Large gothic cathedrals and castles are often the backdrop to popular gothic novels of the time. Interestingly enough, these structures were not built during the gothic period, and were not referred to as "gothic" at the time of Contruction. They were built hundreds of years prior to the popular surge of gothic literature and were referred to as being built in the "modern style." When I think of a gothic castle, I think of a dark and gloomy place. The architecture, however, came with different intent. "Before this style, in 1100s and 1200s, the buildings were mostly dark, cold, damp and moody. There was not much scope for light and air circulation. With the invention of the Gothic style, there was light inside the building and they were airy and pleasant" (Joseph). This style was also the response to needing more weight distribution for increasingly large structures. These "new techniques allowed them to build very tall structures, almost like touching the sky or reaching the heaven; very apt for churches and cathedrals. So the buildings were tall, grand and graceful" (Joseph). If these structures were built to be filled with light and make it more pleasant, then why do we associate it with the exact opposite? It was not until this style of architecture was abandoned and the buildings started being abandoned or in ruins that we changed the way we thought about them. The abandoned and ruined nature of gothic architecture led to a feeling of mystery. These large and looming structures, now abandoned, made them the perfect setting for a story of something mysterious, dark, or haunted. In addition, they were constructed with beauty and art in mind as much as functionality. "Instead of having a simple rain gutter, a gargoyle was designed. These gargoyles looked terrifying with exaggerated evil features and sometimes even sprouted stone wings. With superstition playing a major role in the medieval period, these were seen as representation of evil forces waiting to devour the men. Later these figures were symbolically used to create ambience in Gothic novels" (Joseph). 

What I find most interesting about this is that the association of dark and gloomy with gothic architecture, was not only the undesired result, but also completely made up by gothic authors. The only reason they chose to use those structures as backdrops for their novels is because they were abandoned and ruined. From what I can gather, the reason gothic literature received that name is from the architecture. The architecture received that name because “during the time of Renaissance, the renaissance architects scoffed at this style preferring classical, solid, symmetrical style. To show their scorn for the renaissance architects coined the term ‘Gothic architecture.’ Goths were barbarians who wreaked havoc in Europe hundreds of years earlier” (Joseph).  

Regardless of the history behind the architecture, these grand structures will forever be associated with ghosts, ghouls, monsters, witches, and angry mobs with torches and pitchforks. 

Joseph, Jennifer G. “GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE FOR AMBIENCE IN THE GOTHIC LITERATURE.” Journal of Industrial Pollution Control, 17 June 2017.