Description of Castle Udolpho, fromThe Mysteries of Udolpho
Dublin Core
Title
Description of Castle Udolpho, from The Mysteries of Udolpho
Subject
Gothic Castles
Description
This passage from The Mysteries of Udolpho describes a Gothic castle in which the story takes place. Radcliffe's description of Castle Udolpho highlights one of the defining features of Gothic novels: tall, ominous buildings and dark passageways are often where much of the plot takes place.
Creator
Ann Radcliffe
Source
The Mysteries of Udolpho
Publisher
G. G. and J. Robinson
Date
1794
Contributor
Nick Masterman-Bellflowers
Relation
The Mysteries of Udolpho
Format
Text
Language
English
Type
Gothic Novel
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
… though it was now lighted up by the setting sun, the gothic greatness of its features, and its mouldering walls of dark grey stone, rendered it a gloomy and sublime object … the light died away on its walls, leaving a melancholy purple tint, which spread deeper and deeper, as the thin vapour crept up the mountain, while the battlements above were still tipped with splendour. From those too, the rays soon faded, and the whole edifice was invested with the solemn duskiness of evening. Silent, lonely and sublime, it seemed to stand the sovereign of the scene, and to frown defiance on all, who dared to invade its solitary reign. As the twilight deepened, its features became more awful in obscurity … The gateway … leading into the courts was of gigantic size, and was defended by two round towers, crowned by over-hanging turrets, embattled, where, instead of banners, now waved long grass and wild plants … The towers were united by a curtain, pierced and embattled also, below which appeared the pointed arch of an huge portcullis, surmounting the gates: from these, the walls of the ramparts extended to other towers, overlooking the precipice, whose shattered outline … told of the ravages of war.
Original Format
Novel
Citation
Ann Radcliffe, “Description of Castle Udolpho, fromThe Mysteries of Udolpho,” Enlightenmens, accessed January 27, 2023, http://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/1002.