Mysterious Fears: Lexical Means of Expressing the Conceptual Category of the Mystic In English Gothic Narration of the 18th Century

Abstract

Abstract The article focuses on the study of lexical means expressing the category of the Mystic in English Gothic narration of the 18th century. The mystic in early Gothic prose is viewed as a genre characteristic based on the atmosphere of escalating fear in the face of the unknown and connected with the motif of mystery, belief in the supernatural and irrationalism as a specific way of world perception. The research proceeds from the conceptual category as a universal notional constant to its linguistic interpretation in a systemic presentation within a synchronic approach.