GOTHIC LITERATURE IN EDGAR ALLAN POE AND LYGIA FAGUNDES TELLES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE SHORT STORIES “O CORAÇÃO DELATOR” AND “COME SEE THE SUNSET”

Abstract

The current study seeks to define a historical overview of gothic literature based on theories and research made by Botting (2014), Punter (2016), Lovecraft (2020), Todorov (2010), Stevens (2000), Freitas (2019) and García (2023). Discussing thus how this type of literature emerged in the international and national scope, as well as pointing out the reasons why “O Coração Delator”, by Edgar Allan Poe, and “Venha ver o pôr do sol”, by Lygia Fagundes Telles, are being categorized as literary works of horror. In addition, the main characteristics of gothic literature, such as mystery, fear, and psychological terror, are highlighted to build a comparative analysis between the two short stories. Finally, such aspects are embedded in Poe’s and Telles’s short stories and, for this reason, they leave room to create a bridge of similarities between the two authors.