Gothic fiction often explores themes of death, decay, and the supernatural.

Horace Walpole's novel 'The Castle of Otranto' (1764) is widely regarded as the first Gothic novel.

Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' (1818) is a classic work of Gothic fiction that explores themes of science, morality, and the nature of humanity.

Jonathan Harker is a young lawyer who travels to Transylvania to meet Count Dracula and finalize a real estate transaction.

Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart' is a classic horror story narrated by an unnamed protagonist who murders an old man and hides the body under the floorboards.

Hill House is a large, isolated mansion with a dark and mysterious history.

Gothic fiction often takes place in ancient ruins, castles, or other atmospheric settings.

Louis de Pointe du Lac is a vampire who tells the story of his life to a young reporter.

Gothic heroes are often characterized by their sensitivity, melancholy, and introspective nature.

The protagonist of 'Rebecca' is an unnamed young woman who marries Maxim de Winter and moves to his estate, Manderley.

Gothic atmosphere often includes dark and stormy nights, fog, and other elements that create a sense of mystery and unease.

Francis Wayland Thurston is a young man who investigates the mysterious cult of Cthulhu.

Horror fiction often explores themes of fear, suspense, and the supernatural.

Bill Denbrough is the leader of the group of friends who face the evil entity known as Pennywise the Clown.

Gothic villains are often characterized by their intelligence, cunning, and manipulative nature.