cathedrals and churches into the sky represents the power of Christianity over people.
Secondly, wealthy merchants and bishops want to show the power and wealth they possess by
building cathedrals that are easily visible when viewed from a higher and far distance than
other structures and enchant people. In addition, in the dark times when Enlightenment has not
been realized yet, scientific thoughts and reason are not in the foreground, they aimed to
prevent attacksand plunder by intimidating the poor with these high structures. In addition,the
reason why the Middle Ages is known as darkness is the religious pressure exerted by the
Roman Catholic church on people with brutal attitudes towards science and innovation. Gothic
appeared in the period when Europe started to enlighten and changed the traditional church
architectural approach. Thus, it became a symbol of the victory against the Catholic church.
Although Gothic is the art of churches and cathedrals, it has also become the art of the
kingdoms and city republics that have started to gain national identity. Thus, France, whose
power was the most active kingdom, adopted this art quite. Also effective in the high middle
ages, Gothic caused a show of power between the papacy and the kingdom. While Pope III
Gregot said he was the ruler of the world, III Innozenz said that he was the representative of
Jesus in the world. The reason for these behaviors is that they want to make themselves
accepted as the rulers of both this world and the other world. Thus, the struggle between them
was not limited in the field of political power and was also held in the field of spiritual power.
(Turani, 1971, p. 99) However, through these churches built, the spread and development of
the Gothic style has been accelerated and it has been used in architectural structures such as
palaces, castles and bridges.
2. GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
As mentioned above, there has been considerable development in the field of architecture with
the new Gothic movement. When we first look at the origin of the word “Architecture”, we can
say that it derives from arkhitekton, which means “foreman” in Greek. Its definition is;
"Architecture is the art and science of designing and building structures, or large groups of
structures, in keeping with aesthetic and functional criteria." (Tervaoja, 2010) Architecture is
the reflection of people's feelings and thoughts on structures. People who reflect these feelings
and thoughts are called “Architects”. Many architectural trends have come and gone in the
period from the existence of humanity to the present day. Each emerging trend was also

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affected bythesocial and political events of the period. For this reason, Architecture also shows
the beliefs and power of societies with the works it creates.
At the same time, every movement is born critically tothe previous art movement. For example,
the Romanesque Art Movement (Roman style) that emerged in 1066 started with the conquest
of England by theNormans and lost its importance before entering the12th century and replaced
it with Gothic Movement. Gothic Architecture emerged with the development of the
Romanesque Movement and was replaced by the structures of theRenaissance Movement over
time. Before moving on to theGothic Architecture, it is necessary totalk about theRomanesque
Art Movement that pioneered the development of this trend. This art started to be seen in the
church buildings at a time when Christianity was widespread and powerful. Wide interiors and
thick walls stand out in Romanesque Architecture. Supporting legs were used to ease the load
of heavy and thick walls and domes. Therefore, making the windows was very difficult. Small
and thick-framed windowswere usually built above the building. This would make the interiors
dim and gloomy. The structures are modest, large but low, and are colorless and cold, as many
are used for defense purposes during the war. Such situations have caused people's trust and
belief in the church to decrease. Thus, it prepared the ground for the emergence of Gothic
Architecture. So, what is GothicArchitecture and what are its features, we will examine several
sample structures.
2.1. Definition and History of “Gothic Architecture”
Let's first look at the definition of “Gothic Architecture”; “Gothic Architecture, architectural
style in Europe that lasted from the mid-12th century to the 16th century, particularly a style of
masonry building featured bycavernous spaces withthe expanse of walls broken up by overlaid
tracery.” (Kuiper, 2009) The most effective area of Gothic understanding is architecture. The
place where it was born and developed is Ile deFrance, which covers Paris and its surroundings
in the north of France. As I mentioned in the first part, the concept of Gothic emerged with
architecture. It is assumed that it started with the renovation of the St Denis Monastery Church
near Paris, designed by the French abbot and historian Abbot Suger in 1122.
Gothic Architecture is the name of the period when the churches dating from the Romanesque
period, which were widely found, were on the rise. Because architectural techniques were
inadequate at that time, people could not build vertical structures. They tried to make vertical
structures instead of horizontal structures, but the collapses caused both the time and material
losses since the walls did not bear the load. Therefore, arch columns have been developed. At

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the same time, it became damp due to the material used in these structures produced for
education and worship and caused the walls and roofs to collapse when it rained. The collapse
of stone floors used in theceilings of high-rise buildings in France also caused serious problems
and French architects refused to use this structure. Later, Gothic building arches were
produced. While normally all the load is in the columns, alternative sources are created. In this
way, a strong balance has been established. The weight was transferred to the belts, and
sculpture-like designs were placed at the ends of the belts. Thus, both the balance of power was
achieved, and the features of the Gothic structure were revealed. Its Gothic Architecture has
made the buildings more robust and more aesthetic. People's beliefs are strengthened, and they
are made to think that they are closer to God.
2.2. Features of Gothic Architecture
This trend, which started in Paris, the heart of France, spread to the world over time. Thus, it
is possible to say that Gothic Architecture appeals to both eyes and religion all over the world
dueto its structural features. As each trend has its own characteristics, Gothic Architecture also
has its own structure features. In order to understand these features more easily, they are listed
and explained.
The structures are built longitudinally: The
most prominent feature of the Gothic
Architecture is that the structures are vertical.
People were asked to feel close to God. At the
same time, the sculptures and paintings used
with the vertical extension of the structures
also adapted to this. Thus, the structures
become more impressive. (Figure 1)
Decoration has increased: In the old period, the
decoration was not used much since it was given
importance to use before aesthetics. Along with its
Gothic Architecture, the emphasis was placed on
decoration. In this period, the understanding of
decoration became more evident. Complex and
interlocking natural shapes are processed. Thus, a
rich style of decoration standsout in the buildings.
Figure -1- Duomo Di Milano Cathedral
Figure 2- Milan Cathedral

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Pointed arches have begun to be used: The most
important feature of the Gothic Architectural style is the
sharpness. It was necessary to ensure the balance of
power of the structures built vertically. Round arches
used in the past did not support Gothic structures. For
this reason, as Abdullah Ayaydın said; “Efforts have
been made to protect and improve the covering systems
of these buildings. An effort was made to minimize the
problem of increasing weight as buildings rise. For this
reason, in this period, it preferred to use an ogre arche,
which is a unique arch type.” (Ayaydın, 2010) Thus, the
arches both provided strength and provided a decorative
and aesthetic appearance. (Figure 3)
Flying buttress is used: It is the outer
support structure and supports the walls.
The most important feature of flying
buttresses is that it distributes the weight
directly to the ground and provides a
balance of power. Later, it started to be
used as decorative elements. (Figure 4)
Stained glass windows are made: Another feature of
Gothic Architecture is that most of the buildings are made
of stained-glass windows. The walls are almost removed
and appeared with decorative decoration. This feature
enabled the interiors of the building to receive daylight
with wide openings. The light entering through colorful
stained-glass windows created a spiritual atmosphere in
churches. At the same time, the events in the Bible are
explained in the stained glass and people are provided to
learn something when they come to visit. (Figure 5)
Figure 3- Toledo Cathedral, Spain
Figure 4- York Minster, England
Figure 5- Sheffield Cathedral, England

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Ribbed Vault has begun to be
used: It has been used to
provide flexibility on the roof
and walls of buildings. It is
lighter and more durable. It is
also economical and easier to
build. It is formed by joining
the arches. (Figure 6)
Facades have gained importance: A
harmonious image is aimed to be
provided in Gothic Architectural
structures. A different atmosphere was
added by placing the towers on both sides
of the facade.Wide doors have been made
interesting by using sculptures and reliefs.
(Figure 7)
Rose window came out: The entrances are
enriched with sculptures and ornaments. It is a
window that looks like a rose that comes right in
the middle of the facade with the decrease of the
walls. It is round and contains religious paintings
made of stained glass. It is one of the important
features of the Gothic style. (Figure 8)
When we look at the features listed above, we see that the Gothic Architectural style brought
many innovations. This trend, which aims to impress people and give them confidence again,
has been very successful.
Figure 6- Saint Etienne Cathedral, Caen
Figure 7- General Facades of Gothic Cathedrals
Figure 8- Rouen Cathadrel

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3. EXAMPLE
In many countries of the world there are unique structures built with this current. Now, we will
examine the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, which was built with the style of Gothic Architecture
and has been challenged for years.
3.1. Notre- Dame Cathedral
Paris, formerly Lutece, was a city
in the Roman Empire where there
was paganism. It became a
Christian city in the 3rd century
AD after Constantine allowed
Christianity to live. Although the
first Christian building in Paris
has not survived to the present
day, it is believed that it was a
former pagan temple where the
Notre-Dame Cathedral was located and was built on it.
In 1160, Maurice de Sully was declared a bishop. During his psychosis, he wants to build a
structure that will be dedicated totheVirgin Mary. During the reign of King VII Louis in 1163,
the cathedral started to be built with the support of III Pope Alexander. Notre-Dame Cathedral
is one of the first Gothic cathedrals in the world. It is on the banks of the River Seine. Its
construction continued throughout the Gothic period. Construction lasted about 170 years and
was completed in 1334. Techniques such as stained glass and sculpture were used throughout
the building. There are 37 Virgin Mary figures in the cathedral.
If we look at the architectural features; The first
architecture of the cathedral is unclear. There are no lateral
arms normally seen in cross-shaped churches. The plan
has 4 floors and the floors are separated by tribunes. There
are vaults of 32-50 meters high, the structure is
strengthened from the inside with its thin and thick arch
feet. Horizontality is dominant throughout the plan.
Between the years 1225-1250, 2 towers were added to the
building facade.(Figure 10) In addition,high windowsare
Figure 9-Notre- Dame Cathedral, France
Figure 10- Twin Tower of Notre-Dame

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further enlarged. There are
bell towers leading up to
422 steps. Flying buttresses
were increased in the early
14th century. Notre-Dame
Cathedral is 127 meters
long. There is a rose
window in the centre of the
western facade. In the
middle of the window are
the statues of the Virgin
Mary and Child. (Figure 11)
There are three magnificent crown doors on the
western front. (Figure 12) On the doors, there is
the King's Gallery with the sculptures of the
Jewish Kings. (Figure 13) On the south front,
there is a rose window with 13 meters height
and stained glass. In the middle of the window,
Jesus is depicted. "The northern rose window
with depictions from the Virgin Mary and the
Old Testament is 21 meters high." (Koçer,
2019)
Figure 11- Notre- Dame Cathedral, the Virgin Mary,Child and Angels.
Figure 12- The Doors of Notre-Dame Cathedral
Figure 13- The Galleryof Kings

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4. GOTHIC LITERATURE
Firstly, according to the definition of Turkish Language Institute, “Literature”; “The art of
shaping events, thoughts, emotions and dreams verbally or in writing through language, write.”
(TLI) When we look at the definition, we can say that the field of literature is related to
architecture, and in both areas, the thoughts and feelings are tried to be passed on to people.
According to Boris Suchkov, literature deals with the most essential aspects of nature and
human life. For this reason, it also contains the political and social structures in the period, and
it is possible to see the effects of these in the works. This situation sheds light on the inner
worlds of people.
Due to human nature, they are constantly interacting with each other. Gothic Architectural
influences also affected people with their structures. With this interaction, Gothic has begun to
show itself in different areas. For example, the writers of the period were influenced by Gothic
Architecture and began to reflect this trend in literature. Thus, Gothic Literature emerged, and
many works have been published in this field.
4.1. Definition and History of “Gothic Literature”
"In the most general terms, “Gothic Literature” can be defined as writing that employs dark
and picturesque scenery, startling and melodramatic narrative devices, and an overall
atmosphere of exoticism, mystery, fear, and dread." (Kennedy, 2020)
First, it was the middle age, the dark period for Gothic Europe, which appeared in the 12-15th
centuries. During this period, people were tried by the pressures and strict rules of the church,
and famous torture tools were also made during this period. Therefore, we can say that the
emergence of Gothic Literature is a contrast to the emphasis of the Enlightenment period on
the mind. Gothic Literature is a reaction to scientific rationality. According to Andrew Smith,
"Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto negotiates a series of anti-Enlightenment themes in
its construction of a debate concerning the relationship between the medieval and the modern."
(The Gothic Heyday, 1760-1820, 2007) The world of vampires, monsters, and ghosts is an
aesthetic and intellectual revolt against the rational beliefs of the Age of Mind world with laws
and rules. Contrary to the idea of Enlightenment, which argues that mind is important against
the dogmas created by churches, the senses are unreliable in the world created by novels in
Gothic Literature. Intelligence is insufficient in understanding the events and supernatural
powers prevail. According to Giovanni Scognamillo, the Gothic which became a trend in the
18th century England and is a literary trend; “A reaction is a kind of opposition. Sometimes it

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is the expression of noble distress and a crisis.” (Scognamillo, 1996, s. 48) The fictions created
are the product of suppressed emotions and desires. People started to convey the events they
experienced with the sense of curiosity that existed in them to literature in this way.
The Castle of Otranto writtenby Horace Walpole in 1764, it ceases tobe a Gothic Architectural
style also affects the world of literature. Although Gothic Architecture and Gothic Literature
seem different from each other, architecture has an important place in Gothic texts. (Arargüç,
2016) So much so that the first novel written in Gothic Literature got its name directly from
Gothic Architecture. If we look at how this book was written; Horace Walpole has a dream
while sleeping in his castle. After waking up, he immediately begins to write the dream. So, he
wrote The Castle of Otranto book. However, he was unsure to publish it. He then showed
himself as a translator, not as the author of this book, and said that he found a work from the
16th century and translated it. The reason for this is that the audience at that time was not used
to such a genre. Horace Walpole used the word “Gothic”, inspired by the elements of the
Middle Ages, with "barbaric" meanings that do not fit the classical dimensions. He is also very
influenced by Gothic Architecture. He had a castle built with a Gothic Architectural trend.
The first Gothic artefacts pass in castles, dark dungeons, remote places, and deserted places,
with mysterious gates opening together. “Although space seems to stand out in Gothic
Literature, its subject is actually about the human and the human mind.” (Spooner, 2006, p. 18)
Dangerous and dark places in stories can be seen as evil and dark thoughts hidden in the depths
of the human mind. The discovery of these places by the heroes in the stories represents the
discovery of things that human does not know about himself/herself or about a subject. Gothic
expresses the curiosity and interest of people, the search for excitement towards what they
cannot define.
At the same time, there were revolutionary changes in Britain when the Gothic appeared.
People have tried to keep up with these changes. “Gothic Literature emerged as a result of a
sensitivity to the individual and social mood of this period, to people's fears and concerns.”
(Arargüç, 2016) Therefore, the authors also addressed the fear that the past will come to life
again and affect the present.
4.2. Features of Gothic Literature
Gothic Literature was one of the spookiest genres of the Dark Romanticism genre, which was
the sub-branch of Romanticism in the 1700s. It is a highly reacted species due to the nature of
the period. However, it also attracted the curiosity of many people. At the same time, it is

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different from other literary genres as it is unusual. Gothic Literature has distinctive features.
For a better understanding of these features, they are listed and explained.
There are wonder and fear: It is one of the most important components of a fascinating Gothic
story. Stories scare the reader. However, the biggest feature that distinguishes it from other
types of fear is that it also makes the reader curious. Things beyond thescientific understanding
arouse curiosity in human. This is also used in Gothic Literature. Many artefacts include tombs,
candles, events and objects that will arouse curiosity and fear.
The events take place in a castle or an old structure: Often the plot takes place in such
structures. At this point, it is possible to say that literature is influenced by Gothic Architecture.
Although the buildings sometimes seem to be abandoned, sometimes the buildings have
owners. But who or what the owners are is unknown. This causes the reader to be curious and
afraid. The inside of the castle is usually as follows; it is filled with hidden tunnels, dark stairs,
broken windows and hidden traps. The structures are dark, gloomy and cold.
There is a mysterious and tense atmosphere (environment): The atmosphere created for the
events to be more effective in the reader is mysterious and uneasy. For this, the surroundings
of the castles are mostly surrounded by dark forests and mountainous regions. On theone hand,
very wild and remote areas were used, while on the other hand, captive areas were used. At the
same time, weather conditions are always bad.
There are unearthly or unexplained events: Events occur with ghosts, spirits, vampires, and
inanimate objects that move. While disturbing the characters in the story, the same feeling is
reflected in the reader.
Romanticism is at the forefront as much as fear: Stories created by the merging of these two
genres are common. Often, stories are created with a passionate love that leads to sadness and
tragedy.In the environments of Gothic stories, loving event is also focused on horrible villains.
Villains are in the foreground: Villains that exist in other literary genres also play an important
role in Gothic Literature. Usually, the bad guys are men with a priest or authoritarian power.
Initially, they do not show their inner faces. They look sympathetic and deceive the reader.
They have pressure on female characters.
Women are always in a difficult situation: Female characters are shown weaker than male
characters. They love fear, scream or be terrified in the face of events. A lonely and oppressed
female character is often the main protagonist of the story. Therefore, their pain is explained

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more clearly. It suffers more because they are left alone and have no protectors. Thus, the place
of women in society is reflected in the stories in this way.
There are anti-heroes: The protagonist of the story has monstrous elements as a result of an
accident or curse. These heroes would usually be boys. However, with the emergence of
feminist movements, female heroes began to form.
When we look at the features listed above, Gothic Literature has formed its own literary
movement with its architectural and social events. This emerging trend attracted people's
attention and became popular. Thus, many new works were given in the field of literature.
5. EXAMPLE
As described above, Gothic Literature was influenced by Gothic Architecture. The authors,
who were influenced by the architectures, contributed to the development of Gothic
Architecture and the attraction of their structures with their works. One of these works is the
Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
5.1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The author of the book, Victor Hugo (1802-1885), learned Latin and Greek at a young age and
made translations in these languages. He became the founder and director of the literary
magazine at the age of seventeen. He wrote two poetry books at the age of twenty-one. At the
age of twenty-eight, he wrote his first major theatre work (Hernani). At the age of twenty-nine,
he wrote his first major novel, "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame."
At that time, the Gothic architecture began to lose its effect. City planners suggested the
demolition of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in the early 19th century. While visiting the church of
Notre-Dame, Victor Hugo noticed that an inscription was written on his wall in the Greek
alphabet, meaning "bad luck". He thought that there was a soul writhing in the church and the
book was written on this word. Thus, the public's attention turned towards the church again.
If we examine the novel; It consists of 11 general sections. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is
a historical novel that deals with life in the XI Louis period. The writer curses the society in
the personality of a chieftain and a soldier, which made the humped Quasimodo and Gypsy
Esmeralda down. It also shows social inequality at that time. This book, which was created by
being influenced by architecture, also contains many gothic features.

19. 19
Firstly, the place where the events tookplace took place in Notre-Dame Cathedral.Itsimposing
and interesting structure, stained glass windows and towers leave a mysterious effect on the
reader. This structure also symbolizes medieval society. Later, the characters bear the features
of gothic literature. Quasimodo is the churchman of the church. There are physical changes.
He has a huge head, a hump between his two shoulders, a strangely bent hip and leg structure,
a horseshoe-shaped mouth, an ugly nose and unstable eyes. He is seen as a monster by humans.
Another character is the woman waiting to be rescued. Gypsy Esmerelda encounters some
events and waits to be rescued by a man constantly. The most prominent feature of gothic
literature is that there are bad guys in the stories. The priest of the church did evil throughout
the story and wanted the death of Esmerelda. Finally, love is an important theme in the Story.
The events are framed with love as well as mystery. The love they feel changes their lives and
causes their end.
As seen in Notre-Dame's Hunchback book, Gothic Literature and Gothic Architecture
influenced each other and contributed to their development. If you want to read the summary
of the story, you can look at the appendix.
Conclusion
All in all, the curiosity in human has led to the emergence of the Gothic Movement that has
existed for centuries. This movement is a sort of freedom of people's souls trapped in
uniformity. The Gothic Movement that started in the architectural field also reflects the dark
sides that people are afraid to express. It tells about the existence of another world with its
distinctive sharp, aesthetic structure and spooky statues, and opens a door for us to discover
this world. These structures, built with Gothic Movement, have much more than they appear.
It touches the soul of human and is an expression of the hidden emotions. At the same time,
the desire to impress and dominate others has been influential in the formation of the
movement. Due to the structure of the period, cathedrals and churches were used first for this
domination. As mentioned above, with the influence of religion, people have been influenced
by the Gothic Movement and have brought in something new in the field of literature. The
events and characters described are a combination of fear and curiosity. Although they were
initially afraid that this current would not be accepted, it received a lot of attention. The novels,
which were written by being influenced by architecture, also included architectural elements.
Thus, it enabled both different fields to attract attention. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris

20. 20
and the novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, which was influenced by this structure, also
originated with interaction. Thus, both Gothic Literature and Gothic Architecture continued
their influence on people.
The first purpose of this study is to step together through this door opened for us to discover
and to free the emotions that are hidden within us. There are structures that we think have
unique beauty and books that we continue to read with curiosity even though we are afraid.
When we know the formation and properties of the Gothic Movement, these will make more
sense for us. Also, obtaining correct information instead of the wrong facts known about the
formation of Gothic makes us become more conscious while discovering this world. At the
same time, another purpose of the study is to show the emergence of the Gothic Movement in
a different field by interaction. When looking at other researches, Gothic Architecture and
Gothic Literature are handled separately, and their connections are not given in detail. For this
reason, this research sheds light on both sides for the Gothic Movement and reveals their
relations in detail. Today, although this movement is of interest, new buildings and artifacts
are not produced. While Gothic Architecture left its age to another movement, Gothic
Literature was replaced by similar genres. Based on this, the connections of the novels written
by being influenced by the architecture can be investigated and a new working area can be
created. In my opinion, this movement should not be condemned to forget like other
movements. And only we can do this. We should not close the doors that are opened for us.
So, are you ready to discover this World now?

21. 21
References
Arargüç, M. F. (2016). Mimari Bir Tarzdan Ebedi Bir Türe: Gotik. Atatürk Üniversitesi Güzel
Sanatlar Enstitüsü Dergisi, 245-257.
Ayaydın, A. (2010). Gotik Sanatı'na Yirmi Birinci Yüzyıl Perspektifinden Bir Bakış. Ekev
Akademi Dergisi, 117-124.
Editors, S. (2005). Hunchback of Notre Dame. Spark Notes: Retrieved May 7, 2020 from
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hunchback/summary/
Gotik Yapı Nedir? Gotik Mimari Anlayışı Özellikleri Nelerdir? (2019, Nisan 17). Sosyorol:
Retrieved May 2, 2020 from https://www.sosyorol.com/gotik-yapi-nedir-gotik-
mimari-anlayisi-ozellikleri-nelerdir/
Kennedy, P. (2020, January 23). Gothic Literature. ThoughtCo.: Retrieved May 2, 2020 from
https://www.thoughtco.com/gothic-literature-2207825
Koçer, K. (2019, Nisan 18). Notre-Dame Katedralinin Sanat Tarihi Açısından Önemi. Çeviri
Blog: Retrieved May 4, 2020 from https://www.ceviriblog.com/2019/04/18/kultur-ve-
sanat-eki-notre-dame-katedralinin-sanat-tarihi-acisindan-onemi/
Kuiper, K. (2009, October 13). Gothic architecture. Britannica: Retrieved May 1, 2020 from
https://www.britannica.com/art/Gothic-architecture
Merak. (2020, April 25). Wikipedia: Retrieved April 5, 2020 from
https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merak
Scognamillo, G. (1996). Korkunun Sanatları. İstanbul: İnkılap Kitapevi.
Simpson, J. (1884, February 1). A New English Dictionary on Historical Principle. İngiltere:
Oxford University Press.
Spooner, C. (2006). Contemporary Gothic. London: Reaktion Books .
Tervaoja, J. (2010). Bridges- Architecture or just aesthetics? J. M.-C. I. Ritchie içinde ,
Structures & Architecture (s. 325). Portugal: CRC Press.
The Gothic Heyday, 1760-1820. (2007). A. Smith içinde, Gothic Literature (s. 18). Edinburgh:
Edinburgh University Press .

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Turani, A. (1971). Dünya Sanat Tarihi. Ankara: Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.
Turani, A. (1998). Sanat Terimler Sözlüğü. İstanbul: Remzi Kitabevi.
Appendix
Summaryof "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”
“During the 1482 Festival of Fools in Paris, Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame, is
elected the Pope of Fools for being the ugliest person in Paris. He is hoisted on a throne and
paraded around Paris by the jeering mob. Pierre Gringoire, a struggling poet and philosopher,
tries unsuccessfully to get the crowd to watch his play instead of the parade. Archdeacon
Claude Frollo appears and stops the parade and orders Quasimodo back to Notre Dame with
him. Looking for something to eat, Gringoire admires the graceful beauty of La Esmerelda, a
gypsy street dancer, and decides to follow her home. After rounding a corner, she is suddenly
attacked by Quasimodo and Frollo. Gringoire rushes to help her but is knocked out by
Quasimodo as Frollo runs away. The King's Archers, led by Phoebus de Chateaupers arrive
just in time and capture the hunchback. Later that night, a group of beggars and thieves are
about to hang Gringoire when La Esmerelda comes forward and offers to save his life by
"marrying" him for four years only.
The next day, Quasimodo is put on trial and sentenced to two hours of torture in the Place de
Grève. He suffers both the pain of being stretched and pulled apart as well as being publicly
humiliated by the crowd of people, who hate him for his ugliness. He begs for water, but no
one answers his pleas until La Esmerelda comes forth and brings him something to drink.
Nearby, a recluse called Sister Gudule, screams at La Esmerelda for being a "gypsy child-
thief" and blames her for her daughter's kidnapping fifteen years earlier. A few months later,
La Esmerelda is dancing in front of Notre Dame and Phoebus calls her over to him. She has
fallen in love with him and blushes when he asks her to meet him later that night. Frollo
watches them from the top of Notre Dame and becomes insanely jealous of Phoebus. His
obsessive lust for La Esmerelda has made him renounce God and study alchemy and black

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magic. In his secret cell at Notre Dame, he plans to trap La Esmerelda like a spider catching a
fly with its web. Later that night he follows Phoebus to his tryst with La Esmerelda and stabs
Phoebus repeatedly. He escapes and La Esmerelda is captured by the King's guard.
After being tortured at her trial, La Esmerelda falsely confesses to killing Phoebus and being
a witch. She is sentenced to hang in the Place de Grève. Frollo visits her in jail and declares
his love. He begs her to love him and show him some pity but she calls him a "goblin-monk"
and a murderer, refusing to have anything to do with him. Before her execution, La
Esmerelda is publicly humiliated in front of Notre Dame. Looking across the square, she
suddenly sees Phoebus and calls out his name. He actually survived the murder attempt but
doesn't want anyone to know that he was injured. He turns away from La Esmerelda and
enters the house of his bride-to-be. Just then, Quasimodo swings down on a rope from Notre
Dame and carries her back to the cathedral, crying out "Sanctuary!" He had fallen in love
with her when she brought him water and had been planning her escape all along.
La Esmerelda is safe from execution just as long as she stays inside the cathedral. At first, she
finds it hard to even look at Quasimodo, but they form an uneasy friendship. Even though he
is deaf, he enjoys being around her when she sings. Meanwhile, a group of vagabonds
resolves to save La Esmerelda after hearing that Parliament has ordered that she be removed
from Notre Dame. But when Quasimodo sees them attack the cathedral, he thinks they have
come to kill La Esmerelda and he fends them off as best he can, killing a large number of
them. Frollo has used the attack as a diversion to sneak La Esmerelda out of the cathedral. He
offers her two choices: she can either say she loves him or be hanged. She demands to be
executed and he leaves her with Sister Gudule. To their astonishment, they discover that they
are mother and daughter. Gudule tries to protect La Esmerelda, but it is too late. Back at
Notre Dame, Quasimodo goes to the top of the north tower to find her. Gazing off into the
distance, he sees the figure of La Esmerelda in a white dress hanging from the scaffold. He
bellows out in despair and grabs Frollo by the neck. Holding him up in the air, Quasimodo
sighs with grief and then throws Frollo down to his death. Looking at La Esmerelda hanging
off in the distance and Frollo's wrangled corpse down below, Quasimodo cries out: "There is
everything I ever loved!" Quasimodo is never seen again. Years later when a gravedigger

24. 24
stumbles across La Esmerelda's remains, he finds the skeleton of a hunchback curled around
her.” (Editors, 2005)