Gothic Revival Architecture

In the mid-1700s, a new architectural movement appeared in England, known as the Gothic Revival movement. As this style matured, it was to have a significant impact on architecture over much of the world, including Europe, the United States, and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom. The Gothic Revival was paralleled and supported by medievalism, which had its roots in antiquarian concerns with survivals and curiosities. By the time this period drew to a close in the twentieth century, it appeared that more Gothic-style architecture had been built than had been produced during the original period.

The renewed popularity of the neo-Gothic styles contrasted with the then-popular classical styles. The neo-Gothic influence spread to other forms of expression, including literature. The first “Gothic” novel, written by Horace Walpole, was published in 1764. The Gothic novel has had surges of popularity from that time until well into the twentieth century. This form of architecture also inspired poets to produce poetry that used medieval settings to explore the problems of the then-modern times. One excellent example of such poetry is Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King,” a twelve-book cycle of epic poetry that recounts Arthurian legend while at the same time infusing the moral judgments of his own era. The Gothic Revival also had an impact on German literature, although it also addressed the heroism and politics of the German nation. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s work, Die Wahlverwandtschaften, a novel that explored the adulterous relationship that is shared by a married couple, is an example of German Gothic literary work.

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