The Mysteries of Udolpho

Consider the role of the supernatural in the text. How does it function symbolically, narratively, and/or thematically?

What role do secrets play in furthering the plot? How do these secrets tie into the novel’s themes and characterizations? What is the relationship between secrets and the Gothic more generally?

Many paternal figures feature in Emily’s narrative, including her father St. Aubert, her step-uncle Montoni, and the Count de Villefort. How does each illustrate or challenge traditional conceptions of masculinity?

Female characters are especially vulnerable in the novel, due to the gender dynamics and social conventions at play in their world. How are gender dynamics depicted in the novel? How do Emily and the other female characters attempt to navigate the disadvantages they face?

The Mysteries of Udolpho reflects some of the concerns and ideals of the burgeoning Romantic movement at the time. What elements of Romanticism appear in the novel? Can The Mysteries of Udolpho be characterized as a work of Romanticism? Why or why not?

Money and social standing are of central concern in the novel. What role does money play in the lives of the characters? What is the connection between money and power?

The Mysteries of Udolpho is a romance. How is the relationship between Emily and Valancourt depicted in the novel? How does it develop over time? How does it compare or contrast to other romantic pairings in the novel?

The novel often alludes to violence or the threat of violence. How do elements of order and violence contrast in the novel? How does violence function both domestically and more broadly in the world of the novel?